Everton 1, Birmingham City 2: Colin Tattum's big match verdict
Jan 25 2010 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail
THEY can do the graft, as most people know by now.
But there’s craft there too that isn’t always widely appreciated.
It was conspicuous at Goodison Park in the form of two wonderfully constructed and executed goals that put Blues in command of the fourth-round FA Cup fixture.
‘Delicious’, Alex McLeish purred in admiration. It was Blues’ impression of the way Arsenal like to work and waltz the ball into the back of the net.
And as if to show that their default mode was in perfect working order, Blues then showed their famed defensive backbone to keep Everton at bay as they staged a second-half rally.
It was the first time since 1957 Blues have triumphed at Everton and, in truth, for all that McLeish trotted out the line that his team were the clear underdogs before the tie, it was not a shock, a cup upset.
That’s because Blues have proven they should be taken seriously during the past four months.
And when you add the kind of pockets of quality that surface like they did in the seventh and 40th minutes, to go with their disciplined miserly undertone, then you’re on to a winner.
Blues have been highly consistent in the Premier League, and the traits that have got them ensconced into the top half of the table are certainly good enough to be carried over in the FA Cup.
You only need to be that apt description of Blues, ‘difficult to beat’, in five rounds to get to Wembley after all, throwing in a bit of inspiration and a smattering of luck – hey presto!
In the previous round Barry Ferguson illuminated a low-key performance by scoring the winner against Nottingham Forest with a moment of class.
Joe Hart kept Blues in the game at the City Ground, when Forest missed a penalty, and in the replay too.
Everton, who were subservient to Blues’ control in the first half, unsurprisingly improved after the break but there was that reliable rearguard again.
