Birmingham City 2, Wolves 1: Colin Tattum's Blues player ratings, match stats and injury update

Feb 8 2010 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

HART ...........................6

Kicking wasn’t always on radar otherwise nerveless and safe.

CARR .....................7

Determined run for winner, typified attitude after getting a grip

RIDGEWELL 6

Did the usual solid job without fanfare and wouldn’t buckle.

DANN 6

Not in usual assured gear but neither was he a liability.

JOHNSON 6

Pretty much the same, eagerly scrapped away.

LARSSON ..................6

Unquestionably unselfish for team, but sporadic threat and zip.

FERGUSON .7

Held a lot together when Blues were labouring, always urging and priming.

BOWYER 6

Looked a danger at the beginning, then embroiled in attrition.

McFADDEN 5

Started bright and threatening, fire went out and got bogged down.

BENITEZ 5

Had little impact, was beefed out of it and chose wrong options often.

JEROME 6

Full of energy, running and muscle, end product fluctuated.

SUBSTITUTES

MAN OF THE MATCH: Phillips (for Benitez 63) remarkable impact, dead eye goalscorer. 7.

Gardner (for Larsson 68) added drive and urgency. 7.

Fahey (for McFadden 75) brought trickery, invention. Not used: Taylor, Michel, Jervis, Vignal.

BOOKINGS:

Hart (trip, 24), Johnson (foul, 40), Dann (foul, 66), Ferguson (unsporting behaviour, 87), Bowyer (foul, 90+1) - Blues. Mancienne (push, 45+1), Jones (holding, 47), Henry (foul, 87), Berra (90+5, dissent) - Wolves.

CROWD WATCH 6

Became restless then rallied when mattered. Attendance: 24,165.

REF WATCH 6

Lee Probert (Wilts): Perplexed at first then got a measure of it.

THE MANAGER 7

Alex McLeish: Made changes spot-on and got into Phillips’ head in run-up to derby

GAME RATING 6

Plenty of hustle and bustle, high drama came late.

INJURY WATCH

Benitez damaged ankle.

WHO’S NEXT UP FOR BLUES?

West Ham (a) Wednesday, 7.45pm.