Birmingham City 3, Rochdale 2: Colin Tattum's big match verdict and player ratings
IF BLUES were left dejected by the failed attempts to sign £5 million men Moussa Dembele and before him Fabrizio Miccoli, then they will have smiled a smile of satisfaction over Matt Derbyshire.
He’s not a bad alternative. Not bad at all.
Given his starting debut in the Carling Cup last night, Derbyshire scored one – albeit fortuitously – earned a penalty that got Blues back in the match and generally produced a lively and encouraging performance that bodes well for the rest of the season.
League One Rochdale were no pushovers and were left fuming at the spot-kick, put away by James McFadden, that got Blues level three minutes after Gary Jones put them into a first-half lead.
Jones scored again to make it 3-2 with 14 minutes left, but Blues – who then introduced Nathan Redmond as the club’s second youngest debutant – saw the tie out.
Alex McLeish made eight changes to his starting line-up and handed a debut to Enric Valles on the left wing.
Keith Fahey was asked to fill in at right-back because of injuries.
Lee Bowyer, with a point to prove after having to make way for Craig Gardner in the league last Saturday, first threatened for Blues in the ninth minute.
Michel punched a pass to McFadden on the right and he helped it over the full-back’s head towards Bowyer, who had made a familiar darting run.
As Josh Lillis came out and slid at his feet, Bowyer clipped a shot high from a tight angle and it rebounded behind off the top of the near post. But Rochdale, all eager and unfazed throughout, responded by creating a chance that should have given them the lead.
Anthony Elding, left unmarked barely six yards out, steered a standing header into the side netting from Joe Widdowson’s left-wing cross.
That and other warnings were not heeded, however, as Gary Jones put Rochdale ahead in the 25th minute following a fine break from their own half after Michel’s crossfield pass was intercepted.
Rochdale poured forward, a centre from the right was hammered on the half-volley by Scott Wiseman and although Taylor parried, Jones was directly in front of him – and not offside – to force in the rebound.
It was to their good fortune that Blues got back on level terms so quickly, three minutes later, via a McFadden penalty.
He planted it unerringly into the top left-hand corner, only after angry complaints from Rochdale had subsided.
Derbyshire, running onto a bouncing ball with Marcus Holness in close attention, was bumped over from behind as he neared the byline.
