Birmingham 0 City 0: Player ratings

Stuart Brennan

November 01, 2009

Birmingham City's Cameron Jerome (right) and City's Vincent Kompany battle for the ball

9 GIVEN Topped a string of top-class saves with a magnificent stop from the penalty

6 ZABALETA Looked mkore at home going forward but made vital clearance from Larsson cross

7 KOMPANY Pick of the defenders, but evfen he had the odd wobbly moment

6 LESCOTT Still making the odd wrong decision in dangerous areas – safety first should be his mantra

7 BRIDGE: One of City’s best attacking weapons, and had a decent game defensively

8 WRIGHT-PHILLIPS Will have given Ridgewell a few nightmares powering down the right

6 DE JONG looked like the Autumn chills had crept into his muscles, and a poor penalty to concede

6 BARRY booed throughout, and had one of his least effective games since joining City

7 BELLAMY Full of endeavour and encouragement but marginalised out on the left flank

6 SANTA CRUZ Often isolated up front, and still looks a little rusty and creaking

6 TEVEZ: Wayward shooting but still a couple of glimpses of real class

Substitutes

IRELAND (de Jong 61) Couldn’t make his mark 6

PETROV (Santa Cruz 67) No way through for him 6

Not used: S. Taylor, Richards, Sylvinho, M. Johnson, Weiss

BIRMINGHAM: M. Taylor, Carr, R. Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell, Larsson, Ferguson, Bowyer, McFadden (Fahey 62), Jerome (Phillips 87), Benitez

Battle of the bosses: Hughes’ message to his defence has gone unheeded, and City almost paid for it against a Brum side fired up by McLeish

Referee: Mike Dean 7

Attendance: 21,462

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Tipperary Blue (01/11/2009 at 23:07)

To be fair I thought De Jong was unlucky to have the penalty awarded against him: certainly not a question of using his hand to prevent a goal-bound shot.

SWP was all huff and puff; Belers poorest game yet, methinks

camp bleu, Prestwich (01/11/2009 at 23:23)

The Bingo Brennan method prevails again.

C'mon Stuart, put the balls away and watch the game man! SWP 8, don't make me laugh. Bridge 'one of City's best attacking weapons' - I nearly choked on my chips!

Edski Vega, Nottingham (01/11/2009 at 23:37)

Given 9, Zabelletta 5, Lescott 4, Kompany 4, Bridge 6, De Jong 5, Barry 4, SWP 5, Bellamy 4, Santa Cruz 3, Tevez 4

Ireland 3, Petrov 3,

Alfie15, Bedfordshire (01/11/2009 at 23:39)

Sorry not top four class when all out players are below your keeper. I have to say though Shay deserved it. SWP 8, I am a fan of SWP but no way his finishing was awful. I would have changed him at sixty minutes for Weiss and maybe that would have given him a kick the backside.

Phil , Sacramento, CA U.S.A. (02/11/2009 at 00:25)

More frankly bizarro ratings from Mr. Brennan. Barry at 6, Bellamy at 7, and RSC at 6 are simply silly. Try Barry at 4, Bellamy at 5 and RSC at 5. Inconsistent display from Mike Dean, as well. Vinnie had a nice game returning to the backline.

jackblue, Prescot (02/11/2009 at 00:28)

Hope MH gives all ten outfield players a roasting. If it had not been for Shay we would have been humiliated.

canadaianmanc, Chilliwack British Columbia Canada (02/11/2009 at 00:41)

Totally Agree on SWP, Bridge played an excelent game, both deserved the points, overall Brumagen deserved the point, Alex really fired them up.
Given saved the day.Don't get to watch City as I can't see paying into Setanta, so I watch the odd Blues game 0n the Score.

CTID Ken from Chilliwack BC Canada

Hi Tec, Perth, Australia (02/11/2009 at 01:23)

Changes needed for Burnley game. Given,Zab,Richards,Lescott,Bridge,NDJ,Weiss,Kompany,Ireland,Bellamy,ADE or RSC (Depending on Ade's fitness)

M9Lad., ny. (02/11/2009 at 01:24)

Shay must have thought it was all a dream and he was still at Newcastle. Pretty much a crap team effort, but I refuse to believe they had no help from a 2nd rate coaching staff in producing such an inept 2nd half display. Hughes needs to get a clue, or quickly find somebody else who does to help him. This wont do anymore. All the people saying this was a game we would have lost next year need to wake up. This is NOT last year. We have spent over 150mill since then, a draw at Birmingham is no where near good enough, not even close.

Stuart Booth (02/11/2009 at 02:07)

SWP shouldn't get anything over four. Sure he runs with the ball and puts the "effort" in, but he is just not effective. He either tries to go past two players -- sometimes getting past the first but rarely the second -- or he gets in a good position and delivers a useless ball.

Barry was equally bad and possibly worse.

Lots of effort from Bellamy and Tevez, but no end product.

And to think people were saying that Robinho won't be able to get back in the team. Get your head out of the sand... there's plenty of players who could step aside.

This team has too much "effort" and not enough creativity, imagination or skill.

Razor, cobourg canada (02/11/2009 at 02:45)

After seeing the game today, god help them when they play Chelsea.The were utter garbage.The passes were astray,they failed to create chances and the manager doesn't seem to get the right combinations. The last two premier games should have been 3 points each for a team aspiring to be a top four club.Given the money spent Hughes better think of a way to fix this soon or face the consequences.The will be lucky to finish in the top six.

Bobby Johnstone's left kneecap, Hong Kong (02/11/2009 at 04:06)

Does anybody, except Stretford Redsox supporters, honestly think that de Jong deserved to concede that penalty? By comparison, the terrible tackle on Tevez was a 100% penalty and the Brum player should have been carded. Blackburn have a perfectly legitimate goal ruled out!!! The Swamp fixation of the poor crop of refs we have to suffer continues.
People on here expect too much of City too soon. I have watched City for more than sixty years (my four Blue uncles took me to Maine Road in 1945!)and we now have the best squad in my lifetime. Give the team support and over the next season or so we will really come good.

Qas (02/11/2009 at 04:14)

Worst game ever by Barry. RSC was too slow. Birmingham defense is slow shouldn't but RSC is slower. Should have put Petrov in the starting line up. MH was saved by Given. If we are still playing like this, don't expect us to be in top 4 very long. Next game with Burnley we should put as many goals in the net as we can and with a clean sheet.

timmy, manchester (02/11/2009 at 06:38)

City looking increasingly ineffective after a good start where they flattered to deceive. Another rather undeserved draw against a team with limited ability. At least Fulham and Wigan have already deminstrated their quality in other games this season. Brum have not. Tevez plenty of huff and puff and I hate to say it but as the Rag fans have been pointing out, he doesn't actually score very much. Defense is a bag of nerves. Lescott - as we all know - is wildly over-priced and I'd rather see steady Neddy there. Zab simply isn't a top class right back - he's better in midfield. Also Of more concern is the midfield which Hughes simply hasn't got right. With De Jong and Barry playing deep there is a lack of attacking thrust with Santa or Ade getting isolated, and the out of form SWP and Bellers marginalised on the wings. This was also the case against Fulham where teams seem to be able to get through a light midfield. Again I'm afraid Hughes' tactical flaws are his achilles heel. More creativity is needed in midfield. Light years off top four at this rate.

Evan Georgiou (02/11/2009 at 06:54)

Bring back Kolo and keep the rest of the back five....our midfield was the problem and I would only retain SWP,its time for Kompany to join Superman with Bellers playing down the left,leave Tevez and Ade up front.....Shay Given was AMAZING and I reckon Lescott was worth 7.....from a sunny Cape Town...

Eric, Dutch (02/11/2009 at 07:24)

In all honesty Given was the only one to be rated 8 or 9. The rest a mere 5 or 6, with SWP and Bridge probably the best of the rest and even they weren't that good yesterday. Hughes should have started this one with Ireland to get more creativity. And he should not let Barry play teams from Birmingham as well (maybe sign back Vassell to play just these games?)

Tameside Blue, Tameside (02/11/2009 at 07:37)

Santa Cruz is finished. He doesn't get into tackles, and looks very pedestrian. Knee support very obvious. Doubt if he'll finish the season.

MOM v Scunthorpe ??? Who picked that, Steve Bruce ?

Fiddy Jizzle, London (02/11/2009 at 07:39)

Average (rather than poor) all round. One positive (aside from Shay obviously) for me was Zabaleta. I think he looks as strong as any of our defence and is real quality coming forward. Also good to see Vinnie put in a full shift.

I do think Hughes could make changes earlier. I'd have had Ireland on at half time as it was clear Barry was off form and nothing creative was coming from midfield.

Eike Immel's crossed eyes, Leeds (02/11/2009 at 07:46)

SWP was rubbish yesterday. I think it was about 70/75 minutes in when he had a clear shot at goal and for some unknown reason decided to cut back and play it across the area to a Brum defender!!!

Hughes should instruct the players to shoot as much as possible, Like Petrov does (alright I know his shot was poor but at least he had a go).

Mark Lillis, Manchester (02/11/2009 at 07:54)

Stuart Brennan - Miles away as usual.

SWP 8 ??????????? Bridge 7 ???????????
NO CHANCE !

Oldrob, Stockport (02/11/2009 at 08:01)

I really like the endeavour from Tevez but one thing for sure is he cannot shoot to save his life. If it's not scuffed, it is usually very wayward.

OrigamiNinja, Inverness (02/11/2009 at 08:22)

SWP - 8

Are you having a laugh? When was the last time SWP actually beat a man and put in a decent cross? People will need to Google that question it was that long ago! At this moment in time SWP is about as dangerous to the opposition as Vass was.

bludarnsarf (02/11/2009 at 08:23)

And I would say that Kompany looked the dodgier of the two centre backs. Lescott, apart from the odd lapse probably had one of his better games for City.

Nick F, Kettering (02/11/2009 at 08:23)

Marks were far too generous-was the man watching the same game?

Given 9 - the one really inspired performance.
Zabaleta 6- not the answer to the right back berth.
Bridge 6 - a few wayward passes but not too bad/
Kompany 6 - not his best game.
Lescott 6 - needs time to gel with a partner.
SWP 6 - probably too generous one or two runs saved him. Where has the confident, smiling player gone? Ducked a challenge which was embarrassing. Not sure he is the same player if we are honest.
Barry 5 - ran the gauntlet of the Brummies. Got caught out by a player behind him which nearly led to a goal.
De Jong 6- whole hearted performance.
Bellamy 6 - a little off key.
Tevez 6- why was he constantly trying to score the wonder goal. Needs Adebayor.
Roque Santa Cruz 5 - hope he is not fit. Looked slow and should have scored.
Ireland 5 - if he can't get into a game coming on late, Villa apart, why not bring him on earlier?
Petrov 6 - little time to do much.

These are the games we need to get into the habit of winning. I found myself disappointed just like I have been with last 3 or 4 league games. I still think a forward is needed. We can all go on about next season being important but winning becomes a habit. United apart, the away fixtures have not been at all difficult on paper and a bigger return should have been forthcoming. Look at Spuds - Chelsea, Man U and Arsenal away completed already. Their fixtures have been tougher than ours. Hope we can raise our game against top teams like lower teams do against us. How many Birmingham players would have got in our team?

Howard (02/11/2009 at 08:24)

The more he, Brennan; writes the more idiotic he becomes. I'm sure he must be dating Bridge or related to him, has not given him poor rating or comment all season. Then there is SWP 8..........!!!!!!!!

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