Birmingham City v Nottingham Forest

BLUES NEWS Repairtech Services (UK) Limited

Birmingham City v Nottingham Forest Saturday 2 October 2021 Kick-off 3pm

Suppliers of Professional After-Sales Care Proud to sponsor Birmingham City Football Club

If it’s “Broke” – We Fix it!

Don’t call ‘Bodge-it and Scarper’...

ISSUE 08 | £3 Rely on the people who will really get your domestic appliances up and running again.

service@repairtechuk.co.uk

Main Interview

BIRMINGHAM CITY FC Telephone: 0121 772 0101 Ticket Office: 0121 772 0101 (ext 2) Commercial: 0121 772 0101 (ext 3) Club Superstore / Mail Order: 0121 772 0101 (ext 4) Web: www.bcfc.com Store: www.blues.clubstore.co.uk

J

Matija Sarkic

ust three years ago, Matija Sarkic was starting games for Stratford Town in the seventh tier of English football.

nicely and I look forward to each and every match. Recent results are part of football but we’re constantly reviewing things and looking to put them right.

Fast-forward to the present day and the Montenegrin international is 11 starts into a season-long loan at Blues, having joined from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer.

You mention results there, what is the secret to a team rediscovering form again?

It is like everything in life - there will always be ups and downs, but it is how you come back from the difficult times. We are constantly asking ourselves – ‘Hey, what can we do to put things right?’.

There are positives to take from certain points in recent games and outcomes that can be taken from the last couple of weeks. There is a lot of progress to be made still – I am sure about that.

In a career that has already taken the 24-year-old from his hometown of Grimsby to Anderlecht’s youth academy, a spell at St. Andrew’s is the latest move in the young keepers’ ever-improving career.

With that in mind, Blues News sat down with the shot-stopper to see how he’s settling in between the sticks.

How have you found taking on the role as Blues’ first-choice keeper?

I have really enjoyed getting to know the lads and I want to make a difference. It is about being part of this team and really helping the club as much as I can on and off the pitch. I and the team will continue to improve.

Matty, you have had a bit of time to find your feet at Blues, how are things going a couple of months after joining?

I feel great. I am improving with every game and training session.

Day by day, things are moving along 6 | BLUES NEWS

BCFC BOARD Directors: Wenqing Zhao, Chun Kong Yiu, Gannan Zheng, Yao Wang, Honorary Vice President: Mike Wiseman

You have a previous relationship with goalkeeping coach Andy Marshall – how has it been working with him again?

I have known Marshy for a while now and he really works you hard. He gets into a lot of detail with analysis and even mentally – he knows exactly what he is doing and how to prepare you. It is massive having a good goalkeeping coach – a lot of people won’t realise how important they are but they keep you on your toes every day and improve you. For me, it is like having another manager [laughs]! In all seriousness, he has really pushed me, and I am grateful for that. His work is reflecting in my performances.

We’re only a handful of fixtures into the season but do you have any longer term aims or goals you want to take from your time here?

I am really enjoying it – how can I not be, playing in the Championship week-after-week! If I keep learning and helping, I will be happy. You never want to look too far ahead in football but if I can keep playing games, keep improving then I am making the most of this incredible opportunity. I am incredibly grateful to be here.

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs NOTTINGHAM FOREST

IN THIS ISSUE IN THE DUGOUT

Steve Cooper DOB: 10 December 1979 Appointed: September 2021

FOOTBALL MANAGEMENT Technical Director: Craig Gardner Head Coach: Lee Bowyer Assistant Head Coach: Mark Kennedy

The Welsh tactician became the 14th manager in a decade on Trentside last month, after Forest agreed a compensation package with Swansea City for his services.

ONE TO WATCH

The 41-year-old led the Swans to back-to-back play-off finishes before departing last July after a Play-off Final defeat to Brentford.

While his ability to gain results at the right end of the Championship was an attractive proposition, it was also his reputation in developing emerging talent that made him the right fit for the club’s top-brass.

Brennan Johnson ATTACKING MIDFIELDER DOB: 23 May 2001 Whether it is a reported bid from Brentford for his services or David Beckham’s social media praise of his first international start, Johnson has not let media attention distract him.

Forest’s homegrown prodigy netted 13 times during a season-long loan at Lincoln City last campaign and is now proving he is more than capable of tormenting defenders at Championship level.

The livewire 20-year-old forward, who debuted for the Reds aged 18, has been a first-team mainstay this season and registered his first goal for the club in an East Midlands derby at the end of August.

The son of former Forest favourite David Johnson also gained fulsome praise for his performances for Wales during the last international break, his trickery helping to earn a penalty against Finland before starting in the World Cup Qualifying victory in Belarus.

FOREST BRANCHING OUT

T

he worst start to a season in 108 years for Nottingham Forest will be the unfortunate legacy Chris Hughton leaves behind, after his ill-fated tenure at the club came to an end in September.

The former Blues boss won just 14 of his 52 games in charge of the Reds, having taken over in October 2020,

but a perceived resistance to adapt his style of play with results hard to come by left his dismissal with an air of inevitability last month.

Six defeats from their opening seven Championship matches, with just a point collected in an East Midlands clash with rivals Derby County, saw Forest bottom of the division and looking rudderless.

While goals have been in short supply - just 41 in the league during Hughton’s reign - the Reds have also laboured at the other end. They conceded twice to Coventry City, AFC Bournemouth, Blackburn Rovers, Cardiff City and Middlesbrough in the opening months of the campaign and successor Steve Cooper knows the task of resurrecting the former European Cup winners is a monumental one.

The former Swansea City boss was not in charge as a first Championship win of the season was registered at Hudddersfield Town a fortnight ago under Steven Reid’s interim care. Yet the 41-year-old tactician saw glimpses of the fighting spirit and resolve he was looking for after gaining a point from his first game in charge at the City Ground against Millwall last weekend.

Former Forest star David Prutton certainly believes the creative dynamo has the potential to propel Forest up the division working in tandem with Joe Lolley.

He told the Garibaldi podcast: “I think the way Brennan plays football is fantastic. I think the interest he is attracting is a double-edged sword for Forest. If he’s playing well, that’s great, but somebody could easily decide to make him a Premier League footballer in January.”

He told BBC Radio Nottingham: “You have two choices when things are

10 | BLUES NEWS

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs NOTTINGHAM FOREST

going against you when you are not winning - you either accept it and get beat or you roll your sleeves up and you try and get back into it.

“We could have done better with the final pass and could have created more chances, and we will do that going forward because we have enough ability in the team. I know we have things to work on, but in the five days that I have been here all I have seen is a set of players who care and want to do well.”

The former Liverpool coach and World Cup winning-boss with England Under-17s helped Wales international Connor Roberts and striker Jamal Lowe prosper with the Swans. So with the Reds adopting a restructuring centred around youth this summer, Cooper seems the ideal candidate to entrust to get the best out of an exciting crop.

Upon Cooper penning a deal until 2023 at the City Ground, Forest chief executive Dane Murphy said: “Steve knows what is required to be successful in the Championship and has a proven track record with Swansea.

“We have reduced the age of our squad over the summer and Steve is the ideal coach to blend a team to start moving us up the table.”

The roster at the City Ground was transformed considerably over the summer with experienced stagers Sammy Ameobi, Glenn Murray and Samba Sow departing, while loanees Cyrus Christie and Anthony Knockaert returned to Fulham. Ten new recruits with an emphasis on reducing the age of the side were ushered in to NG2, including Ateef Konate, Baba Fernandes and Xande Silva, as well as pedigree loanees

www.bcfc.com

BLUES NEWS | 11

First Team Development Coach: Paul Harsley Goalkeeping Coach: Andy Marshall Head of Physical Performance: Sean Rush

First Team Analyst: Dan Millard Under-23s Head Coach: Steve Spooner Academy Director: Paul Williams Head Physiotherapist: Pete Shaw First Team Physiotherapists: Dave Hunt & Dave Singleton Club Secretary: Zoe Jones

everton 3 1 Blues

Blues 0 0 Preston

BARCLAYS FA WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE | SATURDAY 25 SEPTEMBER

SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP | SATURDAY 25 SEPTEMBER Blues (3-5-2): Matija Sarkic, Harlee Dean (Captain), Dion Sanderson, George Friend, Maxime Colin, Tahith Chong, Ryan Woods, Ivan Sunjic, Jeremie Bela, Scott Hogan (Chuks Aneke 67), Troy Deeney (Lukas Jutkiewicz 68).

Substitutes not used: Connal Trueman, Marcel Oakley, Alfie Chang, Riley McGree, Jordan Graham.

Booking: None.

Preston North End (3-5-2): Daniel Iversen, Jordan Storey, Patrick Bauer, Andrew Hughes, Sepp van den Berg, Ben Whiteman (Alistair McCann 70), Daniel Johnson (captain) (Brad Potts 88), Ryan Ledson, Josh Earl, Emil Riis Jakobsen, Sean Maguire (Josh Murphy 70).

Substitutes not used: Declan Rudd, Greg Cunningham, Paul Huntington, Scott Sinclair.

Booking: Bauer 39, Storey 62, Ledson 72.

Head of Performance Analysis: Carl Blakemore

www.bcfc.com

Referee: Matthew Donohue Attendance: 14,925 26 | BLUES NEWS

B

B

At St. Andrew’s, Lee Bowyer’s men came the closest to scoring of either side when Troy Deeney left the goalframe shaking after just five minutes. The striker crashed his header from Dion Sanderson’s fizzing centre onto the crossbar, leaving everyone wondering how the net was not bulging.

Scott Booth’s side had sizeable and controlled spells of possession on Merseyside, causing the hosts significant scares. And despite the visitors falling behind to a fortuitous Leonie Maier strike, which deflected cruelly off Harriet Scott, they were deservedly level by the interval as they got their goalscoring account up and running for the season.

lues Women put in a vastly improved display against Everton in their latest Barclays FA Women’s Super League match but were ultimately edged out by the Toffees in front of the Sky Sports cameras.

lues were pleased to end a run of setbacks with a point against Preston North End, but there was certainly a feeling that it could have been more in front of a home crowd.

That would have probably set Blues on their way to further goals and secured a second league victory in B9 this term, but, as it was, the hosts also had to perform well defensively to keep an in-form Lilywhites outfit at bay.

Matija Sarkic proved an unbeatable last line of defence, denying Preston’s frontmen with a string of one-on-one stops and moving quickly behind his backline to sweep up any attacking forays.

Although it was Birmingham who again went closest after the break, with Maxime Colin’s goalbound strike well saved to ensure the spoils were shared.

You’ve got a Friend in me

Jade Pennock’s first two touches put the Everton defence on red alert and there was nothing they could do to stop her from hitting her first BFAWSL goal, as she darted forward

After the break, Blues continued to pose a threat and remained resilient in defence. Captain Louise Quinn required treatment and a significant head bandage after a brave header to deny a certain goal, whilst the bravery of Sarah Ewens to hassle from the front saw her, unfortunately, withdrawn injured.

However, growing pressure from Willie Kirk’s side told late on. 18-year-old Hanna Bennison struck from distance with 17 minutes to play after combining with Toni Duggan and the game was finally put beyond Birmingham in the seventh of nine added minutes. Rikke Sevecke rose highest to accurately head in a corner as Blues were hunting for an equaliser.

The team are back in BFAWSL league

action tomorrow, here at St. Andrew’s.

Booth’s players go up against Manchester United, with kick-off at 6.45pm. Tickets can be purchased for the Sunday evening showdown by visiting www.eticketing.co.uk/bcfc or by calling the ticket office on 0121 772 0101 and choosing Option 2.

The Main Stand Ticket office will also be open two hours prior to kick-off on the day of this fixture.

Everton Women: Sandy Maciver, Leonie Maier (Rikke Sevecke 69), Nathalie Bjorn, Gabby George, Dan Turner (captain), Grace Clinton (Valerie Gauvin 69), Aurora Galli (Hanna Bennison 46), Kenza Dali, Izzy Christiansen, Claire Emslie, Toni Duggan (Nicoline Sorensen 81 (Poppy Pattinson 90+5).

Substitutes not used: Courtney Brosnan, Megan Finnigan.

Blues Women: Emily Ramsey, Harriet Scott (Libby Smith 62), Louise Quinn (captain), Gemma Lawley, Rebecca Holloway, Jamie Finn, Lisa Robertson, Lucy Quinn, Veatriki Sarri (Emily Whelan 62), Sarah Ewens (Eleanor Ryan-Doyle 65), Jade Pennock (Lucy Whipp 81).

Substitutes not used: Marie Hourihan.

On his first Sky Bet Championship appearance of the campaign, George Friend proved his value to Blues by helping the hosts record a fifth clean sheet of the season.

The self-effacing defender, who preferred to praise centreback partners Harlee Dean and Dion Sanderson when speaking to the media post-match, put in a super solid showing of his own throughout to keep Frankie McAvoy’s side out.

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs NOTTINGHAM FOREST

before firing across the ‘keeper in style.

www.bcfc.com

BLUES NEWS | 27

BLUES NEWS | 7

05 LEE BOWYER 06 Matija Sarkic 09 The Opposition: nottingham forest 15 Harlee Dean 18 72@50 22 community 23 player sponsorship 24 under-18s match report 25 under-23s match report 26 action replay 27 WOMEN’S REPORT 30 supporters’ messages

Repairtech Services (UK) Limited

Suppliers of Professional After-Sales Care Proud to sponsor Birmingham City Football Club

If it’s “Broke” – We Fix it!

Don’t call ‘Bodge-it and Scarper’...

Rely on the people who will really get your domestic appliances up and running again.

4 | BLUES NEWS

service@repairtechuk.co.uk www.repairtechuk.com

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs NOTTINGHAM FOREST

Lee

F

BOWYER

irstly, I would like to welcome Steve Cooper, his players, staff and all those connected to Nottingham Forest to St. Andrew’s for today’s fixture.

Steve is a highly respected head coach who knows this division having guided Swansea City to play-off finishes in the last two years.

It will take time for him to get his ideas across, but I have no doubt, given that time, he will improve Forest.

As with all our opponents, we will pay them the respect they deserve but today has to be about us. This is the last game before the international break, we are at home and as a group we need to make sure we leave everything out on the pitch.

We have not got the results I believe we deserved in the last few games, but we must keep working hard and believe we will get our rewards.

As was the case for both Preston and QPR, we have created some big chances and had the opportunity to open the scoring. When we go in front, I think we look like a very good side, but we have to be more clinical because that was the difference on Tuesday night.

We faced a very good footballing side in QPR and caused them problems early on.

They were always going to create openings of their own because of how they work the ball, but we should have taken the lead. That completely changes the complexion of game.

its way in, their second was unacceptable from a defensive perspective and that gave us a lot to do. But to their credit, the players continued to plug away and try to force the issue and all three substitutes offered us something. It was a harsh scoreline, but we cannot and will not feel sorry for ourselves.

I do not want to be too critical because the squad has improved hugely from when I first walked through the door, but I also want to win every game and that is what we will be looking to get back to today.

We have been on the wrong end of some fine margins of late, but I take positives in that I do not believe that much needs to be changed. I think minor tweaks are necessary but most importantly we have to be taking our chances and keeping the door shut at the other end.

Preston was another example of a tight Championship encounter where on the balance of chances created, we should have nicked all three points. This group will have opportunities to score which is why, if we can be defensively solid, we will always give ourselves a chance.

Hopefully, we can come out on top at both ends of the pitch today and can end this block of games with a positive result.

Keep Right On, Lee Bowyer

Whilst there first goal takes a deflection on www.bcfc.com

BLUES NEWS | 5

Main Interview

J

Matija Sarkic

ust three years ago, Matija Sarkic was starting games for Stratford Town in the seventh tier of English football.

nicely and I look forward to each and every match. Recent results are part of football but we’re constantly reviewing things and looking to put them right.

Fast-forward to the present day and the Montenegrin international is 11 starts into a season-long loan at Blues, having joined from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer.

You mention results there, what is the secret to a team rediscovering form again?

It is like everything in life - there will always be ups and downs, but it is how you come back from the difficult times. We are constantly asking ourselves – ‘Hey, what can we do to put things right?’.

There are positives to take from certain points in recent games and outcomes that can be taken from the last couple of weeks. There is a lot of progress to be made still – I am sure about that.

In a career that has already taken the 24-year-old from his hometown of Grimsby to Anderlecht’s youth academy, a spell at St. Andrew’s is the latest move in the young keepers’ ever-improving career.

With that in mind, Blues News sat down with the shot-stopper to see how he’s settling in between the sticks.

Matty, you have had a bit of time to find your feet at Blues, how are things going a couple of months after joining?

I feel great. I am improving with every game and training session.

Day by day, things are moving along 6 | BLUES NEWS

How have you found taking on the role as Blues’ first-choice keeper?

I have really enjoyed getting to know the lads and I want to make a difference. It is about being part of this team and really helping the club as much as I can on and off the pitch. I and the team will continue to improve.

You have a previous relationship with goalkeeping coach Andy Marshall – how has it been working with him again?

I have known Marshy for a while now and he really works you hard. He gets into a lot of detail with analysis and even mentally – he knows exactly what he is doing and how to prepare you. It is massive having a good goalkeeping coach – a lot of people won’t realise how important they are but they keep you on your toes every day and improve you. For me, it is like having another manager [laughs]! In all seriousness, he has really pushed me, and I am grateful for that. His work is reflecting in my performances.

We’re only a handful of fixtures into the season but do you have any longer term aims or goals you want to take from your time here?

I am really enjoying it – how can I not be, playing in the Championship week-after-week! If I keep learning and helping, I will be happy. You never want to look too far ahead in football but if I can keep playing games, keep improving then I am making the most of this incredible opportunity. I am incredibly grateful to be here.

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs NOTTINGHAM FOREST

www.bcfc.com

BLUES NEWS | 7

E R E H T IS R E T T A BE O T Y A W R U O Y BUY ?

R A C NEXT O O Z A C YEAH!

Buy or finance a car online and we’ll deliver it to your door with a 7-Day Money Back Guarantee.

Fact file

Nickname: The Reds Formed: 1865

Stadium: The City Ground Stadium Capacity: 30,332 Chairman: Nicholas Randall QC Manager: Steve Cooper Last season finish: 17th in the Championship

The Opposition

Nottingham forest

ONE TO WATCH

Brennan Johnson ATTACKING MIDFIELDER DOB: 23 May 2001 Whether it is a reported bid from Brentford for his services or David Beckham’s social media praise of his first international start, Johnson has not let media attention distract him.

Forest’s homegrown prodigy netted 13 times during a season-long loan at Lincoln City last campaign and is now proving he is more than capable of tormenting defenders at Championship level.

The livewire 20-year-old forward, who debuted for the Reds aged 18, has been a first-team mainstay this season and registered his first goal for the club in an East Midlands derby at the end of August.

The son of former Forest favourite David Johnson also gained fulsome praise for his performances for Wales during the last international break, his trickery helping to earn a penalty against Finland before starting in the World Cup Qualifying victory in Belarus.

FOREST BRA

T

he worst start to a season in 108 years for Nottingham Forest will be the unfortunate legacy Chris Hughton leaves behind, after his ill-fated tenure at the club came to an end in September.

The former Blues boss won just 14 of his 52 games in charge of the Reds, having taken over in October 2020,

but a perceived resistance to adapt his style of play with results hard to come by left his dismissal with an air of inevitability last month.

Six defeats from their opening seven Championship matches, with just a point collected in an East Midlands clash with rivals Derby County, saw Forest bottom of the division and looking rudderless.

Former Forest star David Prutton certainly believes the creative dynamo has the potential to propel Forest up the division working in tandem with Joe Lolley.

He told the Garibaldi podcast: “I think the way Brennan plays football is fantastic. I think the interest he is attracting is a double-edged sword for Forest. If he’s playing well, that’s great, but somebody could easily decide to make him a Premier League footballer in January.”

10 | BLUES NEWS

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs NOTTINGHAM FOREST

IN THE DUGOUT

Steve Cooper DOB: 10 December 1979 Appointed: September 2021 The Welsh tactician became the 14th manager in a decade on Trentside last month, after Forest agreed a compensation package with Swansea City for his services.

The 41-year-old led the Swans to back-to-back play-off finishes before departing last July after a Play-off Final defeat to Brentford.

While his ability to gain results at the right end of the Championship was an attractive proposition, it was also his reputation in developing emerging talent that made him the right fit for the club’s top-brass.

NCHING OUT While goals have been in short supply - just 41 in the league during Hughton’s reign - the Reds have also laboured at the other end. They conceded twice to Coventry City, AFC Bournemouth, Blackburn Rovers, Cardiff City and Middlesbrough in the opening months of the campaign and successor Steve Cooper knows the task of resurrecting the former European Cup winners is a monumental one.

The former Swansea City boss was not in charge as a first Championship win of the season was registered at Hudddersfield Town a fortnight ago under Steven Reid’s interim care. Yet the 41-year-old tactician saw glimpses of the fighting spirit and resolve he was looking for after gaining a point from his first game in charge at the City Ground against Millwall last weekend.

He told BBC Radio Nottingham: “You have two choices when things are www.bcfc.com

going against you when you are not winning - you either accept it and get beat or you roll your sleeves up and you try and get back into it.

“We could have done better with the final pass and could have created more chances, and we will do that going forward because we have enough ability in the team. I know we have things to work on, but in the five days that I have been here all I have seen is a set of players who care and want to do well.”

The former Liverpool coach and World Cup winning-boss with England Under-17s helped Wales international Connor Roberts and striker Jamal Lowe prosper with the Swans. So with the Reds adopting a restructuring centred around youth this summer, Cooper seems the ideal candidate to entrust to get the best out of an exciting crop.

Upon Cooper penning a deal until 2023 at the City Ground, Forest chief executive Dane Murphy said: “Steve knows what is required to be successful in the Championship and has a proven track record with Swansea.

“We have reduced the age of our squad over the summer and Steve is the ideal coach to blend a team to start moving us up the table.”

The roster at the City Ground was transformed considerably over the summer with experienced stagers Sammy Ameobi, Glenn Murray and Samba Sow departing, while loanees Cyrus Christie and Anthony Knockaert returned to Fulham. Ten new recruits with an emphasis on reducing the age of the side were ushered in to NG2, including Ateef Konate, Baba Fernandes and Xande Silva, as well as pedigree loanees BLUES NEWS | 11

Giving Football Back to Small Business At eBay, we know small business and football clubs used to be like chips and gravy, two peas in a pod – a match made in community heaven.

Ironmongers, ship workers, spring makers and cobblers, all formed clubs which decades later are still prospering.

But nowadays, you’d think it was all eyewatering transfers, Super Leagues and mega sponsors, detached from the humble origins of our historic clubs.

That’s why eBay are proud to support 300,000 small businesses who help power EFL clubs nationwide. We’ll be donating our advertising space to a lot of these businesses – on match day hoardings, around grounds and beyond – throughout the coming season, to ensure they can continue to thrive in our local communities. So, join us in giving your support to Small Business Power, because today, they need us more than ever.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

AROUND THE GROUNDS West Bromwich Albion maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a thumping 4-0 victory at Cardiff City on Tuesday, but faced a tricky assignment yesterday in visiting a Stoke City side without defeat in the Potteries.

It was a fourth straight loss for Mick McCarthy’s Bluebirds, having conceded nine times in their previous two outings, and signs of improvement will be demanded this afternoon against a rejuvenated Reading.

Jordi Osei-Tutu from Arsenal and Manchester United’s James Garner.

Having a background in coaching Liverpool’s youth sides and England’s Under-17s should make Cooper an ideal candidate to coax the best from the club’s new starlets going forward, but the short-term objective is to simply get points on the board.

A wing-back system has been deployed in Forest’s previous two outings prior to Wednesday’s trip to Barnsley, with former Championship Team of the Season representative Brice Samba protected by a back three of last season’s Player of the Year winner Joe Worrall, Portuguese Tobias Figueiredo and Scotland international Scott McKenna.

Providing the high-octane approach down either flank have been loanees Djed Spence from Middlesbrough and former Ram Max Lowe, who is on loan from Sheffield United. Both received high praise from Cooper for their relentless energy and high pressing in recent outings.

Academy prodigy Ryan Yates and England Under-21 cap Garner have been handed the responsibility of getting Forest on the front foot in the middle of the park. Although further options in that area include www.bcfc.com

former Premier League performer Jack Colback, Olympiakos signing Cafu and fellow Portuguese teammate and club-record transfer Joao Carvalho.

The well-travelled Lewis Grabban, who boasts 150 league career goals, provides a reliable focal point in attack and has been supported by former Player of the Year Joe Lolley and Nottingham-born sensation Brennan Johnson.

Alternatives include Dane Philip Zinckernagel on loan from Watford, a fifth member of the side’s Portuguese contingent in winger Xande Silva, homegrown talent Alex Mighten and Lyle Taylor who was prolific during two years with Charlton Athletic.

Although returning the Reds to a first top-flight return since 1999 seems a long way off, the upbeat former Swansea chief is convinced he can get Forest playing a more exciting brand of football once again.

He explained his vision to The Athletic: “It’s easier said than done but I want us to play good football, exciting football, with a team that the supporters can be proud of and can associate with.”

After seeing Nick Powell’s fourth goal in five games cancelled out against Preston, Potters boss Michael O’Neil admitted it felt “like two points dropped” at Deepdale as North End earned a fifth consecutive stalemate. The division’s draw specialists travel to Queens Park Rangers today after they beat Blues in midweek with two Ilias Chair goals.

In Tuesday’s ‘orange derby’ struggling Hull City had Tom Eaves to thank for a late equaliser against the Tangerines. It kept the Tigers in the bottom three after 10 games with only six goals scored the most anaemic frontline in the division. And things do not get any easier for them this afternoon as Middlesbrough arrive buoyed by victory in the ‘Warnock Derby’ over Sheffield United.

Elsewhere, Coventry City’s miserly defence will want to preserve the Sky Blues’ perfect home record against Fulham, in-form Bournemouth host the Blades looking for a fourth straight win in Dorset and Blackburn Rovers will hope having the Championship’s leading scorer in Ben Brereton Diaz can inspire success in Blackpool for the first time since 2017.

BLUES NEWS | 13

Football is a game of many opinions, but there is one that we must all share. There is no place for discrimination in our game. If you do not agree, then you are not welcome.

If you see or hear discrimination in this stadium, please report it to the nearest steward or via the Kick it Out App. Because we are all #TogetherAgainstDiscrimination Download the Kick it Out app for free from your app store.

EFL.com

Captain

Harlee dean G

ood afternoon and welcome back to St. Andrew’s for this afternoon’s Sky Bet Championship fixture against Nottingham Forest.

Today’s game represents an opportunity to bounce back after Tuesday night’s defeat in the capital at the hands of Queens Park Rangers.

It was a closely fought affair and another game decided by the finest of margins. QPR scored at good times, whilst we didn’t take our key chances. If Tahith’s effort goes in after 20 minutes, it is a different match entirely but, if we continue creating opportunities, the goals will come – I am sure of it.

When you go a couple down away from home it is always going to be difficult. QPR were happy to sit back and soak up the pressure – which we applied until the final whistle but it just didn’t drop for us on the night.

As a group, we have come a long way and continue to grow. We are trying to do the right things but in recent weeks, have fallen just a little bit short. I know that is frustrating but sometimes it happens, and you must simply go again.

The nature of the Championship means it is another quick turnaround into this afternoon’s fixture and an instant opportunity to pick things back up. I think when you need a win – that is not a bad thing in the slightest.

to give ourselves the best chance of getting three points.

The gaffer and his team have brought belief into the squad, and we are still full of fight for the months ahead. They continue to teach us and every day, set out to instil a confidence in the entire Football Club that we have what it takes to compete.

We know we can compete as well – we have beaten good teams already this season. We have taken points against strong outfits and lost narrowly when things could have been different. A tough couple of weeks does not change the fact that we have an excellent group capable of getting results.

Forest come to St. Andrew’s with a new manager at the helm in Steve Cooper. He has pedigree at this level having led Swansea to back-to-back Championship play-off finishes in the last couple of seasons.

Any team who has appointed a new manager will be full of fight. It is a clean slate for all their players so we must not underestimate our opponents in the slightest.

Your support is always so greatly appreciated by the whole team, and we look forward to seeing you all this afternoon.

Enjoy the game and Keep Right On,

After the QPR game, we have been back in training, reviewing things, and assessed what we can do better www.bcfc.com

Harlee Dean BLUES NEWS | 15

HERE’S A ST AT I BET YOU DIDN’T KN W

OVER HALF A MILLION SKY BET CUSTOMERS USE DEPOSIT LIMITS TO MANAGE THEIR BETTING BUDGET. THAT’S ENOUGH TO FILL: 6 WEMBLEYS. 201 ALLY PALLYS. OR 8 CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP DAYS. (THAT’S A LOT OF TWEED)

ALL GOOD BOOKMAKERS HAVE DEPOSIT LIMITS. SO WHOEVER YOU BET WITH, SET AN APPROPRIATE ONE FOR YOU AND THEN ENJOY THE SPORT. DEPOSIT LIMITS

THAT’S BETTING BETTER.

7250

Half a century on from the glorious 1971/72 season when Freddie Goodwin’s Blues dramatically clinched promotion to the top flight having also reached the FA Cup semi-finals, we turn the Blues News spotlight on recalling one of the finest seasons in Blues’ post-war history.

@

F

by ROB MASON

ifty years ago today Blues entertained Oxford United. The U’s had lost every away game while Birmingham boasted a 100% home record so the 31,759 who packed into St. Andrews arrived expecting entertainment, goals and hopefully a further climb up the table as City were just a point behind the second of two promotion places. A Bob Latchford hat-trick had helped smash Watford in midweek while Oxford had enjoyed a good home win of their own against QPR. Managed by Gerry Summers Oxford spoiled the expected party by stoically defending and taking away a point from a

goalless draw. The point kept Blues in fifth place although the gap to second stretched to two points with leaders Norwich a further two points clear.

Seven days later it was time to travel to QPR who had just held Norwich at Carrow Road and sat just a point behind Blues. Managed by Gordon Jago QPR had a side full of past, present and future big names. Chief amongst these were Terry Venables and Rodney Marsh but there were also future England internationals, goalkeeper Phil Parkes and midfield driving force Gerry Francis, as well as Frank Saul who had scored the winner for Spurs in the cup final four years earlier.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE BIRMINGHAM CITY FORMER PLAYERS ASSOCIATION

Trevor Francis 18 | BLUES NEWS

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs NOTTINGHAM FOREST

As with the previous week’s match with Oxford it was a tight and cagey affair with defences on top. A single goal settled proceedings and unfortunately for Blues it went to the home side, Marsh getting on the score-sheet. The result saw Rangers leapfrog Blues who dropped to eighth with the gap to the promotion places now four points. Remember there were no play-offs and with just two going up it was important to not allow a gap to open up.

Although only 11 of 42 games had been played next up was the reverse fixture from the opening day with Sunderland. The Wearsiders had drawn with leaders Norwich at their old ground Roker Park as Blues were losing in London. Goals had been scarce in their away games so far. They had conceded five in four games and scored just three but one of those from future England international Dave Watson had given them victory at Burnley on their last away trip. It was another future England man, Dennis Tueart, who took the corner which led to perhaps the best goal scored against Blues all season. Tueart’s flag kick to the edge of the box was met full on the volley by Bobby Kerr who would captain Sunderland to a sensational FA Cup final victory over Leeds the following season.

That goal in only the sixth minute seemed to signal another difficult afternoon for Blues but seven minutes later Bob Latchford’s eighth goal of the season tied up matters although City could not force a winner beyond future Birmingham keeper Jim Montgomery.

With just two points taken from the last three games Blues stayed in eighth place but were now looking at a five point gap to second placed Millwall who like leaders Norwich remained unbeaten.

CLASS OF 71/72

TEAMS

ROGER HYND

BLUES 0: Kelly, Martin, Pendrey, Page, Hynd, Robinson, Campbell, Francis, Latchford B., Phillips, Taylor.

Centre half Roger Hynd was one of three ever presents as promotion was won, playing all 42 league games and scoring one goal. That would come in a big win over champions Norwich City later in the season. Inducted into Blues Hall of Fame in 2012, five years before his death, Hynd gave good service to the club playing 170 league games between 1970 and 75.

OXFORD UNITED 0: Kearns, Lucas, Shuker, Roberts, Clarke, Evanson, Sloan, Skeen, Clayton, Cassidy, Atkinson.

ATTENDANCE: 31,759 QPR 1: Parkes, Clement, Gillard, Venables, Hunt, Hazell, Busby, Francis, McCulloch, Marsh, Saul.

BLUES 0: Kelly, Martin, Pendrey, Page, Hynd, Robinson, Campbell, Francis, Latchford B., Phillips (Summerhill), Smith.

ATTENDANCE: 16,039

BLUES 1: Kelly, Martin, Pendrey, Page, Hynd, Robinson, Campbell, Francis, Latchford B., Summerhill, Taylor.

SUNDERLAND 1: Montgomery, Malone, Coleman, Harvey, Pitt, Porterfield, McGiven, Kerr, Watson, Hamilton (Chambers), Tueart.

ELSEWHERE IN FOOTBALL As Blues were staging a goalless draw with Oxford there were plenty of goals at Shrewsbury where Alf Wood netted five as they thumped Blackburn 7-1. The following Monday morning Chesterfield born Arsenal goalkeeper Bob Wilson was named in Tommy Docherty’s Scotland squad.

These days that wouldn’t raise an eyebrow but then it was big news. Also at international level the legendary Giacinto Faccetti won his 60th cap for Italy making him his country’s record appearance maker. England meanwhile beat Switzerland 3—2 with Geoff Hurst amongst the scorers. www.bcfc.com

The nephew of the legendary Bill Shankly, Shankly was one of Roger’s middle names. Born in Falkirk in 1942, he started with Rangers for whom he played in the European Cup Winners’ Cup final against Bayern Munich in 1967. Hynd played as a centre forward in that match – his opposite number nine being the legendary Gerd Muller.

Rangers lost 1-0 after extra-time. After leaving Ibrox in 1969 Roger had a season at Crystal Palace before coming to St. Andrews. He also had a loan to Oxford and finished his playing days with Walsall before managing Motherwell and having a spell as caretaker boss of St. Johnstone.

BLUES NEWS | 19

New Customer Mobile Exclusive > > > > > > > >

BET £10 GET £20 IN FREE BETS

THIS IS BETTING

New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Mobile exclusive. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Payment method restrictions. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. 18+. T&Cs apply.

GET THE APP

Bet Responsibly

Community Match Day Last weekend’s Community Match Day vs Preston North End was a resounding success with lots of money and awareness of the Community Trust being raised. A big thank you to all of the fans who donated money to the volunteer bucket collectors who were walking round the ground before the game. There was also a raffle taking place on the KOP landing so a big thank you to all of the guests who purchased a tickets and congratulations if you were successful with this. Having this match day was a great opportunity to shout about all of the work that the Community Trust do working across various parts of the City and having an impact in some of the harder to reach

areas. There will be another Community Match Day vs Blackburn Rovers on the last home game of the season so keep your eyes pealed in preparation for this.

Cyrille Regis Golf DaY Earlier this month, The Cyrille Regis Legacy Trust had their annual charity golf day playing The Brabazon Course at The Belfry.

Students from the Strike A Change programme – a Community Trust provision - attended and got to mingle with the VIP guests at the event. With fellow Community Trust’s from the West Midlands in attendance, the students who had never picked up a golf club in their life got the chance to have an hour golf lesson on the prestige driving range where they learnt the basic technique of golf and they all thoroughly enjoyed this memorable experience.

Summer Camps and Paul’s Produce Over the 6 week summer holidays, the Community Trust ran 5 council funded multi-sport/football camps across Birmingham and Solihull for children entitled to free school meals. As part of this, sandwiches, cereal bars and plenty of drinks were available for the children to take full advantage of. To ensure the camps were as healthy as possible, fruit was provided to every participant across all venues and Paul’s Produce who are based at Birmingham Wholesale Market kindly donated all of this for free. The Trust were incredibly grateful for the support from Paul’s Produce and they played a part in what was a very successful summer of sporting delivery.

22 | BLUES NEWS

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs NOTTINGHAM FOREST

52

20

Anna-Leigh Brooks

www.bcfc.com

23

ADAN GEORGE

50

available

CRAIG GARDNER

12

13

15

17

18

JORDAN GRAHAM

CONNAL TRUEMAN

10

11

RILEY McGREE

09

07

06

IVAN SANCHEZ

CHUKS ANEKE

MATIJA SARKIC

HARLEE DEAN

JEREMIE BELA

LUKAS JUTKIEWICZ

SCOTT HOGAN

TAHITH CHONG

RYAN WOODS

01

02

MAXIME COLIN

NEIL ETHERIDGE

04

05

GEORGE FRIEND

MARC ROBERTS

03 KRISTIAN PEDERSEN

Simon & Rosemarie Nash

27

available

NICO GORDON

available

LEE BOWYER

JUAN CASTILLO

DION SANDERSON

GARY GARDNER

available

24

available available

44 CAOLAN BOYD-MUNCE

21

TROY DEENEY

Simone Ingram available

40

36

IVAN SUNJIC Oliver Collinson Simone Ingram

54 KEYENDRAH SIMMONDS

TATE CAMPBELL

34 Simone Ingram

53

MARCEL OAKLEY

BIRMINGHAM CITY SHIRT SPONSORSHIP 2021/22 For more information regarding player shirt sponsorship please contact us on 0121 772 0101 option 3 or email Commercial@bcfc.com

available

Spotswood Facilities Management

available

available

available

Simone Ingram

BLUES NEWS | 23

Match Report

B

Under 18s

lues Under-18s were narrowly beaten by Arsenal in the Premier League South on Saturday lunchtime.

A single goal after nine minutes was the difference at the Arsenal Training Centre.

Charles Sagoe Junior’s effort from the edge of the box punished the one error that Blues made during the match, with the visitors defending well throughout and setting up to attack the unbeaten Gunners.

After the break, two good chances passed Blues by as George Hall could not quite find the required finish and Rico Patterson was unable to get on the end of a teasing cross.

Reacting to a tight contest against Arsenal, Martyn Olorenshaw was hugely satisfied with his team’s reaction to the heavy Premier League Cup defeat against Manchester United a week previous.

He told BCFC.com: “In terms of the performance, we were really pleased.

24 | BLUES NEWS

The boys picked themselves up from last week. Defensively we looked solid and limited the attempts they were able to have on our goal. We were really pleased with our work.

stronger and the players are adapting week on week. I am hoping we can replicate what we did this weekend and we take our big moments when they come, then we can get a good result.”

“The response to last week was great. We gave them some tough feedback in the week and the players were very honest as well. To go out and perform like that, we were really proud and pleased for them. We have had a really tough start, playing some big clubs with huge budgets.

“The players deserve a huge amount of credit and the showing they put in against a really good team was fantastic. We only started the game with six-second years and that can make a big difference at Under-18s football, so as a coaching staff we were delighted.”

Blues are back in action this Saturday as they welcome Fulham to Wast Hills Training Ground and the Lead Under-18s coach is expecting more improvements from his side.

Olorenshaw said: “We are getting

Blues: Brooks, Home, Nguepissi, Carsley, Williams (Oni 61), Patterson, Browne, Manton, Khela (Rushton 77), Bellingham, James (Hall 46).

Substitutes not used: Mayo, Oduka.

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs NOTTINGHAM FOREST

Match Report

B

Under 23s

lues Under-23s superbly beat Southampton in the Premier League 2 on Monday afternoon.

The hosts produced a remarkable comeback after the Saints went two up inside 12 minutes before Blues rallied, scoring three of their own in quick succession to pick up a vital three points at Wast Hills Training Ground.

The victory marks a second league win for Blues, moving them to 11th place in the division.

But they were made to work for the win and Southampton took a surprise early lead with the first real opportunity of the half, Dominic Ballard firing home from the edge of the area after Mitch Roberts had been dispossessed.

The away side would double their lead on 12 minutes when Caleb Watts lashed home from range.

David Horseman’s side were looking increasingly likely to pick up their first win of the season but Blues began to rally.

They halved the deficit midway through the half, Kyle Hurst getting his first when his shot squirmed underneath the Saints’ keeper having been played through by Oriol Soldevila.

Blues were feeling confident and less than a minute later were level.

George Hall, called up from the Under-18s, was slipped in, clinically sliding home to restore parity.

The comeback was completed on 37 minutes when Hurst got his second.

Once again, the home side sliced through the Southampton defence and the 19-year-old beat Bycroft from close-range yet again as Blues turned the match on its head.

It could have been four, but Hurst was denied his hat-trick when a flying shot rattled the crossbar before half-time.

The second 45 began as quickly as the first, Bycroft saving close-range efforts from both Hurst and Hall, who were looking to add to their earlier strikes.

The introduction of the experienced Boyd-Munce into midfield enabled

www.bcfc.com

Blues to settle as the second-half grew older and Southampton were allowed far less time in possession.

The Saints would enjoy the majority of possession towards the end of the game but Blues defended doggedly in order to seal a second league victory of the campaign.

Blues: Neil Etheridge, Marcel Oakley, Callum Sullivan, Tommy Fogarty, Mitch Roberts (captain), Jordan James, Oriol Soldevila (Zohore 90), Remi Walker (BoydMunce 45), Leo Dos Reis, George Hall (Rico Patterson 68), Kyle Hurst.

Substitutes not used: Cianole Nguepissi, Oliver Basey.

Booking: Sanders 31, Salmon 85, Hammond 90.

Blues: Jack Bycroft, Dynel Simeu, Josh Lett, Oludare Olufunwa (Mitchell 60), Olly Lancashire, Kegs Chauke (captain), Lewis Payne, Kamari Doyle (Burnett 60), Dominic Ballard (Smith 60), Caleb Watts, Kazeem Olaigbe.

Substitutes not used: Oliver Wright, Zuriel Otseh-Taiwo.

Booking: Watts 45, Ballard 52.

BLUES NEWS | 25

Blues 0 0 Preston SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP | SATURDAY 25 SEPTEMBER Blues (3-5-2): Matija Sarkic, Harlee Dean (Captain), Dion Sanderson, George Friend, Maxime Colin, Tahith Chong, Ryan Woods, Ivan Sunjic, Jeremie Bela, Scott Hogan (Chuks Aneke 67), Troy Deeney (Lukas Jutkiewicz 68).

Substitutes not used: Connal Trueman, Marcel Oakley, Alfie Chang, Riley McGree, Jordan Graham.

Booking: None.

Preston North End (3-5-2): Daniel Iversen, Jordan Storey, Patrick Bauer, Andrew Hughes, Sepp van den Berg, Ben Whiteman (Alistair McCann 70), Daniel Johnson (captain) (Brad Potts 88), Ryan Ledson, Josh Earl, Emil Riis Jakobsen, Sean Maguire (Josh Murphy 70).

Substitutes not used: Declan Rudd, Greg Cunningham, Paul Huntington, Scott Sinclair.

Booking: Bauer 39, Storey 62, Ledson 72.

Referee: Matthew Donohue Attendance: 14,925 26 | BLUES NEWS

B

lues were pleased to end a run of setbacks with a point against Preston North End, but there was certainly a feeling that it could have been more in front of a home crowd.

At St. Andrew’s, Lee Bowyer’s men came the closest to scoring of either side when Troy Deeney left the goalframe shaking after just five minutes. The striker crashed his header from Dion Sanderson’s fizzing centre onto the crossbar, leaving everyone wondering how the net was not bulging.

That would have probably set Blues on their way to further goals and secured a second league victory in B9 this term, but, as it was, the hosts also had to perform well defensively to keep an in-form Lilywhites outfit at bay.

Matija Sarkic proved an unbeatable last line of defence, denying Preston’s frontmen with a string of one-on-one stops and moving quickly behind his backline to sweep up any attacking forays.

Although it was Birmingham who again went closest after the break, with Maxime Colin’s goalbound strike well saved to ensure the spoils were shared.

You’ve got a Friend in me On his first Sky Bet Championship appearance of the campaign, George Friend proved his value to Blues by helping the hosts record a fifth clean sheet of the season.

The self-effacing defender, who preferred to praise centreback partners Harlee Dean and Dion Sanderson when speaking to the media post-match, put in a super solid showing of his own throughout to keep Frankie McAvoy’s side out.

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs NOTTINGHAM FOREST

everton 3 1 Blues BARCLAYS FA WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE | SATURDAY 25 SEPTEMBER

B

lues Women put in a vastly improved display against Everton in their latest Barclays FA Women’s Super League match but were ultimately edged out by the Toffees in front of the Sky Sports cameras.

Scott Booth’s side had sizeable and controlled spells of possession on Merseyside, causing the hosts significant scares. And despite the visitors falling behind to a fortuitous Leonie Maier strike, which deflected cruelly off Harriet Scott, they were deservedly level by the interval as they got their goalscoring account up and running for the season.

Jade Pennock’s first two touches put the Everton defence on red alert and there was nothing they could do to stop her from hitting her first BFAWSL goal, as she darted forward

before firing across the ‘keeper in style.

After the break, Blues continued to pose a threat and remained resilient in defence. Captain Louise Quinn required treatment and a significant head bandage after a brave header to deny a certain goal, whilst the bravery of Sarah Ewens to hassle from the front saw her, unfortunately, withdrawn injured.

However, growing pressure from Willie Kirk’s side told late on. 18-year-old Hanna Bennison struck from distance with 17 minutes to play after combining with Toni Duggan and the game was finally put beyond Birmingham in the seventh of nine added minutes. Rikke Sevecke rose highest to accurately head in a corner as Blues were hunting for an equaliser.

The team are back in BFAWSL league

action tomorrow, here at St. Andrew’s.

Booth’s players go up against Manchester United, with kick-off at 6.45pm. Tickets can be purchased for the Sunday evening showdown by visiting www.eticketing.co.uk/bcfc or by calling the ticket office on 0121 772 0101 and choosing Option 2.

The Main Stand Ticket office will also be open two hours prior to kick-off on the day of this fixture.

Everton Women: Sandy Maciver, Leonie Maier (Rikke Sevecke 69), Nathalie Bjorn, Gabby George, Dan Turner (captain), Grace Clinton (Valerie Gauvin 69), Aurora Galli (Hanna Bennison 46), Kenza Dali, Izzy Christiansen, Claire Emslie, Toni Duggan (Nicoline Sorensen 81 (Poppy Pattinson 90+5).

Substitutes not used: Courtney Brosnan, Megan Finnigan.

Blues Women: Emily Ramsey, Harriet Scott (Libby Smith 62), Louise Quinn (captain), Gemma Lawley, Rebecca Holloway, Jamie Finn, Lisa Robertson, Lucy Quinn, Veatriki Sarri (Emily Whelan 62), Sarah Ewens (Eleanor Ryan-Doyle 65), Jade Pennock (Lucy Whipp 81).

Substitutes not used: Marie Hourihan.

www.bcfc.com

BLUES NEWS | 27

ROLL CALL & LEAGUE TABLE PLAYER

LEAGUE APPS GLS

FA CUP APPS GLS

LEAGUE CUP APPS GLS

CHUKS ANEKE (F)

0 (8) 1

0 (0) 0

2 (0) 0

POS.

P

W

D

L

GD PTS

JEREMIE BELA (F)

10 (0) 1

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

1

10

6

4

0

12

JOBE BELLINGHAM (F)

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

2 BOURNEMOUTH

10 6 4 0 9 22

TATE CAMPBELL (M)

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (1) 0

3 FULHAM

10 6 2 2 13 20

ALFIE CHANG (M)

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (1) 0

TAHITH CHONG (M)

9 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

4 COVENTRY CITY

10 6 1 3 1 19

MAXIME COLIN (D)

10 (0) 1

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

5 STOKE CITY

10 5 3 2 3 18

HARLEE DEAN (D)

10 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

6 BLACKBURN ROVERS

10 4 4 2 6 16

TROY DEENEY (F)

3 (2) 1

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

7 HUDDERSFIELD TOWN

10 5 1 4 2 16

NEIL ETHERIDGE (G)

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

8 QUEENS PARK RANGERS

10 4 3 3 5 15

GEORGE FRIEND (D)

1 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

2 (0) 0

9 LUTON TOWN

10 3 4 3 2 13

10 BRISTOL CITY

10 3 4 3 0 13

11 READING

10 4 1 5 -3 13

12 MIDDLESBROUGH

10 3 3 4 0 12

13 SHEFFIELD UNITED

10 3 3 4 -1 12

14 MILLWALL

10 2 6 2 -1 12

WEST BROMWICH ALBION

22

GARY GARDNER (M)

4 (3) 1

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

NICO GORDON (D)

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

JORDAN GRAHAM (M)

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

2 (0) 0

SCOTT HOGAN (F)

8 (1) 3

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

IVAN SANCHEZ (M)

0 (2) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

JUAN CASTILLO (D)

0 (1) 0

0 (0) 0

2 (0) 0

LUKAS JUTKIEWICZ (F)

8 (2) 1

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

15 BIRMINGHAM CITY

10 3 3 4 -2 12

CHARLIE LAKIN (M)

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (1) 0

16 BLACKPOOL

10 3 3 4 -4 12

JONATHAN LEKO (M)

1 (3) 0

0 (0) 0

2 (0) 0

17

10

RILEY MCGREE (M)

0 (1) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (1) 0

18 CARDIFF CITY

10 3 2 5 -6 11

MARCEL OAKLEY (D)

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

2 (0) 1

19 SWANSEA CITY

10 2 4 4 -5 10

KRISTIAN PEDERSEN (D)

8 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

MARC ROBERTS (D)

9 (0) 1

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

20 NOTTINGHAM FOREST

10 2 2 6 -3 8

MITCHELL ROBERTS (D)

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

21 BARNSLEY

10 1 5 4 -6 8

DION SANDERSON (D)

2 (1) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

22 PETERBOROUGH UNITED

10 2 2 6 -10 8

MATIJA SARKIC (G)

10 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

23 HULL CITY

10 1 3 6 -9 6

24

10

KEYENDRAH SIMMONDS (F) 0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (1) 0

IVAN SUNJIC (M)

7 (2) 0

0 (0) 0

2 (0) 0

CONNAL TRUEMAN (G)

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

REMI WALKER (M)

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

RYAN WOODS (M)

10 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

PRESTON NORTH END

DERBY COUNTY

2

3

5

4

3

3

-2

-1

11

1*

Fixtures & RESULTS 2021/22 DATE

KO

OPPONENT

RES

COMP

POS

ATT 29,043

STARTING XI

AUGUST SARKIC

ROBERTS

DEAN

PEDERSEN ■

COLIN 1 ■

TRUEMAN

OAKLEY 1

GORDON

FRIEND

CASTILLO

SUNJIC

10,189

SARKIC

ROBERTS

DEAN

PEDERSEN

COLIN

SUNJIC

11

9,922

SARKIC

ROBERTS

DEAN

PEDERSEN ■

COLIN

CHONG

8

10,014

SARKIC

ROBERTS 1 ■

DEAN

PEDERSEN

COLIN

SUNJIC

-

4,783

ETHERIDGE

ROBERTS

SANDERSON

FRIEND

OAKLEY

SUNJIC

8

13,950

SARKIC

COLIN

DEAN

PEDERSEN

OAKLEY

SUNJIC

14,912

SARKIC

ROBERTS ■

DEAN

PEDERSEN

COLIN

SUNJIC ■

SARKIC

ROBERTS

DEAN

PEDERSEN

COLIN

SUNJIC

12,199

SARKIC

ROBERTS

DEAN

PEDERSEN

COLIN

DEENEY

12

14,925

SARKIC

SANDERSON

DEAN

PEDERSEN

COLIN

SUNJIC

13

12,257

SARKIC

ROBERTS

DEAN

SANDERSON

COLIN

SUNJIC ■

Sat 07

8.00pm

SHEFFIELD UNITED

A

1-0

LEAGUE

5

TUE 10

7.45PM

COLCHESTER UNITED

H

1-0

EFL CUP

-

Sat 14

3.00pm

STOKE CITY

H

0-0

LEAGUE

10

WED 18

7.45pm

AFC BOURNEMOUTH

H

0-2

LEAGUE

SAT 21

3.00pm

LUTON TOWN

A

5-0

LEAGUE

TUE 24

7.45PM

FULHAM

H

0-2

EFL CUP

Sat 28

3.00pm

BARNSLEY

A

1-1

LEAGUE

FRI 10

8.00pm

DERBY COUNTY

H

2-0

LEAGUE

7

WED 15

7.45pm

FULHAM

H

1-4

LEAGUE

10

SAT 18

3.00pm

PETERBOROUGH UNITED

A

0-3

LEAGUE

11

Sat 25

3.00pm

PRESTON NORTH END

H

0-0

LEAGUE

TUE 28

7.45pm

QUEENS PARK RANGERS

A

0-2

LEAGUE

GARDNER ■

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER Sat 02

3.00pm

NOTTINGHAM FOREST

H

LEAGUE

Sat 16

3.00pm

WEST BROMWICH ALBION

A

LEAGUE

Wed 20

7.45pm

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN

A

LEAGUE

Sat 23

3.00pm

SWANSEA CITY

H

LEAGUE

Sat 30

3.00pm

MIDDLESBROUGH

A

LEAGUE LEAGUE

NOVEMBER Tue 02

7.45pm

BRISTOL CITY

H

Sat 06

3.00pm

READING

H

LEAGUE

Sat 20

3.00pm

HULL CITY

A

LEAGUE

Tue 23

7.45pm

COVENTRY CITY

A

LEAGUE

Sat 27

3.00pm

BLACKPOOL

H

LEAGUE

SAT 04

3.00pm

MILLWALL

A

LEAGUE

Sat 11

3.00pm

CARDIFF CITY

H

LEAGUE

DECEMBER

Sat 18

3.00pm

BLACKBURN ROVERS

A

LEAGUE

Sat 26

3.00pm

FULHAM

A

LEAGUE

Tue 29

7.45pm

PETERBOROUGH UNITED

H

LEAGUE

Sup porters

MESSAGES

JANUARY Sat 01

3.00pm

QUEENS PARK RANGERS

H

LEAGUE

Sat 15

3.00pm

PRESTON NORTH END

A

LEAGUE

Sat 22

3.00pm

BARNSLEY

H

LEAGUE

Sat 29

3.00pm

DERBY COUNTY

A

LEAGUE

Happy Birthday to Ben who is 10 today and is watching Blues on his birthday!

FEBRUARY SAT 05

3.00pm

SHEFFIELD UNITED

H

LEAGUE

WED 09

7.45pm

AFC BOURNEMOUTH

A

LEAGUE

SAT 12

3.00pm

LUTON TOWN

H

LEAGUE

SAT 19

3.00pm

STOKE CITY

A

LEAGUE

TUE 22

8.00pm

READING

A

LEAGUE

Sat 26

3.00pm

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN

H

LEAGUE LEAGUE

MARCH Sat 05

3.00pm

BRISTOL CITY

A

Sat 12

3.00pm

HULL CITY

H

LEAGUE

TUE 15

7.45pm

MIDDLESBROUGH

H

LEAGUE

Sat 19

3.00pm

SWANSEA CITY

A

LEAGUE

3.00pm

WEST BROMWICH ALBION

H

LEAGUE LEAGUE

APRIL sat 02 sat 09

3.00pm

NOTTINGHAM FOREST

A

fri 15

3.00pm

COVENTRY CITY

H

LEAGUE

mon 18

3.00pm

BLACKPOOL

A

LEAGUE

sat 23

3.00pm

MILLWALL

H

LEAGUE

Sat 30

3.00pm

CARDIFF CITY

A

LEAGUE

12.30pm

BLACKBURN ROVERS

H

LEAGUE

is brother who ay to my step m fro h, Happy Birthd ug ro h and th Blues throug land.

Charlie Blax

Happy 10th birthd ay Logan for the 16t h September. Have the best day ever love Mummy, Daddy, Sh annon and Mason .

Keep Right On our mini Bluenose xxx

MAY Sat 01

30 | BLUES NEWS

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs NOTTINGHAM FOREST

SUB 1

SUB 2

SUB 3

UNUSED SUBS

CASTILLO (78) ■

WOODS ■

CHONG

BELA

HOGAN

JUTKIEWICZ

LEKO (68) ■

SUNJIC (74)

SANCHEZ

LAKIN

GRAHAM

LEKO

ANEKE

CAMPBELL (73)

McGREE (74)

TRUEMAN, FRIEND, ANEKE, SANCHEZ

GARDNER

WOODS

BELA

HOGAN ■

JUTKIEWICZ

ANEKE (66)

LEKO (71)

GARDNER

WOODS

BELA

LEKO

JUTKIEWICZ

ANEKE (70)

HOGAN (79)

SÁNCHEZ (87)

TRUEMAN, FRIEND, CASTILLO, SUNJIC TRUEMAN, FRIEND, CASTILLO, LEKO

SARKIC, BELLINGHAM, WALKER, CHANG, ROBERTS TRUEMAN, FRIEND, SÁNCHEZ, McGREE, CASTILLO

CHONG

WOODS

BELA

HOGAN 2

JUTKIEWICZ

ANEKE 1 (61)

SÁNCHEZ (70)

GARDNER 1 (81)

McGREE

FAMILIA-CASTILLO

LEKO

ANEKE

GRAHAM

LAKIN (61)

SIMMONDS (62)

CHANG (73)

BELA

WOODS

HOGAN

JUTKIEWICZ 1

CHONG

ANEKE (76)

LEKO (89)

BELA 1

WOODS

HOGAN 1

JUTKIEWICZ

CHONG

DEENEY (67)

GARDNER (74)

BELA

WOODS

HOGAN

JUTKIEWICZ

CHONG ■

DEENEY 1 (53)

GARDNER (60) ■

ANEKE (75) ANEKE (58) ■

TRUEMAN, FRIEND, HOGAN, McGREE

McGREE (71)

TRUEMAN, FRIEND, GRAHAM, CHANG

BELA

WOODS ■

GARDEN ■

JUTKIEWICZ

CHONG

SANDERSON (45)

SUNJIC (45)

BELA ■

WOODS

DEENEY

HOGAN

CHONG

ANEKE (67)

JUTKIEWICZ (68)

BELA

WOODS

DEENEY

HOGAN

CHONG

JUTKIEWICZ (56)

ANEKE (71)

ve a great birthday. Ha Happy 60th d Tracy an a m ck, Em day. From Ni

Big Blues fan, Megan Reeves turned 7 on 1st October. Hope she had a great birthday. Love from Uncle Paul xxx

s Lifelong Blue Fan, Paul Wiatrowicz, sadly passed , away, aged 63 th on Sunday 13 September.

Here he is on the left with his k brother, Mar

www.bcfc.com

TRUEMAN, BELLINGHAM, WALKER TRUEMAN, FRIEND, SÁNCHEZ, McGREE, GARDNER TRUEMAN, FRIEND, ANEKE, McGREE, SANDERSON TRUEMAN, FRIEND, McGREE, SANDERSON TRUEMAN, McGREE, GRAHAM, CHANG, OAKLEY

nri Taylor! rthday to He Happy 7th Bi er play is His favourite ll. loves footba he d an g Tahith Chon ecial day! sp a tr ex an ve Hope you ha

Remembering Chloe Kerr. Three years without you our beautiful angel.

Never a moment goes by when you aren’t in our hearts and minds.

We love you and miss you so much. Always by our side. Love you Chlo. KRO always x Your family and friends

BLUES NEWS | 31

BIRMINGHAM CITY HEAD COACH: LEE BOWYER GK

NEIL ETHERIDGE 1 ■ ■

MAXIME COLIN 2 ■ ■ KRISTIAN PEDERSEN 3 ■ ■ MARC ROBERTS 4 ■ ■ GEORGE FRIEND 5 ■ ■ RYAN WOODS 6 ■ ■

TAHITH CHONG 7 ■ ■ SCOTT HOGAN 9 ■ ■ LUKAS JUTKIEWICZ 10 ■ ■

JEREMIE BELA 11 ■ ■

HARLEE DEAN 12 ■ ■ GK

MATIJA SARKIC 13 ■ ■ CHUKS ANEKE 15 ■ ■ IVAN SANCHEZ 17 ■ ■ RILEY McGREE 18 ■ ■

GARY GARDNER 20 ■ ■

DION SANDERSON 21 ■ ■

JUAN CASTILLO 23 ■ ■

JORDAN GRAHAM 24 ■ ■ GK

CONNAL TRUEMAN 27 ■ ■

IVAN SUNJIC 34 ■ ■

TROY DEENEY 36 ■ ■

ADAN GEORGE 40 ■ ■ CAOLAN BOYD-MUNCE 44 ■ ■

NICO GORDON 50 ■ ■

KYLE HURST 51 ■ ■

MARCEL OAKLEY 52 ■ ■

TATE CAMPBELL 53 ■ ■

KEYENDRAH SIMMONDS 54 ■ ■

NEXT UP AT ST. ANDREW’S SWANSEA CITY SATURDAY 23 OCTOBER 2021 KICK-OFF 3PM

NOTTINGHAM FOREST HEAD COACH: STEVE COOPER

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

1 ETHAN HORVATH GK 2 DJED SPENCE 3 TOBIAS FIGUEIREDO 4 JOE WORRALL 5 RODRIGO ELY 6 LOIC MBE SOH 7 LEWIS GRABBAN 8 JACK COLBACK 10 JOAO CARVALHO 11 PHILIP ZINCKERNAGEL 12 JORDAN SMITH GK 13 GAETAN BONG 15 MAX LOWE 17 ALEX MIGHTEN 18 CAFU 19 XANDE SILVA 20 BRENNAN JOHNSON 21 BRAIAN OJEDA 22 RYAN YATES 23 JOE LOLLEY 24 JORDI OSEI-TUTU 25 MOHAMED DRAGER 26 SCOTT McKENNA 30 BRICE SAMBA GK 33 LYLE TAYLOR 38 TYRESE FORNAH 42 ATEEF KONATE

MATCH OFFICIALS REFEREE KEITH STROUD ASSISTANT REFEREE SAM LEWIS ASSISTANT REFEREE JONATHAN HUNT 4TH OFFICIAL JOHN BUSBY