Birmingham City v Barnsley

BLUES NEWS

Birmingham City v Barnsley Saturday 22 January 2022 Kick-off 3pm ISSUE 15 | £3

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with the Championship’s most prolific striker in Aleksandar Mitrovic at Craven Cottage. But Mengi, 19, is at Blues to do just that. And there is both belief and evidence that those duels will make him a better player in the long run.

With that in mind and Mengi now settled and enjoying life in the Second City, Blues News caught up with the loanee to get his thoughts on the weeks and months ahead.

This is your second spell in the Championship as a loan player, what are you taking away from playing at this level?

I was ready to kick on again and give the Championship another go. I have played a lot of Under-23s football this season before I came here but the landscape is completely different. Playing in the Championship means something to us and to the team – that is the difference.

We decided staying at United for the first-half of the season was the right thing to do but I am so glad to be at Birmingham for this challenge.

BIRMINGHAM CITY FC Telephone: 0121 772 0101

Main Interview

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A

Teden Mengi

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

How have you found living and moving to Birmingham in the short time you have been here?

It has been brilliant. The reason I feel good is because of the boys. Everyone in the changing room, the manager, the staff and all the people here have been so welcoming. Everyone has made me feel part of the Birmingham City family because that is what this club is, a family. Big credit needs to go to everyone here.

s little as six weeks ago, defender Teden Mengi was playing Under-23s football for Manchester United. The routine included travelling to nonleague venues and training grounds across the country as the latest batch of Red Devils stars attempt to break into the First Team.

Fans have really taken to you already and have been impressed by your strong performances. I guess it is nice to have them onside early doors?

The support means everything, to me and everyone representing this Club. The fans have been brilliant in supporting us and all we can ask is that the support continues.

The football is technical, fast-paced and competed by bright talents who certainly know how to play. But it is not Preston North End away, under the lights on a winter’s afternoon, with almost 2,000 Bluenoses watching on.

Nor is it Plymouth Argyle in Emirates FA Cup third round action or a battle 6 | BLUES NEWS

BCFC BOARD

You have had some big battles in the last couple of games with centreforwards, such as Ched Evans at Preston, Mitrovic at Fulham. Do you enjoy those physical encounters?

They are brilliant tests against very good players. But again, that is the reason I am here, to go up against those players. I will take so much away from challenges like those.

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs BARNSLEY

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

Poya Asbaghi DOB: 17 July 1985 Appointed: November 2021 To say the Iranian has had a baptism of fire into English football since arriving last November would be an understatement.

ONE TO WATCH

Callum Styles

The 36-year-old took the reins after predecessor Markus Schopp was dismissed following a run of seven straight defeats. Inheriting a side low on confidence, in an unfamiliar league while adapting to the maelstrom of COVID-19 outbreaks in camp, not overloading players and long-term injuries have been just some of the challenges the rookie boss has had to contend with since walking into Oakwell.

LEFT MIDFIELDER DOB: 28 March 2000 A tenacious midfield dynamo not afraid to roll his sleeves up and get stuck in, the 21-year-old has impressed for Barnsley since leaving Bury in 2018.

Trusted in a variety of roles, including left-wing back, the adaptable midfielder has shown his poise and composure when asked to operate in a more central position this season, something that has had Celtic reportedly interested in his services.

Promoted with hometown Bury in 2018/19, having been the first player born in the new millennium to make an EFL appearance two years before, he has continued his rise at Oakwell.

The youngster wrote himself into Reds’ folklore with his first goal for the club at Brentford proving particularly well-timed, as it came on the final day of the 2019/20 season to help Barnsley preserve their Championship status. Since then he has been more decoy than detonator but did score five times in 50 appearances last term.

THE reds’ TRANSFORMATION

Reds’ record appearance holder Barry Murphy certainly views the natural left sider as a key asset, speaking in his column in Barnsley’s Grove Street matchday programme: “I thought Carlton Morris changed the game in our favour against Barrow, his class stood out, and Callum Styles did well in the centre of the park – he works his socks off, which he does week in, week out for the side.”

Head of Performance Analysis: Carl Blakemore 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

arnsley proved to be the Sky Bet Championship’s dark horses last season by finishing in their highest placing for over two decades to reach the play-offs.

Despite having one of the smallest and youngest squads in the division, then head coach Valerien Ismael masterminded an unexpected top-six placing that had seemed unthinkable when he took the reins at the South Yorkshire club in October 2020 with the side languishing in 21st.

Building on last season’s exploits has not materialised. Ismael was poached

by West Bromwich Albion and he took talismanic captain Alex Mowatt with him before reuniting with American striker Daryl Dike in the current window.

10 | BLUES NEWS

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs BARNSLEY

The Reds have been in a tailspin since, after his successor Markus Schopp lasted just 16 games in charge.

A paltry two league wins all season has been a dramatic oscillation of trajectory. From the Championship’s upper echelons to the relegation zone within eight months is a spectacular fall from grace. Dropping to the bottom of the table last weekend though, behind a Derby County side deducted 21 points for financial misdemeanours, was the club’s nadir.

Despite availability issues due to COVID-19 and injuries, which has seen the Reds unable to fulfil January fixtures against Stoke City and Blackpool, Head Coach Poya Asbaghi is refusing to let his first experience of English football get him down.

Although his appointment was an intriguing one, the former Dalkurd FF, Gefle IF and IFK Goteborg coach is highly regarded in Scandinavia. He was nominated as the Swedish Allsvenskan Manager of the Year in 2019, led Goteborg to success in the Swedish Cup 12 months later and enjoyed Europa League football before guiding Sweden’s Under-21s to the top of their qualifying group.

Renowned for his high-pressing style and meticulous approach, the project-based boss is Barnsley’s fifth permanent dug-out incumbent in just over two years, but the club’s hierarchy are convinced they finally have the right man to steer them to safety.

CEO Khaled El-Ahmad said upon his appointment: “As we went through our recruitment process it was clear he will take us forward.”

The 36-year-old Iranian explained to the Yorkshire Post: “I am not going to lie, it is not an ideal situation in any way and a big, big challenge. But as a coach you like these situations as well.

You have to show up with the art of coaching and be able to handle these situations of playing a football game

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BLUES NEWS | 11

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ifty years ago today, Blues were on the march. On the back of a pulsating 6-3 home win over Portsmouth and a comfortable start to the cup run having taken care of Port Vale to the tune of 3-0, Bluenoses headed to Watford’s Vicarage Road for a second division fixture.

The Hornets were having an awful time which was about to get worse.

Rest assured there will be no look back at 1971/72 in this season’s Watford programme! Whereas the only game Birmingham lost after New Year’s Day in the rest of the 1971/72 campaign was the FA Cup semi-final, for Watford there was only one win after November 20 in league or cup!

Ouch. Unsurprisingly, they were bottom of the league but we’re not about to be quite the pushover that might be imagined. Going into this game their problems had been on the road where they had taken one miserable point from 12 games. At home though they had done not too badly in the first-half of the season. At Vicarage Road they had lost only one game more than they had won. Thankfully they were goal shy and had scored just once in their previous seven games.

Goalkeeping Coach: Andy Marshall

Chief Medical Officer: Roddy Macdonald

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Although a 2-1 aggregate defeat to Swansea City last May in the play-offs was a disappointing way to conclude such a fairy-tale journey, it was the closest the Tykes had come to achieving a Premier League return since defeating Blues at the same stage in 1999/2000.

First Team Development Coach: Paul Harsley

Head of Physical Performance: Sean Rush

BLUES NEWS | 7

IN THIS ISSUE IN THE DUGOUT

FOOTBALL MANAGEMENT

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Surely this was the opportunity for Blues to finally register an away win.

Despite being fifth in the table, Blues were the only team in the division apart from Watford yet to win away. With Norwich City leading the table, coincidentally a Norwich based referee, Mr Tommy Dawes, was in charge of the game at Vicarage Road.

Birmingham boss Freddie Goodwin made one change to the team who had scored six in their last league game but this was to strengthen the side with the restoration of regular number six Stan Harland in place of Michael Harrison who had made what proved to be his solitary appearance of the season against Pompey.

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It was not the prettiest of games at Vicarage Road but Trevor Francis nudged City ahead before the break and lacking any sting the Hornets rarely looked like levelling. With leaders Norwich City held at home by Preston North End and Millwall only drawing at Sheffield Wednesday it had been a good afternoon despite Queens Park Rangers 4-2 home win over Oxford which lifted them into second place above Millwall. Those two London clubs were level on 34 points. Blues were four points behind them in fourth place but having broken their away duck were now moving into top gear.

TEAMS

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.

BLUES 1: Cooper, Carroll, Pendrey Page, Hynd, Harland, Campbell, Francis, Latchford B., Hatton Taylor.

Gordon Taylor Known to modern day fans as the long serving and recently departed chairman of the Professional Footballers’ Association, in his playing days Gordon Taylor was a methodical left-winger. He was very practical on the pitch, always looking for a solution and determined not to let anyone get the better of him. During the promotion season of 1971/72 Gordon played in 30 of the 42 league games, 27 of those as starts.

As a player, other than a spell on loan to Vancouver Whitecaps from Blackburn Rovers, Gordon only played for teams beginning with the letter ‘B’. He scored nine goals in 166 league outings for Blues who he joined after 258 league appearances with his first club Bolton, while after his time at St. Andrew’s Taylor played 64 league games for Blackburn and 60 for Bury.

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ELSEWHERE IN FOOTBALL

Peter Osgood

On the same day Blues won at Watford in the top flight, a Peter Osgood goal for Chelsea at Old Trafford knocked Manchester United off the top of the table.

They were overtaken by Leeds and Manchester City who beat Sheffield United and Crystal Palace respectively. Aston Villa led the third division but were only a point ahead of Bournemouth and Notts County who each had a game in hand.

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In the midweek games, Southern League Hereford United held top-flight Newcastle to a draw at St. James’ Park while Stoke City reached their first ever major cup final. The Potters beating West Ham United in the League Cup semi-final. This was in the days before substitute goalkeepers and so Bobby Moore went in goal when Bobby Ferguson was injured. As we watch football now in 2022, Brentford have moved to a new stadium. This week fifty years ago, the Bees put forward plans for a new base in Hounslow.

by ROB MASON

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE BIRMINGHAM CITY FORMER PLAYERS ASSOCIATION

18 | BLUES NEWS

WATFORD 0: Rankin, Rowan, Williams, Eddy, Lees(Watt), Lugg, Kenning, Morrissey, Jennings, Wigg, Franks.

CLASS OF 71/72

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs BARNSLEY

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BLUES NEWS | 19

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Lee Bowyer Teden Mengi The Opposition: Barnsley On This Day 72@50 Community Player Sponsorship Blues Women Under-23s Action Replay Stats Fixtures and Results

LEE

F

BOWYER

irstly, I would like to welcome Poya Asbaghi, his staff, players and the Barnsley supporters to St. Andrew’s for today’s game.

It is the first of back-to-back home fixtures against sides who are scrapping and fighting for points, and we must be ready for the challenge. Of course, there is an expectation on us, especially being the hosts, but we cannot take anything for granted. The Sky Bet Championship is extremely competitive and regardless of the opposition, we will pay them the respect they deserve.

Make no mistake, as a group, we know how important these two games are and have prepared diligently this week. When we play in front of a home crowd, it is up to us to get the supporters off their seats and generate the kind of atmosphere this place has been renowned for over the years. One thing this group does not lack is effort and we will require every ounce of it today if we are to get the result we are all hoping for.

It is the one thing I cannot criticise the players for on Tuesday evening. When you concede six goals and suffer a heavy defeat, you are naturally very disappointed. There were goals that were preventable from a defensive perspective, especially those that came from balls into our box.

But Fulham are a side littered with Premier League players and have really set the bar in the division since the turn of the year.

Admittedly, we struggled to make our mark on the match but the one positive I can take is the two goals we scored.

4 | BLUES NEWS

Ivan [Sunjic] and Gazza [Gary Gardner] produced two very good strikes of the ball and it is something we need more of. We cannot be reliant upon our frontline and scoring from other areas of the pitch is something we have spoken about as a group.

We have to show the right kind of response today. We have some solid professionals in our squad, and they have quickly picked themselves and the group back up and are ready to go again. Everyone accepts that it will be a very different challenge to Fulham, and we want to be the side on the front foot and show that positive intent.

That is when this group are at their best. We are a hard-working side and when we play at a high tempo and put pressure on the opposition, we have had success this season.

I think you saw that in the second-half at Preston North End last weekend. We played with purpose, generated momentum, had them penned and the crowd sensed that a goal was coming. Again, it was that bit of quality that led to the equaliser and that will be the deciding factor again today.

I know we will be competitive, and the effort has always been there, so I am looking for us to produce that bit of quality in the final third that will make all the difference.

Thank you again for your support.

Keep Right On, Lee Bowyer

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs BARNSLEY

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BLUES NEWS | 5

Main Interview

A

Teden Mengi

s little as six weeks ago, defender Teden Mengi was playing Under-23s football for Manchester United. The routine included travelling to nonleague venues and training grounds across the country as the latest batch of Red Devils stars attempt to break into the First Team.

The football is technical, fast-paced and competed by bright talents who certainly know how to play. But it is not Preston North End away, under the lights on a winter’s afternoon, with almost 2,000 Bluenoses watching on.

Nor is it Plymouth Argyle in Emirates FA Cup third round action or a battle

6 | BLUES NEWS

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs BARNSLEY

with the Championship’s most prolific striker in Aleksandar Mitrovic at Craven Cottage. But Mengi, 19, is at Blues to do just that. And there is both belief and evidence that those duels will make him a better player in the long run.

With that in mind and Mengi now settled and enjoying life in the Second City, Blues News caught up with the loanee to get his thoughts on the weeks and months ahead.

This is your second spell in the Championship as a loan player, what are you taking away from playing at this level?

I was ready to kick on again and give the Championship another go. I have played a lot of Under-23s football this season before I came here but the landscape is completely different. Playing in the Championship means something to us and to the team – that is the difference.

We decided staying at United for the first-half of the season was the right thing to do but I am so glad to be at Birmingham for this challenge.

You have had some big battles in the last couple of games with centreforwards, such as Ched Evans at Preston, Mitrovic at Fulham. Do you enjoy those physical encounters?

They are brilliant tests against very good players. But again, that is the reason I am here, to go up against those players. I will take so much away from challenges like those.

How have you found living and moving to Birmingham in the short time you have been here?

It has been brilliant. The reason I feel good is because of the boys. Everyone in the changing room, the manager, the staff and all the people here have been so welcoming. Everyone has made me feel part of the Birmingham City family because that is what this club is, a family. Big credit needs to go to everyone here.

Fans have really taken to you already and have been impressed by your strong performances. I guess it is nice to have them onside early doors?

The support means everything, to me and everyone representing this Club. The fans have been brilliant in supporting us and all we can ask is that the support continues. www.bcfc.com

BLUES NEWS | 7

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Fact file

Nickname: The Reds Formed: 1887 Stadium: Oakwell Stadium Capacity: 23,287 Head Coach: Poya Asbaghi

Last season finish: 5th in Championship

The Opposition

barnsley

ONE TO WATCH

Callum Styles LEFT MIDFIELDER DOB: 28 March 2000 A tenacious midfield dynamo not afraid to roll his sleeves up and get stuck in, the 21-year-old has impressed for Barnsley since leaving Bury in 2018.

Trusted in a variety of roles, including left-wing back, the adaptable midfielder has shown his poise and composure when asked to operate in a more central position this season, something that has had Celtic reportedly interested in his services.

Promoted with hometown Bury in 2018/19, having been the first player born in the new millennium to make an EFL appearance two years before, he has continued his rise at Oakwell.

The youngster wrote himself into Reds’ folklore with his first goal for the club at Brentford proving particularly well-timed, as it came on the final day of the 2019/20 season to help Barnsley preserve their Championship status. Since then he has been more decoy than detonator but did score five times in 50 appearances last term.

THE reds’ TRANSFORMATION

Reds’ record appearance holder Barry Murphy certainly views the natural left sider as a key asset, speaking in his column in Barnsley’s Grove Street matchday programme: “I thought Carlton Morris changed the game in our favour against Barrow, his class stood out, and Callum Styles did well in the centre of the park – he works his socks off, which he does week in, week out for the side.”

10 | BLUES NEWS

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs BARNSLEY

IN THE DUGOUT

Poya Asbaghi DOB: 17 July 1985 Appointed: November 2021 To say the Iranian has had a baptism of fire into English football since arriving last November would be an understatement.

The 36-year-old took the reins after predecessor Markus Schopp was dismissed following a run of seven straight defeats. Inheriting a side low on confidence, in an unfamiliar league while adapting to the maelstrom of COVID-19 outbreaks in camp, not overloading players and long-term injuries have been just some of the challenges the rookie boss has had to contend with since walking into Oakwell.

B

arnsley proved to be the Sky Bet Championship’s dark horses last season by finishing in their highest placing for over two decades to reach the play-offs.

Despite having one of the smallest and youngest squads in the division, then head coach Valerien Ismael masterminded an unexpected top-six placing that had seemed unthinkable when he took the reins at the South Yorkshire club in October 2020 with the side languishing in 21st.

Although a 2-1 aggregate defeat to Swansea City last May in the play-offs was a disappointing way to conclude such a fairy-tale journey, it was the closest the Tykes had come to achieving a Premier League return since defeating Blues at the same stage in 1999/2000.

Building on last season’s exploits has not materialised. Ismael was poached

by West Bromwich Albion and he took talismanic captain Alex Mowatt with him before reuniting with American striker Daryl Dike in the current window. www.bcfc.com

The Reds have been in a tailspin since, after his successor Markus Schopp lasted just 16 games in charge.

A paltry two league wins all season has been a dramatic oscillation of trajectory. From the Championship’s upper echelons to the relegation zone within eight months is a spectacular fall from grace. Dropping to the bottom of the table last weekend though, behind a Derby County side deducted 21 points for financial misdemeanours, was the club’s nadir.

Despite availability issues due to COVID-19 and injuries, which has seen the Reds unable to fulfil January fixtures against Stoke City and Blackpool, Head Coach Poya Asbaghi is refusing to let his first experience of English football get him down.

Although his appointment was an intriguing one, the former Dalkurd FF, Gefle IF and IFK Goteborg coach is highly regarded in Scandinavia. He was nominated as the Swedish Allsvenskan Manager of the Year in 2019, led Goteborg to success in the Swedish Cup 12 months later and enjoyed Europa League football before guiding Sweden’s Under-21s to the top of their qualifying group.

Renowned for his high-pressing style and meticulous approach, the project-based boss is Barnsley’s fifth permanent dug-out incumbent in just over two years, but the club’s hierarchy are convinced they finally have the right man to steer them to safety.

CEO Khaled El-Ahmad said upon his appointment: “As we went through our recruitment process it was clear he will take us forward.”

The 36-year-old Iranian explained to the Yorkshire Post: “I am not going to lie, it is not an ideal situation in any way and a big, big challenge. But as a coach you like these situations as well.

You have to show up with the art of coaching and be able to handle these situations of playing a football game BLUES NEWS | 11

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AROUND THE GROUNDS Stoke City defenders may have been having sleepless nights this week in trepidation of facing freescoring Fulham this afternoon.

and having few players in training. It is about how to keep the motivation up with the players and improving and learning. We need to step up during this time as well.”

A distinct lack of firepower and an aversion to playing on the road have provided the catalyst to the Reds sitting eight points from safety.

Barnsley are the only Championship side not to win away from home this season, as well as having the unwanted tag of the division’s lowest scorers with just 16 goals in 24 games.

The long-term absence of captain Cauley Woodrow, leading marksman for the previous two seasons, has proved a bitter blow, while Austrian Dominik Frieser was released and Belgian Obbi Oulare have been sidelined since November.

While the club’s lack of depth in the armoury has been exposed, it is not quite as straightforward as dipping into the market this month to find readymade reinforcements to help shoulder the goals burden from summer signing Aaron Leya Iseka, Nigerian Victor Adeboyejo or the well-travelled Devante Cole.

Not over-extending resources or straying from the club’s transfer policy are considerations as well, as Asbaghi explained: “It depends on what category of players you are looking at. Barnsley will always try to look for players who are younger and cheap because we do not have the budget. I www.bcfc.com

do not think that changes because of our position in the table. That thinking from the club has always been there.

“A lot of players would still be happy to join a team like Barnsley playing in the Championship and competing to play football games. It is a privilege still.

They are playing in a tough, competitive league which means something and they have to embrace it.”

Navigating January without losing any influential performers could be integral to the Reds’ survival. Former Chelsea goalkeeper Brad Collins, who has four clean-sheets, centre-back pairing in the towering Dane Mads Anderson and Poland international Michal Helik have all attracted suitors. As has Callum Brittain, whose composed performances at wing-back have reportedly piqued the interest of Blackburn Rovers and Swansea City in recent weeks.

Attacking midfielder Callum Styles, still only 21, has been another shining light in a dismal campaign and played in advanced roles alongside Kenyan Clark Odour and Carlton Morris in the club’s last league outing at Blackburn Rovers at the end of December.

While getting bodies off the treatment table during an intense February fixture schedule is the priority, rediscovering last season’s fearlessness on their travels, which saw them win at Brentford, QPR and AFC Bournemouth, could be key to sidestepping a trapdoor to the third-tier they dodged by a point the season before last.

Although the Potters boast the vastly-experienced Phil Jagielka in their backline after his release from Derby County, not many Championship rear-guards have been able to contain Marco Silva’s rampant Cottagers. The league leaders became the first side since Chester in 1933/34 to score six or more in three consecutive games, while Aleksandar Mitrovic’s 27-goal haul for the campaign so far puts him just four short of the divisional record.

Middlesbrough are another side in scintillating form, with the Chris Wilder influence in full affect. Boro won a fourth consecutive game against Reading thanks to a late brace from Matt Crooks to move into the play-offs and face a blockbuster clash against third-place Blackburn Rovers on Monday.

At the other end of the table, Hull City could have done without today’s trip to second-placed AFC Bournemouth. Although the Cherries have lost three of their last five games, the Tigers have not won on their travels since November and lost 6-1 on their most recent trip to Dorset in 2016.

Fellow strugglers Reading are attempting to put their bleak start to 2022 behind them against a Huddersfield Town side unbeaten in eight games, while the division’s meanest defence at West Bromwich Albion host a Peterborough United team that have scored just six times away from home.

Elsewhere, there is a first home game in nearly two months for Sheffield United against Luton Town and East Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest face an in-form Derby County, that has seen Rams manager Wayne Rooney linked to the vacant managerial position at Everton.

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 14 | BLUES NEWS

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BIRMINGHAM CITY vs BARNSLEY

ON THIS DAY 19years ago 29years ago 39years ago 50years ago 56years ago www.bcfc.com

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Blues signed Matthew Upson from Arsenal for a seven-figure fee. The defender would help the team to an impressive 13th-place finish in the Premier League and make more than 120 appearances in the Second City before joining West Ham in 2007.

John Gayle’s strike and a John Frain penalty helped Blues to a vital 2-0 win over Peterborough United at St. Andrew’s.

Six further wins would see Birmingham City secure safety in the second tier on the last day of the 1992/93 campaign: the first term following the Premier League’s split from the Football League.

An eighth-minute Phil Neal goal helped Liverpool to a 1-0 win over Blues at Anfield in January 1983. A side featuring Kevan Broadhurst, Mick Harford and Alan Curbishley put in a valiant performance on Merseyside against a team that would go on to win the First Division and League Cup that season.

Trevor Francis struck a priceless winner as Blues defeated Watford by a single goal at Vicarage Road. The Club went unbeaten from January through to May during the 1971/72 season and were promoted to the First Division, despite not being in the promotion positions until the final standings were completed.

Third round FA Cup success was on the menu for Blues as they snuck past Bristol City in B9. A Geoff Vowden double and Bobby Thomson winner saw them win 2-1.

The success was new manager Stan Cullis’ sixth in just seven games after he was appointed in December.

BLUES NEWS | 15

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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.

@

by ROB MASON

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE BIRMINGHAM CITY FORMER PLAYERS ASSOCIATION

18 | BLUES NEWS

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs BARNSLEY

F

ifty years ago today, Blues were on the march. On the back of a pulsating 6-3 home win over Portsmouth and a comfortable start to the cup run having taken care of Port Vale to the tune of 3-0, Bluenoses headed to Watford’s Vicarage Road for a second division fixture.

The Hornets were having an awful time which was about to get worse.

Rest assured there will be no look back at 1971/72 in this season’s Watford programme! Whereas the only game Birmingham lost after New Year’s Day in the rest of the 1971/72 campaign was the FA Cup semi-final, for Watford there was only one win after November 20 in league or cup!

Ouch. Unsurprisingly, they were bottom of the league but we’re not about to be quite the pushover that might be imagined. Going into this game their problems had been on the road where they had taken one miserable point from 12 games. At home though they had done not too badly in the first-half of the season. At Vicarage Road they had lost only one game more than they had won. Thankfully they were goal shy and had scored just once in their previous seven games.

Surely this was the opportunity for Blues to finally register an away win.

Despite being fifth in the table, Blues were the only team in the division apart from Watford yet to win away. With Norwich City leading the table, coincidentally a Norwich based referee, Mr Tommy Dawes, was in charge of the game at Vicarage Road.

Birmingham boss Freddie Goodwin made one change to the team who had scored six in their last league game but this was to strengthen the side with the restoration of regular number six Stan Harland in place of Michael Harrison who had made what proved to be his solitary appearance of the season against Pompey.

It was not the prettiest of games at Vicarage Road but Trevor Francis nudged City ahead before the break and lacking any sting the Hornets rarely looked like levelling. With leaders Norwich City held at home by Preston North End and Millwall only drawing at Sheffield Wednesday it had been a good afternoon despite Queens Park Rangers 4-2 home win over Oxford which lifted them into second place above Millwall. Those two London clubs were level on 34 points. Blues were four points behind them in fourth place but having broken their away duck were now moving into top gear.

TEAMS WATFORD 0: Rankin, Rowan, Williams, Eddy, Lees(Watt), Lugg, Kenning, Morrissey, Jennings, Wigg, Franks.

BLUES 1: Cooper, Carroll, Pendrey Page, Hynd, Harland, Campbell, Francis, Latchford B., Hatton Taylor.

CLASS OF 71/72 Gordon Taylor Known to modern day fans as the long serving and recently departed chairman of the Professional Footballers’ Association, in his playing days Gordon Taylor was a methodical left-winger. He was very practical on the pitch, always looking for a solution and determined not to let anyone get the better of him. During the promotion season of 1971/72 Gordon played in 30 of the 42 league games, 27 of those as starts.

As a player, other than a spell on loan to Vancouver Whitecaps from Blackburn Rovers, Gordon only played for teams beginning with the letter ‘B’. He scored nine goals in 166 league outings for Blues who he joined after 258 league appearances with his first club Bolton, while after his time at St. Andrew’s Taylor played 64 league games for Blackburn and 60 for Bury.

Attendance: 10,884

ELSEWHERE IN FOOTBALL

Peter Osgood

On the same day Blues won at Watford in the top flight, a Peter Osgood goal for Chelsea at Old Trafford knocked Manchester United off the top of the table.

They were overtaken by Leeds and Manchester City who beat Sheffield United and Crystal Palace respectively. Aston Villa led the third division but were only a point ahead of Bournemouth and Notts County who each had a game in hand.

In the midweek games, Southern League Hereford United held top-flight Newcastle to a draw at St. James’ Park while Stoke City reached their first ever major cup final. The Potters beating West Ham United in the League Cup semi-final. This was in the days before substitute goalkeepers and so Bobby Moore went in goal when Bobby Ferguson was injured. As we watch football now in 2022, Brentford have moved to a new stadium. This week fifty years ago, the Bees put forward plans for a new base in Hounslow. www.bcfc.com

BLUES NEWS | 19

HERE’S A ST AT I BET YOU DIDN’T KN W 20 | BLUES NEWS

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs BARNSLEY

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.

www.bcfc.com

BLUES NEWS | 21

Blues Fit Fans Blues Fit Fans has restarted this week with a brand-new cohort of male and female participants. Fit Fans is a 12-week lifestyle change programme which is funded by the EFL Trust.

The goals of the programme are aimed around losing weight and leading a more active lifestyle. The programme is FREE to sign up for and the eligibility requirements are that you must be aged between 35 and 65.

Utilita Cup Earlier this month saw the girls from Balaam Wood School participate in the Utilita Girls Cup finals which is in partnership with the EFL. The competition involves over 22,000 children and is one of the largest grassroots football competitions held in the United Kingdom, with the final being held prior to the Papa John’s Trophy final at Wembley Stadium in April. The girls did brilliantly and played against some very tough opponents who will COMMUNIT Y progress onto the next stage of the tournament. Well done to everyone involved and representing Blues in such a positive way!

If participants attend all 12 weeks then they are rewarded with a free Blues home shirt. The female sessions are on Monday evenings and started on January 17, and the male sessions are on Thursday nights and started on January 20.

These are held at St. Andrew’s in the Ultimo GG E-Sports Bar from 6–7.30pm.

Sports Coaching

KickStart Your Career!

If you are interested in becoming a Blues Fit Fan, please email health@bcfc.com and one of the Community Trust team will be in contact with you.

A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF A 12 WEEK TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR ANYONE AGED 16-18 & 19-25.

Recruitment for traineeship participants Are you aged between 19 and 25 and looking for a new career?

Birmingham City FC Community Trust is currently recruiting for a 12-week sports traineeship that will develop and enhance functional and employability skills in order to expand the possible opportunities of future long-term employment.

There are no costs for the course and there will be constant contact with Community Trust staff who will be leading the course.

For more information, please email Traineeships@bcfc.com.

22 | BLUES NEWS

GAIN IMPORTANT EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS HIGH QUALITY ACADEMY & COMMUNITY FOOTBALL WORK EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITY FUNCTIONAL SKILLS RECEIVE EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT INDUSTRY RECOGNISED SPORTING QUALIFICATION Birmingham FC Community Trust are recruiting for our new and dynamic Sports Traineeship Programme. This free programme will provide participants with a fantastic opportunity to personally develop new skills to support access into meaningful and long term employment.

WHAT CAN I DO NEXT?

learner’s benefit •

No course fees for you to pay.

•

You will learn, develop and maintain functional skills.

•

An opportunity to gain a qualification in employability skills.

or after school clubs

•

An individualised programme to support your progression, this might be an apprenticeship, employment or further education and training.

Become a Community Outreach Coach for BCFC CT

•

An opportunity to explore different work place settings and gain experience whilst deciding on your next steps.

Look at an Apprenticeship with the Trust

•

Expert advice and guidance from Birmingham City FC Community Trust Staff

contact us

Opportunities to work in schools, as part of their curriculum

TRAINEESHIPS@BCFC.COM BIRMINGHAM CITY vs BARNSLEY

53

available

www.bcfc.com

MARCEL OAKLEY

27

25

NICO GORDON

12

18

ONEL HERNÁNDEZ

CONNAL TRUEMAN

17

JORDAN GRAHAM

available

available 19

JORDAN JAMES

TEDEN MENGI

IVAN SANCHEZ

HARLEE DEAN

JEREMIE BELA

08

07

06

10

09

LUKAS JUTKIEWICZ

SCOTT HOGAN

TAYLOR RICHARDS

TAHITH CHONG

RYAN WOODS

01

02

MAXIME COLIN

NEIL ETHERIDGE

04

05

GEORGE FRIEND

MARC ROBERTS

03 KRISTIAN PEDERSEN

Simon & Rosemarie Nash

52

24

JUAN CASTILLO

11

available

50

available

CRAIG GARDNER

available

TROY DEENEY

available

36

23

GARY GARDNER

Oliver Collinson

LEE BOWYER

20 Simone Ingram Simone Ingram

GEORGE HALL

IVAN SUNJIC Spotswood Facilities Management

35

34 Simone Ingram

54 KEYENDRAH SIMMONDS

TATE CAMPBELL

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

available

Anna-Leigh Brooks

Simone Ingram

BLUES NEWS | 23

manchester united 5 0 Blues women SATURDAY 15 JANUARY 2022 Manchester United: Mary Earps, Ona Batlle (Maria Thorisdottir 81), Aoife Mannion, Millie Turner, Kirsty Smith (Hannah Blundell 63), Hayley Ladd (Martha Thomas 63), Vilde Boe Risa, Katie Zelem (captain), Ella Toone, Alessia Russo (Jackie Groenen 77), Leah Galton (Ivana Fuso 81).

Substitutes not used: Sophie Baggaley, Kirsty Hanson, Carrie Jones.

Booking: Ladd 25.

B

lues Women fell to defeat against Manchester United in the Barclays FA Women’s Super League last Saturday.

the ball back to Katie Zelem, who dinked it over Emily Ramsey.

Interim Head Coach Darren Carter named an unchanged side following the impressive victory over league leaders Arsenal the week before.

Then it was Galton who turned goalscorer. Her first came as she ran in to tap home Alessia Russo’s low cross.

And her second was a carbon copy, this time she crept through to finish Ella Toone’s centre.

The Reds started on the front foot and capitalised on their early momentum to score three in six minutes. First, Leah Galton paced down the left-hand side and pulled

It was England international Toone who then helped United to their fourth.

Her shot from range hit the crossbar and bounced back off Ramsey before trickling across the line.

Blues Women: Emily Ramsey, Gemma Lawley, Louise Quinn (captain), Harriet Scott, Jamie Finn, Veatriki Sarri (Eleanor Ryan-Doyle 88), Christie Murray, Rebecca Holloway, Jade Pennock (Emily Whelan 76), Libby Smith (Lucy Whipp 46), Lucy Quinn (Sarah Ewens 75).

Substitutes not used: Lucy Jones, Lisa Robertson, Abi Cowie, Abbi Jenner, Louanne Worsey.

Booking: Pedersen 52.

Referee: Kirsty Dowle.

Blues came close to pulling one back in the second-half through Skipper Louise Quinn, but her volley hit the crossbar. Soon after, the hosts grabbed their fifth when Russo headed in.

Five Game Ticket Package A d u lt £ 2 5 | S e n i o r £15 | u n d e r 16 £10

24 | BLUES NEWS

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs BARNSLEY

Match Report

B

Under 23s

did in the North West just days earlier, fielding two triallists.

lues Under-23s kicked off 2022 with consecutive draws as they resumed their maiden Premier League 2 campaign by facing Burnley and Stoke City at either end of last week.

Travelling to the Lancashire County FA to face the Clarets, Steve Spooner’s side rolled up their sleeves against a direct home team and came from behind to ensure they did not return to the Second City empty-handed.

Dara Costelloe broke the deadlock for the hosts in a tight first-half, bursting forward and firing across goal into the far corner after 41 minutes. However, Burnley would be unable to add to this lead as Blues limited their threat after the break and increased their own, being rewarded just five minutes from time.

Leo Dos Reis had twice tested Sam

www.bcfc.com

One of these, Owen Humphries, grazed the crossbar in the opening 45 and as he continued to impress, he truly made his mark on proceedings with the opener early in the second period. Assisted by Dos Reis, the midfielder drifted inside and found the far corner with his right foot.

Waller in the Burnley goal before his compatriot Oriol Soldevila forced a deserved equaliser in Leyland. The Spaniard craftily found room for a shot and when this was only parried, Jacson Coppack was the defender who could not help but deflect the ball in to see the spoils shared.

This scoreline was repeated on Friday night when Stoke made the relatively short trip to St. Andrew’s for a meeting under the lights, with Blues, as they

Further goals were possible when Soldevila and Josh Williams both put attempts the wrong side of the woodwork, but Blues were left to rue these wasted opportunities as the Potters levelled eight minutes from time.

Full-back Edward Jones assumed control of a free-kick awarded within striking distance and took maximum advantage, beating both the wall and Archie Matthews as the ball met the postage stamp.

BLUES NEWS | 25

FULHAM 6 2 Blues SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP | TUESDAY 18 JANUARY 2022

B

lues left Craven Cottage with some credit but were unable to avoid defeat against a formidable Fulham side who continued their goal form of late on the banks of the Thames.

Lee Bowyer’s men had picked up a deserved point three days earlier on the road at Preston North End, with the trip to the Capital viewed as an

opportunity to build on this ahead of back-to-back home games.

The league leaders, however, had other ideas and scored four during a first-half that effectively ended the game as a contest, with Marc Roberts’ unfortunate own goal being added to

by Neeskens Kebano, Fabio Carvalho and Tom Cairney.

Although this period was brought to a close by a stunning Ivan Sunjic strike and things were made particularly interesting when Gary Gardner pulled another one back as events approached their climax.

But there was to be no further comeback and Fulham became the first English side in 88 years to score six or more goals in three consecutive games, as Carvalho made his a double and Antonee Robinson rounded off the counting in added time.

Stupendous Sunjic Blues’ Croatian midfielder put in another relentless shift against a well-equipped Fulham side, giving as good as he got in the Sky Bet Championship battle.

And his work rate was rewarded, with a goal coming for his efforts on the stroke of half-time. His ripping strike crashing in off the post despite Marek Rodak getting a hand to the ball.

26 | BLUES NEWS

Fulham (4-2-3-1): Marek Rodak, Denis Odoi, Tosin Adarabioyo, Tim Ream (captain), Antonee Robinson, Harrison Reed (Josh Onamah 81), Tom Cairney (Nathaniel Chalobah 69), Harry Wilson, Fabio Carvalho, Neeskens Kebano (Bobby De Cordova Reid 68), Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Substitutes not used: Paulo Gazzaniga, Kenny Tete, Rodrigo Muniz, Alfie Mawson.

Booking: Reed 67.

Blues (3-5-2): Neil Etheridge, Teden Mengi, Marc Roberts (George Friend 64), Kristian Pedersen, Maxime Colin, Gary Gardner, Ivan Sunjic, Ryan Woods, Jeremie Bela, Onel Hernandez (Jordan James 82), Lukas Jutkiewicz (captain) (Scott Hogan 64).

Substitutes not used: Connal Trueman, Tate Campbell, Renedi Masampu, Jobe Bellingham.

Booking: Pedersen 52.

Referee: Gavin Ward.

Attendance: 16,491 BIRMINGHAM CITY vs BARNSLEY

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)

1 (17) 2

0 (1) 0

2 (0) 0

POS.

P

JEREMIE BELA (F)

19 (3) 1

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

1 FULHAM

26 16 6 4 47 54

JOBE BELLINGHAM (F)

0 (1) 0

0 (1) 0

0 (0) 0

TATE CAMPBELL (M)

0 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

0 (1) 0

2 BOURNEMOUTH

26 14 7 5 20 49

ALFIE CHANG (M)

0 (0) 0

0 (1) 0

0 (1) 0

3 BLACKBURN ROVERS

26 14 7 5 16 49

W

D

L

GD PTS

TAHITH CHONG (M)

13 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

4

QUEENS PARK RANGERS

25

13

5

7

8

44

MAXIME COLIN (D)

15 (1) 1

1 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

5

WEST BROMWICH ALBION

26

11

9

6

11

42

HARLEE DEAN (D)

14 (1) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

TROY DEENEY (F)

14 (4) 4

1 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

NEIL ETHERIDGE (G)

3 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

GEORGE FRIEND (D)

9 (1) 0

1 (0) 0

6 MIDDLESBROUGH

26 12 6 8 6 42

7 HUDDERSFIELD TOWN

27 11 8 8 3 41

2 (0) 0

8 STOKE CITY

25 11 5 9 5 38

9 COVENTRY CITY

24 10 7 7 5 37

10 NOTTINGHAM FOREST

26 10 7 9 5 37

11 SHEFFIELD UNITED

24 9 6 9 -1 33

GARY GARDNER (M)

14 (3) 3

1 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

NICO GORDON (D)

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

JORDAN GRAHAM (M)

8 (1) 0

0 (0) 0

2 (0) 0

GEORGE HALL (M)

1 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

ONEL HERNANDEZ (M)

2 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

12 MILLWALL

25 8 9 8 -1 33

13

25

SCOTT HOGAN (F)

19 (4) 7

1 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

IVAN SANCHEZ (M)

0 (2) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

JORDAN JAMES (M)

6 (3) 0

1 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

JUAN CASTILLO (D)

1 (2) 0

0 (0) 0

2 (0) 0

13 (11) 2

0 (0) 0

CHARLIE LAKIN (M)

0 (0) 0

JONATHAN LEKO (M)

PRESTON NORTH END

8

9

8

-3

33

14 BLACKPOOL

26 9 6 11 -5 33

15 LUTON TOWN

23 8 8 7 5 32

0 (0) 0

16 BRISTOL CITY

26 8 6 12 -13 30

0 (0) 0

1 (1) 0

17 SWANSEA CITY

23 7 7 9 -5 28

1 (3) 0

0 (0) 0

2 (0) 0

18 BIRMINGHAM CITY

26 7 7 12 -13 28

RILEY MCGREE (M)

10 (3) 2

0 (0) 0

1 (1) 0

TEDEN MENGI (D)

2 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

19 HULL CITY

25 6 5 14 -11 23

RENEDI MASAMPU (D)

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

20 CARDIFF CITY

25 6 5 14 -18 23

MARCEL OAKLEY (D)

LUKAS JUTKIEWICZ (F)

2 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

2 (0) 1

21 READING

25 8 4 13 -15 22

KRISTIAN PEDERSEN (D) 20 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

22 PETERBOROUGH UNITED

24 5 4 15 -27 19

MITCHELL ROBERTS (D)

1 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

MARC ROBERTS (D)

24 (0) 2

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

23 DERBY COUNTY

26 8 11 7 1 14

DION SANDERSON (D)

14 (1) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

24 BARNSLEY

24 2 8 14 -20 14

MATIJA SARKIC (G)

23 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

KEYENDRAH SIMMONDS (F) 0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (1) 0

IVAN SUNJIC (M)

23 (2) 2

0 (1) 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

JOSHUA WILLIAMS (M)

0 (0) 0

0 (1) 0

0 (0) 0

RYAN WOODS (M)

14 (3) 0

1 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

Fixtures & RESULTS 2021/22 DATE

KO

OPPONENT

RES

COMP

POS

ATT

STARTING XI

AUGUST Sat 07

8.00pm

SHEFFIELD UNITED

A

1-0

LEAGUE

5

29,043

SARKIC

ROBERTS

DEAN

PEDERSEN ■

COLIN 1 ■

TUE 10

7.45PM

COLCHESTER UNITED

H

1-0

EFL CUP

-

6,199

TRUEMAN

OAKLEY 1

GORDON

FRIEND

CASTILLO

SUNJIC

Sat 14

3.00pm

STOKE CITY

H

0-0

LEAGUE

10

10,189

SARKIC

ROBERTS

DEAN

PEDERSEN

COLIN

SUNJIC

WED 18

7.45pm

AFC BOURNEMOUTH

H

0-2

LEAGUE

11

9,922

SARKIC

ROBERTS

DEAN

PEDERSEN ■

COLIN

CHONG

SAT 21

3.00pm

LUTON TOWN

A

5-0

LEAGUE

8

10,014

SARKIC

ROBERTS 1 ■

DEAN

PEDERSEN

COLIN

SUNJIC

TUE 24

7.45PM

FULHAM

H

0-2

EFL CUP

-

4,783

ETHERIDGE

ROBERTS

SANDERSON

FRIEND

OAKLEY

SUNJIC

Sat 28

3.00pm

BARNSLEY

A

1-1

LEAGUE

8

13,950

SARKIC

COLIN

DEAN

PEDERSEN

OAKLEY

SUNJIC

FRI 10

8.00pm

DERBY COUNTY

H

2-0

LEAGUE

7

14,912

SARKIC

ROBERTS ■

DEAN

PEDERSEN

COLIN

SUNJIC ■

WED 15

7.45pm

FULHAM

H

1-4

LEAGUE

10

14,562

SARKIC

ROBERTS

DEAN

PEDERSEN

COLIN

SUNJIC

SAT 18

3.00pm

PETERBOROUGH UNITED

A

0-3

LEAGUE

11

12,199

SARKIC

ROBERTS

DEAN

PEDERSEN

COLIN

DEENEY

Sat 25

3.00pm

PRESTON NORTH END

H

0-0

LEAGUE

12

14,925

SARKIC

SANDERSON

DEAN

PEDERSEN

COLIN

SUNJIC

TUE 28

7.45pm

QUEENS PARK RANGERS

A

0-2

LEAGUE

13

12,257

SARKIC

ROBERTS

DEAN

SANDERSON

COLIN

SUNJIC ■

Sat 02

3.00pm

NOTTINGHAM FOREST

H

0-3

LEAGUE

16

15,148

SARKIC

ROBERTS

DEAN

PEDERSEN

COLIN

SUNJIC

Sat 16

3.00pm

WEST BROMWICH ALBION

A

0-1

LEAGUE

16

24,870

SARKIC

ROBERTS

SANDERSON

PEDERSEN

COLIN

SUNJIC

Wed 20

7.45pm

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN

A

0-0

LEAGUE

19

15,618

SARKIC

ROBERTS

SANDERSON

PEDERSEN

FRIEND

SUNJIC

Sat 23

3.00pm

SWANSEA CITY

H

2-1

LEAGUE

17

16,132

SARKIC

ROBERTS

SANDERSON

PEDERSEN

FRIEND

SUNJIC

Sat 30

3.00pm

MIDDLESBROUGH

A

2-0

LEAGUE

15

21,582

SARKIC

ROBERTS 1

SANDERSON ■

PEDERSEN

FRIEND

SUNJIC

Tue 02

7.45pm

BRISTOL CITY

H

3-0

LEAGUE

13

16,143

SARKIC

ROBERTS

SANDERSON

BELA

FRIEND

SUNJIC

Sat 06

3.00pm

READING

H

1-2

LEAGUE

15

17,535

SARKIC

ROBERTS

DEAN ■

BELA ■

ROBERTS

SUNJIC

Sat 20

3.00pm

HULL CITY

A

0-2

LEAGUE

15

12,409

SARKIC

ROBERTS

SANDERSON

BELA

DEAN

SUNJIC

Tue 23

7.45pm

COVENTRY CITY

A

0-0

LEAGUE

17

22,676

SARKIC

ROBERTS ■

SANDERSON ■

BELA

DEAN

SUNJIC ■

Sat 27

3.00pm

BLACKPOOL

H

1-0

LEAGUE

13

17,686

SARKIC

ROBERTS

SANDERSON

PEDERSEN ■

BELA

SUNJIC

SAT 04

3.00pm

MILLWALL

A

1-3

LEAGUE

16

14,324

ETHERIDGE

ROBERTS ■

SANDERSON

PEDERSEN ■

BELA

SUNJIC

Sat 11

3.00pm

CARDIFF CITY

H

2-2

LEAGUE

15

17,840

SARKIC

ROBERTS

SANDERSON

PEDERSEN

FRIEND ■

SUNJIC 1 ■

Sat 18

3.00pm

BLACKBURN ROVERS

A

0-4

LEAGUE

17

12,148

SARKIC

ROBERTS

SANDERSON

PEDERSEN

FRIEND

SUNJIC ■

SUN 02

2.00pm

QUEENS PARK RANGERS

H

1-2

LEAGUE

18

18,279

SARKIC

COLIN

SANDERSON

PEDERSEN

FRIEND

SUNJIC ■

Sat 08

5.30pm

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE

H

0-1

FAC R3

-

9,823

ETHERIDGE

COLIN

MENGI

PEDERSEN

FRIEND ■

CAMPBELL

GARDNER ■

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

JANUARY

Sat 15

3.00pm

PRESTON NORTH END

A

1-1

LEAGUE

18

12,821

ETHERIDGE

ROBERTS

MENGI ■

PEDERSEN

COLIN

SUNJIC

TUE 18

7.45PM

FULHAM

A

2-6

LEAGUE

18

16,491

ETHERIDGE

ROBERTS

MENGI

PEDERSEN ■

COLIN

BELA

Sat 22

3.00pm

BARNSLEY

H

TUE 25

7.45pm

PETERBOROUGH UNITED

H

LEAGUE

SUN 30

1.30pm

DERBY COUNTY

A

LEAGUE

7.45pm

SHEFFIELD UNITED

H

LEAGUE

LEAGUE

FEBRUARY FRI 04 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

MARCH Sat 05

3.00pm

BRISTOL CITY

A

LEAGUE

Sat 12

3.00pm

HULL CITY

H

LEAGUE

TUE 15

7.45pm

MIDDLESBROUGH

H

LEAGUE

Sat 19

3.00pm

SWANSEA CITY

A

LEAGUE LEAGUE

APRIL sat 02

3.00pm

WEST BROMWICH ALBION

H

sat 09

3.00pm

NOTTINGHAM FOREST

A

LEAGUE

fri 15

3.00pm

COVENTRY CITY

H

LEAGUE LEAGUE

mon 18

3.00pm

BLACKPOOL

A

sat 23

3.00pm

MILLWALL

H

LEAGUE

Sat 30

3.00pm

CARDIFF CITY

A

LEAGUE

12.30pm

BLACKBURN ROVERS

H

LEAGUE

Supporters

MESSAGES Barrie George Perkins.

Passed away aged 85. 18th March 1936 – 18th December 2021.

Lifelong Blues fan. Much loved family man. Born and lived by the ground at 40 Greenway Street (now Morrisons). Attended Tilton Road / Ada Road Schools.

A proper old Birmingham Gent. Will be truly missed.

RIP.

MAY Sat 01

30 | BLUES NEWS

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs BARNSLEY

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

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LAKIN (61)

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BELA

WOODS

HOGAN

JUTKIEWICZ 1

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JUTKIEWICZ

CHONG

DEENEY (67)

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BELA

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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)

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

BELA

WOODS

HOGAN

JUTKIEWICZ ■

CHONG

McGREE (58)

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DEENEY (70)

TRUEMAN, FRIEND, SANDERSON, GRAHAM

GARDNER

FRIEND

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JUTKIEWICZ

CHONG

BELA (47)

ANEKE (78)

GRAHAM (83)

TRUEMAN, WOODS, DEAN, DEENEY

GARDNER

GRAHAM

McGREE ■

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CHONG

DEENEY (70)

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GRAHAM

HOGAN

DEENEY 1

CHONG

McGREE 1 (63) ■

ANEKE (86)

TRUEMAN, WOODS, HOGAN, DEAN, ANEKE, SÁNCHEZ ETHERIDGE, WOODS, JUTKIEWICZ, DEAN, SÁNCHEZ

GARDNER ■

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HOGAN 1

DEENEY

McGREE ■

JUTKIEWICZ (67)

BELA (68)

ETHERIDGE, WOODS, ANEKE, DEAN, SÁNCHEZ

GARDNER 1

GRAHAM

McGREE 1

DEENEY

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JAMES (84)

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HOGAN 1

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HOGAN ■

JAMES (45)

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ANEKE (77)

ETHERIDGE, ROBERTS, OAKLEY, FAMILIA-CASTILLO

OAKLEY

WOODS ■

McGREE

DEENEY

HOGAN

FAMILIA-CASTILLO (65)

JUTKIEWICZ (86)

JAMES (86)

JAMES

GRAHAM

McGREE ■

DEENEY

HOGAN

ANEKE (66)

JUTKIEWICZ 1 (75)

JAMES

GRAHAM

McGREE

DEENEY

HOGAN

JUTKIEWICZ (45)

ANEKE (80)

JAMES

GRAHAM

McGREE

DEENEY 1

HOGAN

ANEKE (78)

JUTKIEWICZ (90)

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GRAHAM

McGREE

DEENEY

ANEKE

BELA (37)

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JAMES

GARDNER

FAMILIA-CASTILLO

DEENEY

HALL

WOOD (45)

ANEKE 1 (67)

HOGAN (85)

JAMES

WOOD ■

GARDNER

DEENEY

HOGAN

BELLINGHAM (70)

ANEKE (88)

SUNJIC (90+4)

TRUEMAN, WALKER, ROBERTS, FAMILIA-CASTILLO

ETHERIDGE, WOODS, ANEKE, FAMILIA-CASTILLO

ETHERIDGE, ANEKE, BELLINGHAM, ROBERTS ETHERIDGE, DEAN, FAMILIA-CASTILLO, WALKER, OAKLEY TRUEMAN, HALL, FAMILIA-CASTILLO, DEAN, FRIEND ETHERIDGE, BELA, DEAN, FAMILIA-CASTILLO, HALL

JUTKIEWICZ (67)

ETHERIDGE, WOODS, HOGAN, HALL ETHERIDGE, BELLINGHAM, WALKER, CAMPBELL

JAMES

GARDNER

BELA

HERNÁNDEZ

JUTKIEWICZ

WOODS (82)

BELLINGHAM (83)

HOGAN 1 (83)

TRUEMAN, WALKER, MASAMPU, CAMPBELL

WOODS

GARDNER 1

SUNJIC 1

HERNÁNDEZ

JUTKIEWICZ

FRIEND (64)

HOGAN (64)

JAMES (82)

TRUEMAN, BELLINGHAM, MASAMPU, CAMPBELL

Happy Birthday Arlene!

Have a great day.

Love Angela & Joseph. KRO xx

www.bcfc.com

Happy 60th Birthday Joh n!

Hope you have a great day.

Love Eileen, Gary, Michael & Shannon xx

Happy 90th Birthday, Paul Rhodes!

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 ■ ■

TAYLOR RICHARDS 8 ■ ■ SCOTT HOGAN 9 ■ ■ LUKAS JUTKIEWICZ 10 ■ ■

JEREMIE BELA 11 ■ ■

HARLEE DEAN 12 ■ ■ IVAN SANCHEZ 17 ■ ■ TEDEN MENGI 18 ■ ■ JORDAN JAMES 19 ■ ■

GARY GARDNER 20 ■ ■

JUAN CASTILLO 23 ■ ■

JORDAN GRAHAM 24 ■ ■

ONEL HERNANDEZ 25 ■ ■ GK

CONNAL TRUEMAN 27 ■ ■

IVAN SUNJIC 34 ■ ■

GEORGE HALL 35 ■ ■

TROY DEENEY 36 ■ ■ GK

ZACH JEACOCK 38 ■ ■

JOBE BELLINGHAM 39 ■ ■

ADAN GEORGE 40 ■ ■

REMI WALKER 41 ■ ■

ALFIE CHANG 42 ■ ■

MITCHELL ROBERTS 43 ■ ■

RENEDI MASAMPU 45 ■ ■

NICO GORDON 50 ■ ■

KYLE HURST 51 ■ ■

MARCEL OAKLEY 52 ■ ■

TATE CAMPBELL 53 ■ ■

KEYENDRAH SIMMONDS 54 ■ ■

NEXT UP AT ST. ANDREW’S PETERBOROUGH UNITED TUESDAY 25 JANUARY 2022 KICK-OFF 7.45PM

BARNSLEY HEAD COACH: POYA ASBAGHI

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

1 JACK WALTON GK 2 JORDAN WILLIAMS 4 CALLUM STYLES 5 LIAM KITCHING 6 MADS ANDERSEN 7 CALLUM BRITTAIN 9 CAULEY WOODROW 10 JOSH BENSON 11 AARON LEYA ISEKA 13 DANIEL JINADU GK 14 CARLTON MORRIS 15 JASPER MOON 17 CLAUDIO GOMES 20 TOBY SIBBICK 21 ROMAL PALMER 22 CLARKE ODUOR 23 WILL HONDERMARCK 24 AAPO HALME 26 RÉMY VITA 29 VICTOR ADEBOYEJO 30 MICHAŁ HELIK 32 JASON SRAHA 37 AIDEN MARSH 40 BRAD COLLINS GK 41 JOE ACKROYD 44 DEVANTE COLE 58 OBBI OULARÉ

MATCH OFFICIALS REFEREE TONY HARRINGTON ASSISTANT REFEREE ADAM NUNN ASSISTANT REFEREE NATALIE ASPINALL 4TH OFFICIAL THOMAS BRAMALL