Birmingham City v Bristol City

BLUES NEWS

Birmingham City v Bristol City Tuesday 2 November 2021 Kick-off 7.45pm ISSUE 10 | £3

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.

service@repairtechuk.co.uk

Main Interview

BIRMINGHAM CITY FC

F

Jordan Graham

ootball is about taking your chances and for Jordan Graham, that statement has not rung truer than in recent weeks.

Telephone: 0121 772 0101

Pre-season setbacks meant the wait for First Team football at Blues required patience and hard work on the training pitches. But the Coventry-born wideman took his chance when thrown into the defence at Huddersfield Town, where the 26-year-old looked very much at home.

Ticket Office: 0121 772 0101 (ext 2) Commercial: 0121 772 0101 (ext 3)

And he has waited to find that home too. Eight loans in seven years saw Graham attempt to break in at Wolverhampton Wanderers, before a successful spell at Gillingham last season led to his summer transfer to St. Andrew’s.

Club Superstore / Mail Order: 0121 772 0101 (ext 4)

Fully fit and firing on all cylinders, Blues News sat down with the winger to get his thoughts on the opening four months of his Birmingham City career.

Web: www.bcfc.com

Thanks for chatting with us Jordan.

From the stands, it seems like the last couple of weeks have been important for you - does it feel that way?

Yes, it does. I have really enjoyed breaking in properly for the first time this season. It was a tough end to

Store: www.blues.clubstore.co.uk

pre-season for me. I had a few niggles and it put me behind where I wanted to be. Just after the Barrow game, I had a slight groin problem followed by a small hamstring complaint, so it just put me behind the group a bit really. But I’m feeling fit now and happy to be involved for sure!

It was such a good start to the season for the team and whilst you must have been delighted, you surely would have wanted to be out there as well?

The results were fantastic at the start of the season and rightly so, I couldn’t really get a look in. I wasn’t as sharp as I needed to be, but I really stuck at it. I trained hard every day and during the first international break I had two weeks to really crack on and I felt quicker, stronger and back to myself again.

Your chance came against Huddersfield Town, by that time you must have been chomping at the bit?

I felt like I was in the best possible condition I could have been in when I was called upon for that game. I feel like I played well, enjoyed it and then of course onto Swansea City too. In fact, I think that might be one of the best games I have ever had in a position that is still a little unfamiliar to me!

Tell us a bit about that, how is playing at wing-back?

First and foremost, I would play anywhere to help the team, even in goal! For me now, it is about having an open mind on how the Head Coach wants me to play. If it is at wing-back, I will gladly go in there, keep learning and trying to help the team.

What have the other lads across the defence said to you during the games?

They have been great! I have learned a lot from Maxime [Colin] and Jeremie [Bela] but the others are fantastic too – [Marc] Robbo, Harlee [Dean], George [Friend], Dion [Sanderson], [Kristian] Peds – I could go on. There is so much experience there and I feel in really safe hands.

What does the future look like for you?

For me now, it is about playing games and I want to play as much as possible.

Whether it is at wing-back, on the wing, in the ten, upfront, I just want to play, to help as much as I can and keep improving this team. I am really enjoying it and am excited about the weeks and months ahead.

www.bcfc.com

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

IN THIS ISSUE IN THE DUGOUT

Nigel Pearson

FOOTBALL MANAGEMENT Technical Director: Craig Gardner Head Coach: Lee Bowyer Assistant Head Coach: Mark Kennedy First Team Development Coach: Paul Harsley Goalkeeping Coach: Andy Marshall Head of Physical Performance: Sean Rush Chief Medical Officer: Roddy Macdonald 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

DOB: 21 August 1963 Appointed: February 2021 A vastly-experienced tactician with more than 20 years in the dugout, the no-nonsense disciplinarian is confident he can get the Robins soaring.

ONE TO WATCH

The 57-year-old headed to Ashton Gate on a short-term deal in February to replace Dean Holden and helped the ailing club survive in the Championship.

12. Chris Martin FORWARD DOB: 4 November 1988 Last season the targetman managed more assists than goals as the focal point in an attacking trident alongside Wells and Weimann, but this term he has been a regular on the scoresheet as well.

The former Norwich City promotion winner offers a valuable outlet in City’s attacking armoury, with his physicality and peerless hold-up play vital components as the Robins transition from defence to attack.

City’s No.9 has scored four times in 15 starts this campaign, including the season’s opener at Blackpool and the match-winning goal at Peterborough, to equal his goal haul for the entirety of 2020/21 already.

ROBINS END HOME HOODOO

I

morphing between their alter egos saw them earn the unwanted tag of being the last EFL club to win on home soil.

The Robins have won four times on the road already during 2021/22, yet

Ashton Gate season ticket holders have watched City through their fingers this year. The Robins had

t might have been ‘fright night’ on Sunday but Bristol City have been experiencing eerie Jekyll and Hyde transformations all season.

days where we’ve not played well but we’ve lost. It is an illustration I think of the fragility of the mental state in terms of what anxiety does and I was as nervous as everybody else, I suppose.

not won at their headquarters since January and have dropped nine points due to conceding four stoppage-time goals this term alone, something that has cost them a place in the Championship’s top six.

Yet manager Nigel Pearson finally ended the club’s home run of 17 winless matches with a 2-1 success against visitors Barnsley on Saturday. Austrian Andreas Weimann scored twice in five minutes as City came from behind to earn Pearson a long overdue first victory in BS3 since he succeeded Dean Holden in February.

The former Scotland international is on course for a double-figure goal tally, a feat he achieved on four occasions with Derby County and during 2016/17’s loan at Fulham, in addition to maintaining his role as serial provider.

City’s assistant manager Curtis Fleming certainly recognises Martin’s importance to the side, telling the Bristol Post: “We are a team that is built on hard work and that starts from the front. People have to realise what Chris gives the team. He gives us a foundation in games because of the way he holds the ball up so well and he showed the quality he has.”

The result lifted Bristol City to 15th in the Championship table and Pearson acknowledged the end of the barren run was “a relief”.

He explained to the Bristol Post: “We’ve played much, much better here and lost games and drawn games. There is not a lot of difference between today and other

10 | BLUES NEWS

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs BRISTOL CITY

“But it is great for the fans and I thought they were excellent in terms of turning the noise up to support the team and the players really recognised that and so did we as staff. It is about the players and the fans, the relationship between them is vital.

“So now we have got rid of that ridiculously unfathomable run of results here, we have got to now turn a corner and make sure our performances match what we want to achieve.”

Pearson was rewarded with a three-year deal in April and upon his appointment said: “I want to be part of a team that gets to the Premier League.

It is going to be a tough journey and we’ll need the right people on board to achieve it but I’m excited about the possibilities ahead.”

The City boss certainly has a background of Championship success.

He helped Hull City stabilise in the division following relegation from the top-flight and oversaw Leicester City’s rise to the Premier League as champions in 2013/14, while claiming the division’s LMA Manager of the Year accolade.

He then helped the East Midlands club pull off a remarkable escape from relegation the following season and is widely attributed with putting the building blocks in place for the Foxes’ Premier League title that followed.

Pearson then had short-lived spells with Derby County, Belgium side OH Leuven and Watford, but was dismissed from the Hornets despite having the best points-per-game record of any manager in the club’s history.

While home comforts have been scarse, it has been on their travels that City have shown their true capabilities. Although last time on the road they looked “disjointed” according to Pearson in a 3-0 defeat

www.bcfc.com

BLUES NEWS | 11

blues women B

INTERNATIONAL ROUND-UP

lues Women return to Barclays FA Women’s Super League action on Sunday afternoon as they welcome Reading to St. Andrew’s following the recent international break.

Scott Booth’s players and staff have been working tirelessly at Wast Hills Training Ground during the season’s second pause, with the period also seeing a number of First Team stars represent their nations in FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers.

Blues 2 1 SWANSEA

No fewer than six of the Blues squad were on their travels across Europe in October, as they aim to be a part of the finals tournament hosted by co-hosts Australia and New Zealand in 2023.

SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP | SATURDAY 23 OCTOBER

B

lues rewarded their biggest home crowd of the season by putting on an impressive display to beat an in-form Swansea City outfit at St. Andrew’s. Lee Bowyer’s men brought a game that had simmered in the opening 45 to the boil after the interval, breaking the deadlock by scoring just two minutes into the second-half.

A quartet, including Harriet Scott, were selected by the Republic of Ireland for their fixtures against Sweden and Finland. Against the Scandinavians in Dublin, Louise Quinn, Jamie Finn and Lucy Quinn all started a narrow 0-1 defeat, with the trio all on the pitch for Vera Pauw’s side as they bounced back away from home four days later.

At the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, the Girls in Green claimed a 1-2 victory to leave them fourth in Group A and with a game in hand ahead of home fixtures against Slovakia and Georgia next month.

North of the border, Lisa Robertson was in action for Scotland as they took on Hungary at Hampden Park.

The midfielder played 64 minutes in front of over 6,000, as former Blue Rachel Corsie scored a last gasp winner to maintain the 100% qualifying record of Pedro Martinez Losa’s team.

Robertson was then a second-half substitute as they were edged out

by Sweden in a friendly played at St Mirren Park. Later this month, Scotland face Ukraine on home soil before travelling to Spain for 24 | BLUES NEWS

Troy Deeney was found across the area by Tahith Chong’s centre and Blues’ captain showed a cool head to trap the bouncing ball before finishing low across goal in front of a jubilant Tilton. This well and truly brought the hosts to life and Scott a meeting with the fellow Group B pacesetters.

Lionesses - led by Mo Marley – claimed a slender 0-1 victory.

Further afield, Veatriki Sarri was on duty for Greece as they took on Kazakhstan and Slovenia in their third and fourth qualifiers. In Astana, she was part of a side that won by a single goal and kept a clean sheet.

And whilst there was no action for Rebecca Holloway, who had to withdraw from Northern Ireland’s squad due to injury, it was confirmed that the Green and White Army will face England in next summer’s European Championship. Austria and Norway make up Group A.

However, it was defeat back at home in the second outing, leaving Greece four points away from the Group I play-off spot which is currently occupied by Wales who are their next opponents.

On home soil, goalkeeper Emily Ramsey played 30 minutes for England Women’s Under-23s as they took on Belgium. In Tubize, the Young

Tickets remain on sale for Blues Women’s meeting with the Royals and can be purchased online at www.eticketing.co.uk/bcfc/, by calling 0121 772 0101 and choosing option 2, or at the St Andrew’s ticket office. The Main Stand Ticket office will also be open on matchday from two hours prior to kick-off which is at 2pm.

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs BRISTOL CITY

Substitute Riley McGree latched onto Deeney’s through ball and, although his initial shot was saved, the Australian persisted to get the ball over the line to secure the three points.

Hogan had the best of a flurry of further chances to put the game to bed only to be denied by a sprawling Ben Hamer.

Therefore, it very much appeared that Birmingham City’s failure to cash in when on top had cost them, as the visitors levelled against the run of play through Michael Obafemi in the final quarter of an hour. But Blues were able to shift momentum back in their favour and hit the winner just five minutes later.

Life of Riley

Having returned to the bench after being handed a start away at Huddersfield Town, McGree was still able to make his mark courtesy of hitting the winning goal.

Blues’ Mr Versatile ended last season as a wing-back but reminded everybody of his attacking prowess by working his way in behind to send Bluenoses home delighted. www.bcfc.com

Blues (3-4-3): Matija Sarkic, Dion Sanderson, Marc Roberts, George Friend, Jordan Graham, Gary Gardner, Ivan Sunjic, Kristian Pedersen, Scott Hogan (Riley McGree 63), Troy Deeney (captain) (Chuks Aneke 85), Tahith Chong.

Substitutes not used: Neil Etheridge, Harlee Dean, Ryan Woods, Ivan Sanchez, Lukas Jutkiewicz.

Booking: Gardner 53, McGree 94.

Swansea City (3-4-2-1): Ben Hamer, Ryan Bennett, Kyle Naughton, Ryan Manning, Ethan Laird, Matt Grimes (captain), Korey Smith (Michael Obafemi 57), Joel Latibeaudiere, Olivier Ntcham (Liam Walsh 62), Jamie Paterson, Joel Piroe (Liam Cullen 71).

Substitutes not used: Steven Benda, Ben Cabango, Jay Fulton, Rhys Williams.

Booking: Bennett 52.

Referee: Oliver Langford Attendance: 16,132 BLUES NEWS | 25

05 06 09 15 18 22 23 24

BLUES NEWS | 7

LEE BOWYER jordan graham The Opposition: bristol City Harlee Dean 72@50 community player sponsorship womens international round-up 25 action replay vs middlesbrough 26 action replay vs swansea city 31 supporters’ messages

Open to individuals of all genders and abilities whom have a disability which prevents them from participating in mainstream football

Socialise while improving both physical and mental health

For more information, please contact BCFC community on: community@bcfc.com or call 0121 202 5921

Fun, safe and inclusive programme

Adults: Archbishops Ilsley School every Wednesday at 5:00 - 6:30pm OR 6:30 - 8:00pm

Lee

F

BOWYER

irstly,I would like to welcome Nigel Pearson, his staff, players and everyone connected with Bristol City to St. Andrew’s for today’s game.

His side arrive here in confident mood after their result at the weekend. It was a matter of time before they got a win in front of their own fans and on the road they are a real threat.

We are both locked on 19 points at this stage of the season and make no mistake Bristol City, like ourselves, have quality in their side.

For us, we have to make sure we continue to reach the performance levels from the past two games. It was important we ended the run without a goal and then to follow that up with an away win, at a tough place to go, was really pleasing.

I cannot stress enough how much of a difference having more of the stadium open makes. Against Swansea, our supporters sensed when we needed a little boost and got right behind us at crucial times in the game.

They deserved that win, as did the players. We created even more chances on top of the two goals we scored and it felt like we were back to our old selves again in that second-half. Swansea equalised with their one shot on goal and that is what good teams can do but credit to our lads, they went again and Riley [McGree] pops up with the winner.

We had to back that performance up with another but Middlesbrough is never an easy place to go, especially to take on an in-form Neil Warnock side. We had to be resolute and solid in the first-

www.bcfc.com

half and we stood up to the challenge. We knew with a bit more care we would create openings and fortunately we did just that after break.

Those two quick goals were exactly what we needed and I have to say I’m delighted for Scotty [Hogan] in particular. He took his chance when it fell to him and he deserved his goal. He continues to put himself in positions to score and has kept doing the right things, even when it had not been going for him.

I thought we controlled the rest of the game with a real professionalism. Anything that Middlesbrough threw into our box was dealt with and we prevented them from finding a way back in.

I also would like to mention our fans because they were fantastic once again and I’m just glad we were able to give them something to smile about for the long journey home.

We take nothing for granted. Two home games to take us into the international break but we cannot look any further than today. This league is crazy and on any given day one team can beat another.

Hopefully we can continue to build momentum, show the same energy and endeavour of the past two games and provide that bit of quality when needed to decide the game.

Thank you for your continued support.

Keep Right On, Lee Bowyer

BLUES NEWS | 5

Main Interview

F

Jordan Graham

ootball is about taking your chances and for Jordan Graham, that statement has not rung truer than in recent weeks.

Pre-season setbacks meant the wait for First Team football at Blues required patience and hard work on the training pitches. But the Coventry-born wideman took his chance when thrown into the defence at Huddersfield Town, where the 26-year-old looked very much at home.

And he has waited to find that home too. Eight loans in seven years saw Graham attempt to break in at Wolverhampton Wanderers, before a successful spell at Gillingham last season led to his summer transfer to St. Andrew’s.

Fully fit and firing on all cylinders, Blues News sat down with the winger to get his thoughts on the opening four months of his Birmingham City career.

Thanks for chatting with us Jordan.

From the stands, it seems like the last couple of weeks have been important for you - does it feel that way?

Yes, it does. I have really enjoyed breaking in properly for the first time this season. It was a tough end to www.bcfc.com

pre-season for me. I had a few niggles and it put me behind where I wanted to be. Just after the Barrow game, I had a slight groin problem followed by a small hamstring complaint, so it just put me behind the group a bit really. But I’m feeling fit now and happy to be involved for sure!

It was such a good start to the season for the team and whilst you must have been delighted, you surely would have wanted to be out there as well?

The results were fantastic at the start of the season and rightly so, I couldn’t really get a look in. I wasn’t as sharp as I needed to be, but I really stuck at it. I trained hard every day and during the first international break I had two weeks to really crack on and I felt quicker, stronger and back to myself again.

Your chance came against Huddersfield Town, by that time you must have been chomping at the bit?

I felt like I was in the best possible condition I could have been in when I was called upon for that game. I feel like I played well, enjoyed it and then of course onto Swansea City too. In fact, I think that might be one of the best games I have ever had in a position that is still a little unfamiliar to me!

Tell us a bit about that, how is playing at wing-back?

First and foremost, I would play anywhere to help the team, even in goal! For me now, it is about having an open mind on how the Head Coach wants me to play. If it is at wing-back, I will gladly go in there, keep learning and trying to help the team.

What have the other lads across the defence said to you during the games?

They have been great! I have learned a lot from Maxime [Colin] and Jeremie [Bela] but the others are fantastic too – [Marc] Robbo, Harlee [Dean], George [Friend], Dion [Sanderson], [Kristian] Peds – I could go on. There is so much experience there and I feel in really safe hands.

What does the future look like for you?

For me now, it is about playing games and I want to play as much as possible.

Whether it is at wing-back, on the wing, in the ten, upfront, I just want to play, to help as much as I can and keep improving this team. I am really enjoying it and am excited about the weeks and months ahead.

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 Robins Formed: 1894

Stadium: Ashton Gate Stadium Capacity: 27,000 Head Coach: Nigel Pearson Last season finish: 19th in the Championship

The Opposition

BRISTOL CITY

ONE TO WATCH

12. Chris Martin FORWARD DOB: 4 November 1988 Last season the targetman managed more assists than goals as the focal point in an attacking trident alongside Wells and Weimann, but this term he has been a regular on the scoresheet as well.

The former Norwich City promotion winner offers a valuable outlet in City’s attacking armoury, with his physicality and peerless hold-up play vital components as the Robins transition from defence to attack.

City’s No.9 has scored four times in 15 starts this campaign, including the season’s opener at Blackpool and the match-winning goal at Peterborough, to equal his goal haul for the entirety of 2020/21 already.

ROBINS END

I

morphing between their alter egos saw them earn the unwanted tag of being the last EFL club to win on home soil.

The Robins have won four times on the road already during 2021/22, yet

Ashton Gate season ticket holders have watched City through their fingers this year. The Robins had

t might have been ‘fright night’ on Sunday but Bristol City have been experiencing eerie Jekyll and Hyde transformations all season.

The former Scotland international is on course for a double-figure goal tally, a feat he achieved on four occasions with Derby County and during 2016/17’s loan at Fulham, in addition to maintaining his role as serial provider.

City’s assistant manager Curtis Fleming certainly recognises Martin’s importance to the side, telling the Bristol Post: “We are a team that is built on hard work and that starts from the front. People have to realise what Chris gives the team. He gives us a foundation in games because of the way he holds the ball up so well and he showed the quality he has.”

10 | BLUES NEWS

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs BRISTOL CITY

IN THE DUGOUT

Nigel Pearson DOB: 21 August 1963 Appointed: February 2021 A vastly-experienced tactician with more than 20 years in the dugout, the no-nonsense disciplinarian is confident he can get the Robins soaring.

The 57-year-old headed to Ashton Gate on a short-term deal in February to replace Dean Holden and helped the ailing club survive in the Championship.

HOME HOODOO not won at their headquarters since January and have dropped nine points due to conceding four stoppage-time goals this term alone, something that has cost them a place in the Championship’s top six.

Yet manager Nigel Pearson finally ended the club’s home run of 17 winless matches with a 2-1 success against visitors Barnsley on Saturday. Austrian Andreas Weimann scored twice in five minutes as City came from behind to earn Pearson a long overdue first victory in BS3 since he succeeded Dean Holden in February.

The result lifted Bristol City to 15th in the Championship table and Pearson acknowledged the end of the barren run was “a relief”.

He explained to the Bristol Post: “We’ve played much, much better here and lost games and drawn games. There is not a lot of difference between today and other www.bcfc.com

days where we’ve not played well but we’ve lost. It is an illustration I think of the fragility of the mental state in terms of what anxiety does and I was as nervous as everybody else, I suppose.

“But it is great for the fans and I thought they were excellent in terms of turning the noise up to support the team and the players really recognised that and so did we as staff. It is about the players and the fans, the relationship between them is vital.

“So now we have got rid of that ridiculously unfathomable run of results here, we have got to now turn a corner and make sure our performances match what we want to achieve.”

Pearson was rewarded with a three-year deal in April and upon his appointment said: “I want to be part of a team that gets to the Premier League.

It is going to be a tough journey and we’ll need the right people on board to achieve it but I’m excited about the possibilities ahead.”

The City boss certainly has a background of Championship success.

He helped Hull City stabilise in the division following relegation from the top-flight and oversaw Leicester City’s rise to the Premier League as champions in 2013/14, while claiming the division’s LMA Manager of the Year accolade.

He then helped the East Midlands club pull off a remarkable escape from relegation the following season and is widely attributed with putting the building blocks in place for the Foxes’ Premier League title that followed.

Pearson then had short-lived spells with Derby County, Belgium side OH Leuven and Watford, but was dismissed from the Hornets despite having the best points-per-game record of any manager in the club’s history.

While home comforts have been scarse, it has been on their travels that City have shown their true capabilities. Although last time on the road they looked “disjointed” according to Pearson in a 3-0 defeat 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 Championship leaders AFC Bournemouth will be aiming for a remarkable 16th game unbeaten on Wednesday evening when they host Preston North End. The Cherries had Dominic Solanke to thank yet again for prolonging their best-ever start in the toptwo tiers, after netting in the 2-0 success at Reading on Saturday for his 11th league goal of the campaign.

at West Bromwich Albion, previous away days have seen them full of attacking verve. There have been 3-2 successes at both Reading and Peterborough United, as well as leaving Cardiff City and Queens Park Rangers with maximum reward.

Former Derby County duo Chris Martin and Weimann have been the catalysts to those victories.

The former has been on target in three of four away-day wins, while diminutive Weimann struck braces against the Royals and the Bluebirds on his travels prior to last Saturday’s double.

Further attacking options come courtesy of Bermuda international Nahki Wells, who was last season’s leading scorer with 11 goals, Monaco youth Han-Noah Massengo and Kasey Palmer, a Championship Playoff Final winner with Huddersfield Town.

Everton youth Joe Williams and long-serving Republic of Ireland international Callum O’Dowda can also operate in advanced midfield roles or run the channels if required, while playmaker Tyreeq Bakinson was used behind a front two last time out.

Pearson has favoured wing backs in a 3-1-4-2 system of late, with the industrious Jay Da Silva and workaholic George Tanner the most likely to be deployed in those roles, although homegrown Cameron www.bcfc.com

Pring can also perform there or at right-back in a back four in a 4-3-1-2 formation.

League ever-present Matty James acts as midfield anchor, yet City are missing his former Leicester City teammate Andy King - a Premier League winner in 2015/16 - with a hamstring injury until December.

On occasions this season City have seen their backline left exposed, with just one clean sheet coming in September. Yet they have only conceded two or more in a game six times and the trio used most often in that rearguard boast some real pedigree.

Rob Atkinson was a League One PFA Team of the Year representative last season with Oxford United and Czech Republic international Tomas Kalas arrived from Chelsea in 2019, although towering centre-back Nathan Baker, who started out at Aston Villa, is currently coming back from a head injury.

City have not experienced topflight football in 115 years, so being patient is something they are used to and time is something Pearson will require to put the foundations in place for a promotion-challenging side. Thankfully the former Leicester boss has an impressive track record of doing just that and will be determined to get the Robins back on song.

Solanke is not having it all his own way though at the top of the division’s scoring charts. Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic took his tally to 18 after a hat-trick in the top-of-the-table clash against West Bromwich Albion and the Serb will be hungry for more as the Cottagers travel to Blackburn Rovers tomorrow night.

Rovers have their own in-form striker though in Ben Brereton.

The Chile international scored a quickfire double in the 2-1 win over bottom club Derby County last time out to propel Rovers towards the play-offs.

Both of the Championship’s Welsh sides had a gluttony of weekend goals as well. In-form Swansea City moved to within two points of the play-offs after a 3-0 success over Peterborough while Cardiff City, who recently sacked manager Mick McCarthy after the club’s record losing run, staged a remarkable comeback to draw 3-3 at Stoke City. The Swans head to Coventry City this evening - one of three Championship sides unbeaten at home - while the managerless Bluebirds host a QPR side without an away win since August.

Elsewhere, Blackpool host Stoke still buoyed from a first Lancashire derby success in 24 years over Preston and a rare victory at Sheffield United.

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 evening and welcome everyone to tonight’s game against Bristol City.

We come into this match high on confidence after a superb 0-2 victory over Middlesbrough on Saturday afternoon.

Throughout my senior career, whether it be for Brentford or Blues, the Riverside has always been one of the most difficult places to visit. It is a hostile ground filled with passionate supporters and never easy to get three points there. To come away with a win this time around was fantastic and to get a clean sheet was equally pleasing.

Tonight, Bristol City come to St. Andrew’s having ended a spell of three straight defeats with a win over Barnsley on Saturday.

Coming from behind and ending a long run of games at home without three points will give them confidence.

Their manager Nigel Pearson is experienced at this level and he knows they have enough quality to turn around their form, so it is important for us to not underestimate them.

We will have to be on top of our game but naturally, after three positives results, we are feeling good. We have put a tricky spell behind us and now have two home games in succession to take us into the next international break.

First and foremost, we took our goals at good times.

To score just after half-time, in quick succession, dampened their spirit a little and credit the lads, they were rock solid right until the final whistle and Boro never looked like breaching our goal.

That is also a great thing to have in the coming days – two chances to turn out in front of our home supporters, who, whether it be home or away, have been absolutely excellent all season long.

To have amassed seven points in the last three games against a trio of tough opponents in Huddersfield Town, Swansea City and Middlesbrough is testament to the lads. We have had to chop and change ourselves but those out there on the pitch have done the team proud.

To see over 1,400 Bluenoses pack out the away end at Boro and over 16,000 in attendance against Swansea last time we were here is impressive stuff. It shows how much you have stuck by us and, hopefully, results in the last two games have rewarded that loyalty.

Riley McGree came in for Tahith Chong on Teesside and showed everyone the skill, calmness and finesse we see every day in training. It was another top performance from him and, coupled with his winner versus the Swans, it represents a good week for the young lad!

Thanks for coming along and, as always, enjoy the game.

www.bcfc.com

Keep Right On! Harlee Dean BLUES NEWS | 15

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

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.

@

T

by ROB MASON

here was great excitement as Blues headed to Turf Moor on 30 October 1971. It was not as if the team were flying. There had been no wins in the previous five fixtures. Travelling Bluenoses were thrilled because the Blues line up was to include Bob Hatton who had just signed from Carlisle United for a club record £80,000. Hatton was part of a ‘hat-trick’ of debutants. Republic of Ireland international full-back Tommy Carroll also debuted having arrived on loan from Ipswich Town (reputedly Birmingham’s first ever loan signing) while a youngster who had been making a name for himself in Blues youth side also made his first start. That was none other than Kenny Burns who

had previously appeared as a sub against Hull early in the season and of course went on to have a fantastic career.

On the back of having won their last two games, the Clarets attracted their highest gate of the season so far and went in at the break a goal to the good courtesy of a Frank Casper penalty. Blues were to fight back and take a point thanks to Bob Latchford who scored for the fourth game in a row. None of those goals earned Latchford a win-bonus as all four matches ended in draws but there would be better results to come after the club’s investment. Indeed there was already a return on Hatton

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE BIRMINGHAM CITY FORMER PLAYERS ASSOCIATION

Trevor Francis 18 | BLUES NEWS

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs BRISTOL CITY

as it was from his long right-wing cross that Latchford lost centre-half Colin Waldron and headed beyond goalkeeper Peter Mellor.

CLASS OF 71/72

Reporting on the game the Lancashire Evening Telegraph commented: “Birmingham provided the most dangerous opposition seen at the ground this season. They were big, strong and determined.” The result left Blues in eighth place on 16 points from 15 games (Still two for a win remember), three points behind fifth placed Burnley and five adrift of Millwall who occupied the second and last promotion spot.

TOMMY CARROLL

TEAMS BURNLEY 1: Mellor, Docherty, Cliff, Bellamy, Waldron, Dobson, Thomas, West, Casper, Fletcher, Casper.

BLUES 1: Kelly, Carroll, Pendrey, Page, Hynd, Burns, Campbell, Francis, Latchford B., Smith, Hatton.

ATTENDANCE: 17,137

ELSEWHERE IN FOOTBALL It was not just Birmingham waving the cheque book with the club record purchase of Bob Hatton. Back in the day before transfer windows clubs could sign players up to the third Thursday in March.

Blackpool were also involved in a record deal, selling the mercurial Tony Green to Newcastle for a fee in excess of the club record £110,000 they had received for World Cup winner Alan Ball five years earlier. As part of the deal £40,000 rated Keith Dyson made the reverse move.

Tony Green

Having received money from Birmingham City Carlisle re-invested £12,000 to bring in Stan Bowles from Crewe Alexandra. Given that the Cumbrians had just made a £70,000 profit on Hatton who they had bought for £10,000 from Northampton and would sell Bowles on for £100,000 you have to admire their acumen in the transfer market. Hull City were also active in the market, paying Huddersfield over £50,000 to bring in ex-Arsenal midfielder Jimmy McGill while Middlesbrough sold Mick Allen to Brentford and Charlton swapped Barry Endean for Blackburn’s Eamonn Rogers, with Rovers also pocketing a cheque for £7,000. www.bcfc.com

A debutant at Burnley, Tommy Carroll came from Ipswich Town where he had fallen out of favour with Bobby Robson – after a dressing room fight with the future England manager! The Dubliner had played over 100 times for the Portman Road club with whom he had won the second division title in 1968. Initially on loan from Ipswich, a month after his arrival he had impressed sufficiently for a £20,000 fee to secure Tommy’s transfer.

Starting his career in Ireland, Carroll won the League in 1962 and the cup a year later with Shelbourne before signing for Cambridge City where he began his career in England playing reserve team football in the Metropolitan League, By 1964-65 he made an astonishing 72 first team appearances in all competitions.

Tommy was still in non-league when he made his international Under-23s debut for the Republic of Ireland before he joined Ipswich in the month England won the World Cup. He was to go on and win 17 full caps, scoring in a 1-1 draw with Sweden.

After debuting for Blues at Burnley, he missed only one game in the rest of the promotion season and totalled 47 appearances before returning to Ireland to manage Shelbourne and Athlone Town. He passed away in Dublin in August of last year, two days before what would have been his 78th birthday.

BLUES NEWS | 19

HERE’S A STAT 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.

20 | BLUES NEWS

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs BRISTOL CITY

BCWFC Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Player Ambassadors

Birmingham City FC Community Trust are delighted to announce this season’s PFA Women’s players ambassadors. With some new faces in the changing room within the Women’s team, it was a great opportunity for them to understand the work that the Community Trust are involved with in greater detail. Last season was extremely difficult to engage the local community with a lot of the appearances being done virtually, however, this season there will be a lot more face-to-face interaction engaging the local community with the players. Below are photos of some of the ambassadors from within the Women’s team - Veatriki Sarri (Premier League Kicks and Primary Stars ambassador), Louise Quinn (Sports Participation and Fundraising and Campaigns ambassador) and Christie Murray (National Citizen Service and Social Inclusion ambassador).

October Extravaganza at St. Andrew’s During October half term the Community Trust hosted the October Extravaganza in partnership with Birmingham Children’s Trust at St. Andrew’s. During the week the children got involved in arts and crafts, jigsaw making, sports games underneath the Gil Merrick concourse, as well as other fun activities. The staff from the Community Trust and Birmingham Children’s Trust really saw the children enjoying themselves and look to do more of these in the future. On Friday, the children were surprised when Louise Quinn, Lily Simkin, Eleanor Ryan-Doyle and Emily Whelan from the Women’s first team came to the stadium and handed out certificates and prizes to the children who were very appreciative of the visit. They also distributed complimentary tickets to the children for the Second City Derby which is taking place on Sunday 14 November at St. Andrew’s Stadium.

NCS Autumn Wave

www.bcfc.com

NCS Autumn 2021 started with a bang at Waverley Studio College during October half term. Year 12 students tested their teamworking skills during an adrenaline-fuelled three days at Bassett’s Pole Adventure Park in Sutton Coldfield, where they engaged in paintballing, learned the art of axe throwing, and had a blast at the rifle range before wrapping up in style with a team v team outdoor laser tag battle.

Wednesday saw them return to base to participate in a range of skills-building workshops, focused around political engagement, entrepreneurial skills, and first aid. Attention now turns to Social Action Week, where they will bring together their learning and development to design and deliver a bespoke project to benefit the local community.

Recruitment will commence in January 2022 for our amazing summer programmes and current year 11 students should keep an eye on www.wearencs.com for more details on how to sign up and get their own adventure!

BLUES NEWS | 21

22 | BLUES NEWS

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs BRISTOL CITY

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

blues women B

INTERNATIONAL ROUND-UP

lues Women return to Barclays FA Women’s Super League action on Sunday afternoon as they welcome Reading to St. Andrew’s following the recent international break.

Scott Booth’s players and staff have been working tirelessly at Wast Hills Training Ground during the season’s second pause, with the period also seeing a number of First Team stars represent their nations in FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers.

No fewer than six of the Blues squad were on their travels across Europe in October, as they aim to be a part of the finals tournament hosted by co-hosts Australia and New Zealand in 2023.

A quartet, including Harriet Scott, were selected by the Republic of Ireland for their fixtures against Sweden and Finland. Against the Scandinavians in Dublin, Louise Quinn, Jamie Finn and Lucy Quinn all started a narrow 0-1 defeat, with the trio all on the pitch for Vera Pauw’s side as they bounced back away from home four days later.

At the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, the Girls in Green claimed a 1-2 victory to leave them fourth in Group A and with a game in hand ahead of home fixtures against Slovakia and Georgia next month.

North of the border, Lisa Robertson was in action for Scotland as they took on Hungary at Hampden Park.

The midfielder played 64 minutes in front of over 6,000, as former Blue Rachel Corsie scored a last gasp winner to maintain the 100% qualifying record of Pedro Martinez Losa’s team.

Robertson was then a second-half substitute as they were edged out

by Sweden in a friendly played at St Mirren Park. Later this month, Scotland face Ukraine on home soil before travelling to Spain for 24 | BLUES NEWS

a meeting with the fellow Group B pacesetters.

Lionesses - led by Mo Marley – claimed a slender 0-1 victory.

Further afield, Veatriki Sarri was on duty for Greece as they took on Kazakhstan and Slovenia in their third and fourth qualifiers. In Astana, she was part of a side that won by a single goal and kept a clean sheet.

And whilst there was no action for Rebecca Holloway, who had to withdraw from Northern Ireland’s squad due to injury, it was confirmed that the Green and White Army will face England in next summer’s European Championship. Austria and Norway make up Group A.

However, it was defeat back at home in the second outing, leaving Greece four points away from the Group I play-off spot which is currently occupied by Wales who are their next opponents.

On home soil, goalkeeper Emily Ramsey played 30 minutes for England Women’s Under-23s as they took on Belgium. In Tubize, the Young

Tickets remain on sale for Blues Women’s meeting with the Royals and can be purchased online at www.eticketing.co.uk/bcfc/, by calling 0121 772 0101 and choosing option 2, or at the St Andrew’s ticket office. The Main Stand Ticket office will also be open on matchday from two hours prior to kick-off which is at 2pm.

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs BRISTOL CITY

Blues 2 1 SWANSEA SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP | SATURDAY 23 OCTOBER

B

lues rewarded their biggest home crowd of the season by putting on an impressive display to beat an in-form Swansea City outfit at St. Andrew’s. Lee Bowyer’s men brought a game that had simmered in the opening 45 to the boil after the interval, breaking the deadlock by scoring just two minutes into the second-half.

Troy Deeney was found across the area by Tahith Chong’s centre and Blues’ captain showed a cool head to trap the bouncing ball before finishing low across goal in front of a jubilant Tilton. This well and truly brought the hosts to life and Scott

Substitute Riley McGree latched onto Deeney’s through ball and, although his initial shot was saved, the Australian persisted to get the ball over the line to secure the three points.

Hogan had the best of a flurry of further chances to put the game to bed only to be denied by a sprawling Ben Hamer.

Therefore, it very much appeared that Birmingham City’s failure to cash in when on top had cost them, as the visitors levelled against the run of play through Michael Obafemi in the final quarter of an hour. But Blues were able to shift momentum back in their favour and hit the winner just five minutes later.

Life of Riley

Having returned to the bench after being handed a start away at Huddersfield Town, McGree was still able to make his mark courtesy of hitting the winning goal.

Blues’ Mr Versatile ended last season as a wing-back but reminded everybody of his attacking prowess by working his way in behind to send Bluenoses home delighted. www.bcfc.com

Blues (3-4-3): Matija Sarkic, Dion Sanderson, Marc Roberts, George Friend, Jordan Graham, Gary Gardner, Ivan Sunjic, Kristian Pedersen, Scott Hogan (Riley McGree 63), Troy Deeney (captain) (Chuks Aneke 85), Tahith Chong.

Substitutes not used: Neil Etheridge, Harlee Dean, Ryan Woods, Ivan Sanchez, Lukas Jutkiewicz.

Booking: Gardner 53, McGree 94.

Swansea City (3-4-2-1): Ben Hamer, Ryan Bennett, Kyle Naughton, Ryan Manning, Ethan Laird, Matt Grimes (captain), Korey Smith (Michael Obafemi 57), Joel Latibeaudiere, Olivier Ntcham (Liam Walsh 62), Jamie Paterson, Joel Piroe (Liam Cullen 71).

Substitutes not used: Steven Benda, Ben Cabango, Jay Fulton, Rhys Williams.

Booking: Bennett 52.

Referee: Oliver Langford Attendance: 16,132 BLUES NEWS | 25

MIDDLESBROUGH 0 2 Blues B

SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP | SATURDAY 30 OCTOBER

lues recorded back-to-back victories in the Sky Bet Championship thanks to a fully deserved win away to Middlesbrough on Saturday afternoon. In a similar vein Middlesbrough (3-4-3): Joe Lumley, Paddy McNair, Sol Bamba, Lee Peltier, Marcus Tavernier, Martin Payero, Jonny Howson (captain), Matt Crooks (Josh Coburn 86), Onel Hernandez (James Lea Siliki 58), Andraz Sporar, Uche Ikpeazu (Duncan Watmore 41).

to the previous success over Swansea, a controlled display in the second period took the game away from their opponents to secure all three points, following a first-half where two Matija Sarkic saves had kept the teams level.

But what was different from the week before was Blues’ ruthlessness to put the match to bed when they were in the ascendency. A quickfire double from Marc Roberts and Scott Hogan did this at the Riverside Stadium to leave Boro stunned and unable to mount a response.

Substitutes not used: Luke Daniels, Anfernee Dijksteel, Toyosi Olusanya, Isaiah Jones.

The first saw the centre-back rise highest to guide home a flighted Jordan Graham free-kick, which Joe Lumley severely misjudged, before Hogan also used his head on the way to doubling the advantage. He raced in behind as Troy Deeney flicked possession over the top, nodded the ball away from chasing defenders and finished well by wrongfooting the ‘keeper.

Booking: None.

Blues (3-5-2): Matija Sarkic, Dion Sanderson, Marc Roberts, George Friend, Jordan Graham, Gary Gardner, Ivan Sunjic, Riley McGree, Kristian Pedersen (Jeremie Bela 68), Scott Hogan, Troy Deeney (Lukas Jutkiewicz 66).

Substitutes not used: Neil Etheridge, Harlee Dean, Ryan Woods, Ivan Sanchez, Chuks Aneke.

Booking: Sanderson 19, Gardner 45+2, McGree 90+4.

Referee: Joshua Smith Attendance: 21,582 (1,435 away) 26 | BLUES NEWS

Rock Solid Robbo Roberts capped a faultless defensive performance at the heart of Blues’ backline with his second goal of the season.

The Yorkshireman expertly marshalled the back-three on Teesside as Lee Bowyer’s team chalked up a seventh clean sheet of the campaign to date.

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs BRISTOL CITY

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.

www.bcfc.com

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

BLUES NEWS | 27

ROLL CALL & LEAGUE TABLE PLAYER

LEAGUE APPS GLS

FA CUP APPS GLS

LEAGUE CUP APPS GLS

CHUKS ANEKE (F)

0 (11) 1

0 (0) 0

2 (0) 0

POS.

P

JEREMIE BELA (F)

11 (2) 1

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

1 BOURNEMOUTH

15 10 5 0 16 35

JOBE BELLINGHAM (F)

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

2 FULHAM

15 10 2 3 22 32

TATE CAMPBELL (M)

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (1) 0

3

15

ALFIE CHANG (M)

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (1) 0

TAHITH CHONG (M)

13 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

MAXIME COLIN (D)

12 (0) 1

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

HARLEE DEAN (D)

11 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

TROY DEENEY (F)

5 (4) 2

0 (0) 0

NEIL ETHERIDGE (G)

0 (0) 0

GEORGE FRIEND (D)

5 (0) 0

WEST BROMWICH ALBION

W

8

D

4

L

3

GD PTS

11

28

4 COVENTRY CITY

15 8 3 4 4 27

5 HUDDERSFIELD TOWN

15 7 3 5 2 24

6 BLACKPOOL

15 7 3 5 0 24

0 (0) 0

7 BLACKBURN ROVERS

15 6 5 4 7 23

0 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

8 QUEENS PARK RANGERS

15 6 4 5 3 22

0 (0) 0

2 (0) 0

9 STOKE CITY

15 6 4 5 1 22

10 LUTON TOWN

15 5 6 4 3 21

11 MIDDLESBROUGH

15 6 3 6 2 21

12 MILLWALL

15 5 6 4 -1 21

13 SWANSEA CITY

15 5 5 5 1 20

14 READING

15 6 2 7 -4 20

GARY GARDNER (M)

8 (3) 1

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

NICO GORDON (D)

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

JORDAN GRAHAM (M)

3 (1) 0

0 (0) 0

2 (0) 0

SCOTT HOGAN (F)

12 (1) 4

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)

11 (3) 1

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

15 BIRMINGHAM CITY

15 5 4 6 -3 19

CHARLIE LAKIN (M)

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (1) 0

16 BRISTOL CITY

15 5 4 6 -4 19

JONATHAN LEKO (M)

1 (3) 0

0 (0) 0

2 (0) 0

17 SHEFFIELD UNITED

15 5 3 7 -2 18

RILEY MCGREE (M)

2 (3) 1

0 (0) 0

1 (1) 0

18 NOTTINGHAM FOREST

15 5 3 7 -2 18

MARCEL OAKLEY (D)

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

2 (0) 1

19

15

KRISTIAN PEDERSEN (D) 13 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

MARC ROBERTS (D)

14 (0) 2

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

MITCHELL ROBERTS (D)

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

DION SANDERSON (D)

6 (1) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

MATIJA SARKIC (G)

15 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

PRESTON NORTH END

4

6

5

-2

18

20 PETERBOROUGH UNITED

15 4 2 9 -14 14

21 CARDIFF CITY

15 3 3 9 -14 12

22 HULL CITY

15 2 3 10 -12 9

0 (0) 0

23 BARNSLEY

15 1 5 9 -12 8

24 DERBY COUNTY

15 3 8 4 -2 5

KEYENDRAH SIMMONDS (F) 0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (1) 0

IVAN SUNJIC (M)

12 (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)

11 (0) 0

0 (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

GARDNER ■

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER Tue 02

7.45pm

BRISTOL CITY

H

Sat 06

3.00pm

READING

H

LEAGUE LEAGUE

Sat 20

3.00pm

HULL CITY

A

LEAGUE

Tue 23

7.45pm

COVENTRY CITY

A

LEAGUE

Sat 27

3.00pm

BLACKPOOL

H

LEAGUE

DECEMBER SAT 04

3.00pm

MILLWALL

A

LEAGUE

Sat 11

3.00pm

CARDIFF CITY

H

LEAGUE

Sat 18

3.00pm

BLACKBURN ROVERS

A

LEAGUE

Sat 26

3.00pm

FULHAM

A

LEAGUE

Tue 29

7.45pm

PETERBOROUGH UNITED

H

LEAGUE

Sat 01

3.00pm

QUEENS PARK RANGERS

H

LEAGUE

Sat 15

3.00pm

PRESTON NORTH END

A

LEAGUE

JANUARY

Sat 22

3.00pm

BARNSLEY

H

LEAGUE

Sat 29

3.00pm

DERBY COUNTY

A

LEAGUE LEAGUE

FEBRUARY SAT 05

3.00pm

SHEFFIELD UNITED

H

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

MAY Sat 01

30 | BLUES NEWS

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs BRISTOL CITY

SUB 1

SUB 2

SUB 3 CASTILLO (78) ■

UNUSED SUBS

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)

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)

ANEKE (58)

DEENEY (70)

TRUEMAN, FRIEND, SANDERSON, GRAHAM

GARDNER

FRIEND

HOGAN

JUTKIEWICZ

CHONG

BELA (47)

ANEKE (78)

GRAHAM (83)

TRUEMAN, WOODS, DEAN, DEENEY

GARDNER

GRAHAM

McGREE ■

JUTKIEWICZ

CHONG

DEENEY (70)

GARDNER ■

GRAHAM

HOGAN

DEENEY 1

CHONG

McGREE 1 (63) ■

ANEKE (86)

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

GARDNER ■

GRAHAM

HOGAN 1

DEENEY

McGREE ■

JUTKIEWICZ (67)

BELA (68)

ETHERIDGE, WOODS, ANEKE, DEAN, SÁNCHEZ

Su pporter s

MESSAGES ess It is with sadn the ce un no we an ge death of Geor Gorton on 21 2021, September s. aged 75 year he A true blue, will be greatly missed. Keep p.

Right On Po

www.bcfc.com

Today we say ou r final farewell to Lee (Delboy) Caruan a as we lay him to re st. A loving son, partn er, father, brother, uncle and frien d.

Once a blue, always a blue.

10 August 1985 –6 October 2021 Keep Right On !

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 READING SATURDAY 6 NOVEMBER 2021 KICK-OFF 3PM

BRISTOL CITY HEAD COACH: NIGEL PEARSON

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

1 DAN BENTLEY GK 2 DANNY SIMPSON 3 JAY DA SILVA 5 ROB ATKINSON 6 MATTY JAMES 8 JOE WILLIAMS 9 CHRIS MARTIN 10 ANDY KING 11 CALLUM O’DOWDA 12 MAX O’LEARY GK 14 ANDREAS WEIMANN 15 TYREEQ BAKINSON 16 CAMERON PRING 17 NATHAN BAKER 18 ANTOINE SEMENYO 19 GEORGE TANNER 21 NAHKI WELLS 22 TOMAS KALAS 26 ZAK VYNER 33 SAM BELL 36 ALEX SCOTT 37 TOMMY CONWAY 42 HAN-NOAH MASSENGO 45 KASEY PALMER 46 SAIKOU JANNEH

MATCH OFFICIALS REFEREE SIMON HOOPER ASSISTANT REFEREE DANIEL ROBATHAN ASSISTANT REFEREE DEREK EATON 4TH OFFICIAL JAMES OLDHAM