Birmingham City v Derby County

BLUES NEWS

Birmingham City v Derby County Friday 10 September 2021 Kick-off 8pm ISSUE 05 | £3

2 | BLUES NEWS

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs AFC BOURNEMOUTH

Main Interview

A

Troy deeney

fter the announcement that Troy Deeney had signed for Blues came a frenzy of media requests to speak with Lee Bowyer’s final capture of the summer transfer window. So, between training and settling into life as a Birmingham City player, the 33-yearold striker has bounced from podcasts to press conferences as one of the Sky Bet Championship’s hottest properties gives everyone a slice of his time.

And it was following one of these numerous press commitments that Blues News found a quiet corner at Wast Hills Training Ground to speak exclusively with Deeney as he looks forward to representing his boyhood Club for the very first time.

BIRMINGHAM CITY FC

‘Troy Deeney, Birmingham City player’, how does it feel to hear those words?

“I will be honest; I have heard it a lot this past week. It is started to be drummed into me. It doesn’t feel real at this moment in time. I want to play first and feel the crowd, go through all of the rigmarole and get some bruises before I can call myself a player.”

Telephone: 0121 772 0101 Ticket Office: 0121 772 0101 (ext 2)

If Troy Deeney the child knew that Troy Deeney the adult played for Birmingham City, what would he think of him?

“He would be saying that ‘he’s lied’!

This was never my dream, this football thing. It was my kid brother’s dream.

I never really thought about it in that regard, I was just always Blues when I played Wembley on the garages. My Uncle, who is five years older than me, is a big Blues fan, so we used to play in my Nan’s hallway with a tennis ball.

Commercial: 0121 772 0101 (ext 3) Club Superstore / Mail Order: 0121 772 0101 (ext 4)

6 | BLUES NEWS

Honorary Vice President: Mike Wiseman

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs DERBY COUNTY

IN THE DUGOUT

Wayne Rooney It has been the toughest of managerial baptisms for Wayne Rooney, battling with Football League sanctions and a transfer embargo just to get a competitive side on the pitch.

ONE TO WATCH

Technical Director: Craig Gardner Head Coach: Lee Bowyer

England and Manchester United’s all-time record goal-scorer may have coveted accolades during his playing career, but his first dug-out role could prove his most demanding challenge yet.

Phil Jagielka Centre-back DOB: 17 August 1982 The defensive stalwart brought an unrivalled level of experience to Derby’s ranks when he took the number six shirt last month.

To put his longevity in the game into some kind of perspective, Jagielka was in his third season as a professional and had already played 22 first-team matches for Sheffield United before current team-mate Louie Sibley was born.

A composed and authoritative figure at centre-back, he gained more than 250 appearances for the Blades, steered them to promotion in 2006-07 and won the club’s Player of the Year award on three occasions. He was equally successful at next employers Everton as a Premier League mainstay, amassing 385 outings over 12 years and captaining them from 2013 to 2019.

The former England international couldn’t stop the Blades from slipping out of the top-flight last season following a brief return to his old stomping ground but was still not ready to hang up his boots after his release.

He now holds the record for being Derby’s oldest-ever outfield player and his influence alongside defensive partner Curtis Davies has been all too apparent, with two clean-sheets in his first three appearances.

ROONEY LEADING ‘RAM’PAGE

C

onsidering Derby County had just nine senior players available a fortnight before the new season commenced, to be in mid-table by the first international break of the season was a phenomenal achievement.

After the proposed sale of the club collapsed in May, the Rams were fined a six-figure sum by the EFL over the amortisation of players in the accounts and have been under a transfer embargo ever since.

Although they were able to sign free agents under strict wage limits more recently, operating against a backdrop of such off-field uncertainty is never conducive to positive results.

Yet rookie manager Wayne Rooney,

who saw a dressing room exodus during the close-season as a dozen senior players departed, has defied the summer naysayers. His Rams side only survived by the final tuft of their fleece last season, coming from 2-0 down on a dramatic final day to draw 3-3 with Sheffield Wednesday that subsequently relegated Wycombe Wanderers. Nevertheless, despite the odds stacked against them the Rams have shown they are not afraid to lock horns with anyone.

They’ve drawn all three of their Championship outings at Pride Park so far - against Huddersfield Town, Middlesbrough and in a tempestuous East Midlands derby against Nottingham Forest prior to the international break.

10 | BLUES NEWS

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs DERBY COUNTY

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

What is your message to Bluenoses?

“Friday night will take care of itself; it will be a great atmosphere. It is say two weeks from now when things have died down and maybe results are not as good, that is when we need the fans even more. We need to make it so anybody that is coming, that they are coming to a very hard place. It is going to be loud, hopefully, high tempo from what the players do, but every time they have got the ball, they need to feel like the 12th man from the stands, breathing down the back of their neck and making them uncomfortable, and let’s just keep winning games. If we can keep winning games, it will be an unbelievable season.”

“Everyone has been really welcoming, but now is the time that everyone is looking at me for what I have really got.”

www.bcfc.com

BLUES NEWS | 7

IN THIS ISSUE DOB: 24 October 1985 Appointed: January 2021

FOOTBALL MANAGEMENT

How has training been?

“It’s been really, really good; I have enjoyed it. The coaching staff are excellent, and the Gaffer is really good.

Sparky [Mark Kennedy and [Paul] Harsley have been really good, and I have got so much time for Rushy [Sean Rush] as an individual and as a fitness guy. I think he is really good, knows what he is talking about – they all do.

When you have had the number of managers and coaches that I have had, you appreciate the straight talkers and the ones that are no-nonsense.

“I try to keep a respectable distance from everybody and try not to step on anybody’s toes. But I have forewarned everybody that once the games start that part of Troy goes away and all I care about is winning. At the moment it has been nice and everyone’s happy and I want that to continue, and if we win it will continue. But my demands go higher and higher, not only of everyone else but myself once it’s game time.”

You have chosen the number 36 shirt, why did you take that number?

“First of all, I didn’t want to upset

Store: www.blues.clubstore.co.uk

Directors: Wenqing Zhao, Chun Kong Yiu, Gannan Zheng, Yao Wang,

What has Lee Bowyer said to you in the week since you signed?

“We haven’t said too much, it has just been about working and I prefer that.

“I was always Stan Lazaridis, Ricky Otto – anybody I thought was really skilful. I was always Blues and I just genuinely loved Blues. I loved the kits, the old Phones 4U kits and all that. For this birthday just gone, my missus bought me an Auto Windscreens one.”

Web: www.bcfc.com

BCFC BOARD

anybody by taking the number nine.

Scotty Hogan is number nine and I respect that. Number eight was available and that’s Adam Clayton, and I know that it is a difficult one with the fanbase, but I have known Clayts for a long time - I wouldn’t want to take that either. The next number that was free was number 19 which was my number at Walsall. I didn’t want to have something that I have already used, so I went really high. 36 is, obviously, three plus six [equals nine] if you want to do it that way. But I actually added all the dates of births of my kids up, divided it by four and got 36.”

Away from home they were victorious at Hull City thanks to a debut winner from Sam Baldock, four days after being sucker-punched by two injurytime goals for a first defeat of the season to Peterborough United.

Rooney is confident his youthful flock can continue to buck the trend though, as he looks to revitalise a side embarking on their 13th consecutive campaign outside of the top-flight.

The 35-year-old boss told BBC Radio Derby: “It’s my job to bring some pride and dignity back to this club. It would be easy for me to walk away because this is not ideal at all. But I’ve been in some tough moments in my career, on the pitch and off the pitch. This is another tough moment.

“I don’t know about hurdles since being appointed, it has felt more like mountains to climb over. We still haven’t reached the peak, we still haven’t got to the other side.”

Rooney’s task may still be an uphill one in the short-term, but the

Placed in charge of the Rams following the departure of Phillip Cocu in November 2020, the 35-year-old was confirmed in the post permanently two months later. The winner of five Premier League titles, three League Cups, one FA Cup and Champions League and Europa League silverware, he’s hoping his experience at the very top of the game with United and Everton can inspire a youthful flock and last-minute arrivals to pull together and defy the odds stacked against them.

emergence of homegrown gems from the club’s peerless Academy has eased the burden. Holding midfielder Max Bird and left-back Lee Buchanan now have more than 50 club appearances, Birminghamborn Louie Sibley scored five times in his breakthrough campaign aged 17, Jason Knight was leading appearance maker during 202021 and forward Jack Stretton contributed his first goal this August.

Speaking about his first steps into management he said: “It’s a challenge and it’s not ideal. I will do my best for this football club, but I need help and support.

Alongside such youthful exuberance are long-serving players well established with the club’s DNA. Shot-stopper Kelle Roos has been part of the furniture since 2014, Craig Forsyth - although suspended today - arrived in DE24 a year earlier and Curtis Davies recently penned a new one-year deal to extend his stay in Derbyshire to a fifth campaign.

“We have a lot of young lads in the team at the moment and when the going gets tough, when the pressure is applied, I have to protect them. Us as coaches and the players need to work together to get through this period for the club.”

While Wales international Tom Lawrence has relished his newfound responsibility as captain and Poland international Kamil Jozwiak has provided some creative verve,

www.bcfc.com

BLUES NEWS | 11

Phillips was a forward who had turned professional at the start of the season.

This match was his full league debut having made one previous appearance as a substitute when at 17 years and 17 days old he had become Blues second youngest debutant. This would be the first of a run of six successive starts he got but having failed to find the back of the net he didn’t play again until the following season as Bob Hatton came in to solve Birmingham’s attacking problems and form a devastating duo with Bob Latchford.

The result dropped Birmingham to 12th position, four points behind leaders Bristol City who were due to be the next visitors to St. Andrew’s where City had a 100% record so far but would surely be tested by the Robins.

TEAMS LUTON: Read, Ryan, Shanks, Keen, Nicholl, Moore, Busby, Slough, Halom, Givens, Anderson.

BLUES: Latchford D., Martin, Page, Smith, Hynd, Robinson, Campbell, Francis, Latchford B., Pendrey, Phillips.

ATTENDANCE: 14,678

7250

ELSEWHERE IN FOOTBALL

@

Today’s visitors Derby County also have reason to remember 1971-72.

They won the first division, the equivalent of what is the Premier League now. It was the Rams first ever top-flight table and just for good measure they also won The Texaco Cup, a competition that featured Scottish and Irish as well as English clubs.

Managed by the inimitable Brian Clough and his right hand man Peter Taylor, Derby’s regular line-up included immaculate England internationals Colin Todd and Roy McFarland as well as ever-present striker Kevin Hector, Scottish centre-forward John O’Hare and his fellow Scot Archie Gemmill. Clough stalwart John McGovern barely missed a game while white booted winger (In an age when not wearing black boots was extremely rare) Alan Hinton top scored with 15 league goals. Reliable defender John Robson missed just one match while goalkeeper Colin Boulton did even better, being ever-present.

ifty years ago tomorrow Blues travelled to Luton’s Kennilworth Road for the sixth league game of the season. Neither team had made a good start.

Birmingham were 10th, the highest to five clubs on five points from five games – while Luton were a point lower in 16th place at a time when it was still two points for a win.

Travelling Blues fans were hoping for a good result, or even a goal. Since an opening day 1-1 draw in the teeth of a storm at Sunderland Freddie Goodwin’s side had slipped to 1-0 defeats on the road at Portsmouth and Hull while four days

before the trip to Luton had been beaten 2-0 in the League Cup at QPR. On the same night Birmingham had lost at Loftus Road, Luton had gone down by the same score-line in the cup at Crystal Palace. In response they brought in Vic Halom at centre forward compared to Robin Wainwright. Birmingham had two changes to their mid-week line up, Dave Robinson and Steve Phillips coming in for Phil Summerhill and Gordon Taylor.

Trevor Francis BIRMINGHAM CITY vs DERBY COUNTY

Born in Knucklas, Radnorshire on 5 February 1947 he spent 17 years with the club playing in 391 games. Mr. Versatility, during his time at St. Andrew’s Malcolm wore every outfield shirt from 2 to 12 in the days before squad numbers. He played under seven Blues bosses from Gil Merrick to Jim Smith and preferred to play in midfield although he was also highly respected as a full-back.

In 2012 Malcolm was inducted into the BCFC Hall of Fame and worked in insurance and civil engineering after retiring from the game where he completed his career with Oxford United, where he captained the team as he had at Birmingham and for his country.

Robinson was a locally born central defender whose inclusion saw Garry Pendrey pushed into a midfield role.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE BIRMINGHAM CITY FORMER PLAYERS ASSOCIATION

18 | BLUES NEWS

CLASS OF 71/72 MALCOLM PAGE Malcolm Page was a stalwart of the promotion side. He wouldn’t miss a league game until March and then would miss just one until the last three fixtures when he would make his only substitute appearance of the season before missing the climax of the campaign.

Page had come to Birmingham in 1964, debuting against Everton in February 1965 when he was 18. He won his first cap for Wales in May 1971. His debut came in a 1-0 win over Finland in Helsinki. Malcolm went on to play 28 times for his country.

It was a tally that made him the club’s most capped player until Stan Lazaridis overtook him in 2005. However he nearly wasn’t a Wales international at all. He was born just over the Welsh border when his mother was visiting his aunt!

by ROB MASON

F

www.bcfc.com

06 troy deeney 09 The Opposition: derby county 15 Harlee Dean 18 72@50 23 remembering sam oji

Birmingham’s travelling support helped boost the gate to what would be Luton’s highest until the turn of the calendar year but those hoping for a feat of footballing entertainment as both teams cancelled each other out in what became an attritional battle that ended up in stalemate. It was a point on the board and an end to three consecutive league and cup losses on the road but there still wasn’t a goal to cheer as the match ended goalless.

Half a century on from the glorious 1971-72 season when manager 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.

04 LEE BOWYER

BLUES NEWS | 19

24 under-18s match report 25 under-23s match report 26 action replay 27 blues women

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 Doctor: Kai Win Club Secretary: Zoe Jones www.bcfc.com

BLUES NEWS | 3

Lee

BOWYER F

irstly, I would like to welcome you all back to St. Andrew’s for tonight’s game with Derby County.

There is always something special about turning up here for a game under the lights.

As a player, I was lucky enough to be part of some unbelievable nights in a Blues shirt and hopefully we can create more of those for everyone to remember.

The international break gave us a chance to hit the reset button, get some rest into the players and take stock of our start to the season.

It has been a couple of weeks since we were last here for our Carabao Cup tie and lots has happened since.

The Fulham fixture was a great opportunity for some of our young players to go up against a quality opposition to see where they are in terms of their progression. Although we never got the result we all wanted, they did not disgrace themselves nor the Club and for spells of the game we more than matched Fulham.

We then moved onto Barnsley who had a great season last year, reaching the play-offs with a very intense style of football.

Again, I thought the players put in a real shift and you only have to look at the number of chances to see that we deserved more than a point. Once we settled into the game, we matched Barnsley’s intensity, found ways through their press and created some very good opportunities.

We pinned them in for a lot of the secondhalf and on another day we are sat here talking about a similar scoreline to the Luton game.

4 | BLUES NEWS

The result puts us on eight points from the first five games which is a solid start but there is that little bit of frustration that it should be more. It goes to show how far we have come but we now have to keep looking to improve with every game.

Defensively we have looked solid and that is not just the players across the back. As a unit, everyone understands what is required of them and at the other end, against good teams, we have created chances and scored goals.

We can get better in certain areas and that is the challenge, to continue this progression, build momentum, and make sure our opponents know they are in for a game.

Regardless of who we play, we will always try to win and that has to be how we approach matches this season.

The transfer window has also been and gone and I want to take the opportunity to thank Craig Gardner and the Board for their work over the past few months. We have been busy but sensible in the market and I think we now have a group of players that is well equipped to deal with the demands of the Sky Bet Championship.

Tonight we take on a Derby side who, like ourselves, have only been beaten once so far this season. They remain a tough side to play against so we will need to make sure we are at it again tonight and start this next run of games with a positive result.

Keep Right On, Lee Bowyer

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs DERBY COUNTY

www.bcfc.com

BLUES NEWS | 5

6 | BLUES NEWS

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs DERBY COUNTY

Main Interview

A

Troy deeney

fter the announcement that Troy Deeney had signed for Blues came a frenzy of media requests to speak with Lee Bowyer’s final capture of the summer transfer window. So, between training and settling into life as a Birmingham City player, the 33-yearold striker has bounced from podcasts to press conferences as one of the Sky Bet Championship’s hottest properties gives everyone a slice of his time.

And it was following one of these numerous press commitments that Blues News found a quiet corner at Wast Hills Training Ground to speak exclusively with Deeney as he looks forward to representing his boyhood Club for the very first time.

‘Troy Deeney, Birmingham City player’, how does it feel to hear those words?

I will be honest; I have heard it a lot this past week. It is started to be drummed into me. It doesn’t feel real at this moment in time. I want to play first and feel the crowd, go through all of the rigmarole and get some bruises before I can call myself a player.

If Troy Deeney the child knew that Troy Deeney the adult played for Birmingham City, what would he think of him?

He would be saying that ‘he’s lied’! This was never my dream, this football thing. It was my kid brother’s dream.

I never really thought about it in that regard, I was just always Blues when I played Wembley on the garages. My Uncle, who is five years older than me, is a big Blues fan, so we used to play in my Nan’s hallway with a tennis ball.

anybody by taking the number nine.

Scotty Hogan is number nine and I respect that. Number eight was available and that’s Adam Clayton, and I know that it is a difficult one with the fanbase, but I have known Clayts for a long time - I wouldn’t want to take that either. The next number that was free was number 19 which was my number at Walsall. I didn’t want to have something that I have already used, so I went really high. 36 is, obviously, three plus six [equals nine] if you want to do it that way. But I actually added all the dates of births of my kids up, divided it by four and got 36.

What has Lee Bowyer said to you in the week since you signed?

We haven’t said too much, it has just been about working and I prefer that.

How has training been?

It’s been really, really good; I have enjoyed it. The coaching staff are excellent, and the Gaffer is really good.

Sparky [Mark Kennedy] and [Paul] Harsley have been really good, and I have got so much time for Rushy [Sean Rush] as an individual and as a fitness guy. I think he is really good, knows what he is talking about – they all do.

When you have had the number of managers and coaches that I have had, you appreciate the straight talkers and the ones that are no-nonsense.

What is your message to Bluenoses?

Friday night will take care of itself; it will be a great atmosphere. It is say two weeks from now when things have died down and maybe results are not as good, that is when we need the fans even more. We need to make it so anybody that is coming, that they are coming to a very hard place. It is going to be loud, hopefully, high tempo from what the players do, but every time they have got the ball, they need to feel like the 12th man from the stands is breathing down the back of their neck and making them uncomfortable, and let’s just keep winning games. If we can keep winning games, it will be an unbelievable season.

Everyone has been really welcoming, but now is the time that everyone is looking at me for what I have really got.

I try to keep a respectable distance from everybody and try not to step on anybody’s toes. But I have forewarned everybody that once the games start that part of Troy goes away and all I care about is winning. At the moment it has been nice and everyone’s happy and I want that to continue, and if we win it will continue. But my demands go higher and higher, not only of everyone else but myself once it’s game time.

I was always Stan Lazaridis, Ricky Otto – anybody I thought was really skilful. I was always Blues and I just genuinely loved Blues. I loved the kits, the old Phones 4U kits and all that. For this birthday just gone, my missus bought me an Auto Windscreens one.

You have chosen the number 36 shirt, why did you take that number?

First of all, I didn’t want to upset www.bcfc.com

BLUES NEWS | 7

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

R A C NEXT O O Z A C YEAH!

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

The Opposition

DERBY COUNTY Fact file

Nickname: The Rams

Formed: 1884 Stadium: Pride Park Stadium Capacity: 33,597 Chairman: Mel Morris Head Coach: Wayne Rooney Last season finish: 21st in the Championship

ONE TO WATCH

Phil Jagielka Centre-back DOB: 17 August 1982 The defensive stalwart brought an unrivalled level of experience to Derby’s ranks when he took the number six shirt last month.

To put his longevity in the game into some kind of perspective, Jagielka was in his third season as a professional and had already played 22 first-team matches for Sheffield United before current teammate Louie Sibley was born.

A composed and authoritative figure at centre-back, he gained more than 250 appearances for the Blades, steered them to promotion in 2006/07 and won the club’s Player of the Year award on three occasions. He was equally successful at next employers Everton as a Premier League mainstay, amassing 385 outings over 12 years and captaining them from 2013 to 2019.

The former England international could not stop the Blades from slipping out of the top-flight last season following a brief return to his old stomping ground but was still not ready to hang up his boots after his release.

He now holds the record for being Derby’s oldest-ever outfield player and his influence alongside defensive partner Curtis Davies has been all too apparent, with two clean sheets in his first three appearances.

10 | BLUES NEWS

ROONEY LEADING ‘RAM’PAGE

C

onsidering Derby County had just nine senior players available a fortnight before the new season commenced, to be in mid-table by the first international break of the season was a phenomenal achievement.

After the proposed sale of the club collapsed in May, the Rams were fined a six-figure sum by the EFL over the amortisation of players in the accounts and have been under a transfer embargo ever since.

Although they were able to sign free agents under strict wage limits more recently, operating against a backdrop of such off-field uncertainty is never conducive to positive results.

Yet rookie manager Wayne Rooney,

who saw a dressing room exodus during the close-season as a dozen senior players departed, has defied the summer naysayers. His Rams side only survived by the final tuft of their fleece last season, coming from 2-3 down on a dramatic final day to draw 3-3 with Sheffield Wednesday that subsequently relegated Wycombe Wanderers. Nevertheless, despite the odds stacked against them the Rams have shown they are not afraid to lock horns with anyone.

They have drawn all three of their Championship outings at Pride Park so far - against Huddersfield Town, Middlesbrough and in a tempestuous East Midlands derby against Nottingham Forest prior to the international break.

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs DERBY COUNTY

IN THE DUGOUT

Wayne Rooney DOB: 24 October 1985 Appointed: January 2021 It has been the toughest of managerial baptisms for Wayne Rooney, battling with Football League sanctions and a transfer embargo just to get a competitive side on the pitch.

England and Manchester United’s all-time record goal-scorer may have coveted accolades during his playing career, but his first dug-out role could prove his most demanding challenge yet.

Away from home they were victorious at Hull City thanks to a debut winner from Sam Baldock, four days after being sucker-punched by two injurytime goals for a first defeat of the season to Peterborough United.

Rooney is confident his youthful flock can continue to buck the trend though, as he looks to revitalise a side embarking on their 13th consecutive campaign outside of the top-flight.

The 35-year-old boss told BBC Radio Derby: “It’s my job to bring some pride and dignity back to this club. It would be easy for me to walk away because this is not ideal at all. But I’ve been in some tough moments in my career, on the pitch and off the pitch. This is another tough moment.

“I don’t know about hurdles since being appointed, it has felt more like mountains to climb over. We still haven’t reached the peak, we still haven’t got to the other side.”

Rooney’s task may still be an uphill one in the short-term, but the www.bcfc.com

emergence of homegrown gems from the club’s peerless Academy has eased the burden. Holding midfielder Max Bird and left-back Lee Buchanan now have more than 50 club appearances, Birminghamborn Louie Sibley scored five times in his breakthrough campaign aged 17, Jason Knight was leading appearance maker during 2020/21 and forward Jack Stretton contributed his first goal this August.

Alongside such youthful exuberance are long-serving players well established with the club’s DNA. Shot-stopper Kelle Roos has been part of the furniture since 2014, Craig Forsyth - although suspended today - arrived in DE24 a year earlier and Curtis Davies recently penned a new one-year deal to extend his stay in Derbyshire to a fifth campaign.

Placed in charge of the Rams following the departure of Phillip Cocu in November 2020, the 35-year-old was confirmed in the post permanently two months later. The winner of five Premier League titles, three League Cups, one FA Cup and Champions League and Europa League silverware, he’s hoping his experience at the very top of the game with United and Everton can inspire a youthful flock and last-minute arrivals to pull together and defy the odds stacked against them.

Speaking about his first steps into management he said: “It’s a challenge and it’s not ideal. I will do my best for this football club, but I need help and support.

“We have a lot of young lads in the team at the moment and when the going gets tough, when the pressure is applied, I have to protect them. Us as coaches and the players need to work together to get through this period for the club.”

While Wales international Tom Lawrence has relished his newfound responsibility as captain and Poland international Kamil Jozwiak has provided some creative verve, 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

12 | BLUES NEWS

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs DERBY COUNTY

AROUND THE GROUNDS The weekend’s football starts at St. Andrew’s this evening, as the Blues target a first Championship home win of the campaign that would temporarily lift them into fourth in the table.

However, Wayne Rooney’s Derby County have defied the critics so far and having had an international breather to regroup, the Rams will be equally motivated to stretch their unbeaten record in B9 to an eighth year.

a raft of free recruits bolstered the ranks towards the end of the transfer window to provide further hope.

Included on the list of incomings was the vastly-experienced centreback Phil Jagielka, who arrived on a short-term deal to become Derby’s oldest-ever professional aged 39.

Richard Stearman, who boasts more than 400 league career starts, also checked in alongside former Wycombe goalkeeper Ryan Allsop.

It was perhaps the signatures of the mercurial Jamaican international Ravel Morrison and centurion league scorer Baldock that generated the most excitement though among the fanbase, especially with last season’s top gun Colin Kazim-Richards sidelined. Both creative outlets know where the goal is, as showcased with debut strikes against Salford and Hull respectively, and could prove shrewd business for a club that were

the lowest scorers in the division last season.

Former Blues Player of the Year Davies certainly believes Derby’s recruitment will allow their identity and expansive style to flourish more readily this season.

He explained to RamsTV: “Last season we were adapting with what we had to stay in the division and we feel we are better than that.

“We have got a lot of experienced players now in the team. It looked like we had a lot of youngsters who we would have to blood in early on, but a few more experienced players have come in and they suit the way the manager wants to play.

“That blend of youth, which gives us the energy and explosiveness with the likes of Louis Sibley and players like that, alongside the experience of us older heads, gives us a great balance.”

This Weekend’s Fixtures Blackburn Rovers v Luton Town Blackpool v Fulham AFC Bournemouth v Barnsley Bristol City v Preston North End Coventry City v Middlesbrough Reading v QPR www.bcfc.com

Sheffield United v Peterborough United Stoke City v Huddersfield Town Swansea City v Hull City West Brom v Millwall Nottingham Forest v Cardiff City (Sun)

The pick of Saturday’s games sees fourth-placed Huddersfield Town travel to fifth-placed Stoke City.

The Terriers are one of ten clubs yet to lose on the road, but head to the Potteries against a Michael O’Neill side that has won all four of their matches on home soil this season in all competitions.

While league leaders Fulham look for a fifth consecutive win at Blackpool, having not visited the Seasiders since 2015, fellow early pacesetters West Bromwich Albion will be aiming to preserve their perfect record at The Hawthorns against Millwall.

Reading will be hoping the international reprieve has given them chance to reset, following a third consecutive loss last time out. That 4-0 defeat to Huddersfield was the 13th goal the Royals have conceded this season - the most permeable backline in the Championship and things don’t get any easier for them tomorrow with a visit from unbeaten QPR. Elsewhere, Bournemouth, Bristol City, Swansea City and Sheffield United are searching for their first home successes of the season.

It’s a similar tale for rock-bottom Nottingham Forest who host a Cardiff City side on Sunday afternoon that have won on their last six Championship visits to the City Ground.

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

Download the Kick it Out app for free from your app store.

EFL.com

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs DERBY COUNTY

Captain

Harlee dean G

ood evening and welcome everyone to tonight’s game against Derby County.

I have spent plenty of time reflecting over the international break on how proud I am at how far we have come since the Gaffer came in. We left Barnsley – a tough place for anyone to go – feeling slightly disappointed because on any other day, we might have taken the three points.

What pleased me most was the reaction we made on the pitch as a group having gone one nil down. In previous times, it might have been a game we would have lost but we reacted, pulled together and spurred on by another raucous away end, put in a very solid away performance.

Back at base, the squad has been working hard at Wast Hills during the international fixtures to maintain those standards we have set ourselves since pre-season. Sean Rush plays a big part in driving the physical side of our work, whilst the Gaffer and First Team staff have been running the football side of things. It has been an enjoyable couple of weeks and the squad is feeling strong.

As always, special mentions must go to those who went away on international duty (Matija Sarkic and Riley McGree). The players, coaching staff and entire club are always proud of those involved in national games and we always keep a close eye on how they are doing from back at home.

It has also been a good time for the new lads to www.bcfc.com

really begin to settle. With the transfer window now shut - we know this is the squad that will take us through the next few months. We feel strong and I think we have recruited plenty of strength in depth.

I am obliged to mention the arrival of Troy Deeney as well. Attracting a player of his calibre to the Club is unbelievable and we are all so happy to welcome him to the group.

He is a leader, a fantastic forward and most importantly – a Bluenose. He will benefit the young lads and I personally look forward to learning anything he can pass on as well.

Saying that, if I see one more Instagram post about him I might have to deactivate the app!

It is Derby County tonight under the lights and a game we go into full of confidence.

The Rams have taken three draws from their last five and in fairness, would be sitting far higher if a couple of those had been converted to wins. We will not underestimate Wayne Rooney’s side but as always, tonight is about us and the things we do on the pitch. We have shown enough quality to beat teams across the division already this season and we look forward to another competitive game tonight.

The squad always looks forward to playing at home infront of the fans and tonight will be no different. Your continued fantastic support helps drive us on even more.

Enjoy the game and Keep Right On! Harlee Dean BLUES NEWS | 15

HERE’S A ST AT I BET YOU DIDN’T KN W 16 | BLUES NEWS

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs DERBY COUNTY

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 | 17

7250

Half a century on from the glorious 1971/72 season when manager 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

F

ifty years ago tomorrow Blues travelled to Luton’s Kennilworth Road for the sixth league game of the season. Neither team had made a good start.

Birmingham were 10th, the highest to five clubs on five points from five games – while Luton were a point lower in 16th place at a time when it was still two points for a win.

Travelling Blues fans were hoping for a good result, or even a goal. Since an opening day 1-1 draw in the teeth of a storm at Sunderland Freddie Goodwin’s side had slipped to 1-0 defeats on the road at Portsmouth and Hull while four days

before the trip to Luton had been beaten 2-0 in the League Cup at QPR. On the same night Birmingham had lost at Loftus Road, Luton had gone down by the same scoreline in the cup at Crystal Palace. In response they brought in Vic Halom at centre forward compared to Robin Wainwright. Birmingham had two changes to their midweek line up, Dave Robinson and Steve Phillips coming in for Phil Summerhill and Gordon Taylor.

Robinson was a locally born central defender whose inclusion saw Garry Pendrey pushed into a midfield role.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE BIRMINGHAM CITY FORMER PLAYERS ASSOCIATION

Trevor Francis 18 | BLUES NEWS

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs DERBY COUNTY

Phillips was a forward who had turned professional at the start of the season.

This match was his full league debut having made one previous appearance as a substitute when at 17 years and 17 days old he had become Blues second youngest debutant. This would be the first of a run of six successive starts he got but having failed to find the back of the net he didn’t play again until the following season as Bob Hatton came in to solve Birmingham’s attacking problems and form a devastating duo with Bob Latchford.

Birmingham’s travelling support helped boost the gate to what would be Luton’s highest until the turn of the calendar year but those hoping for a feat of footballing entertainment as both teams cancelled each other out in what became an attritional battle that ended up in stalemate. It was a point on the board and an end to three consecutive league and cup losses on the road but there still wasn’t a goal to cheer as the match ended goalless.

The result dropped Birmingham to 12th position, four points behind leaders Bristol City who were due to be the next visitors to St. Andrew’s where City had a 100% record so far but would surely be tested by the Robins.

TEAMS LUTON: Read, Ryan, Shanks, Keen, Nicholl, Moore, Busby, Slough, Halom, Givens, Anderson.

BLUES: Latchford D., Martin, Page, Smith, Hynd, Robinson, Campbell, Francis, Latchford B., Pendrey, Phillips.

CLASS OF 71/72

ATTENDANCE: 14,678

MALCOLM PAGE

ELSEWHERE IN FOOTBALL Today’s visitors Derby County also have reason to remember 1971/72.

They won the first division, the equivalent of what is the Premier League now. It was the Rams first ever top-flight table and just for good measure they also won The Texaco Cup, a competition that featured Scottish and Irish as well as English clubs.

Managed by the inimitable Brian Clough and his right hand man Peter Taylor, Derby’s regular line-up included immaculate England internationals Colin Todd and Roy McFarland as well as ever-present striker Kevin Hector, Scottish centre-forward John O’Hare and his fellow Scot Archie Gemmill. Clough stalwart John McGovern barely missed a game while white booted winger (in an age when not wearing black boots was extremely rare) Alan Hinton top scored with 15 league goals. Reliable defender John Robson missed just one match while goalkeeper Colin Boulton did even better, being ever-present.

Malcolm Page was a stalwart of the promotion side. He would not miss a league game until March and then would miss just one until the last three fixtures when he would make his only substitute appearance of the season before missing the climax of the campaign.

Born in Knucklas, Radnorshire on 5 February 1947 he spent 17 years with the club playing in 391 games. Mr. Versatility, during his time at St. Andrew’s Malcolm wore every outfield shirt from 2 to 12 in the days before squad numbers. He played under seven Blues bosses from Gil Merrick to Jim Smith and preferred to play in midfield although he was also highly respected as a full-back.

Page had come to Birmingham in 1964, debuting against Everton in February 1965 when he was 18. He won his first cap for Wales in May 1971. His debut came in a 1-0 win over Finland in Helsinki. Malcolm went on to play 28 times for his country.

It was a tally that made him the club’s most capped player until Stan Lazaridis overtook him in 2005. However he nearly wasn’t a Wales international at all. He was born just over the Welsh border when his mother was visiting his aunt!

In 2012 Malcolm was inducted into the BCFC Hall of Fame and worked in insurance and civil engineering after retiring from the game where he completed his career with Oxford United, where he captained the team as he had at Birmingham and for his country.

www.bcfc.com

BLUES NEWS | 19

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

BET £10 GET £20 IN FREE BETS

THIS IS BETTING

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

GET THE APP

Bet Responsibly

extra a month

Search ‘Get Sky Sports’ Ends 30 September 2021. 2 for 1 channel offer: Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Football: £18 extra pm for 18 months (then £22pm). Requires Sky Signature (£26pm for 18 months, then £31pm; £20 set-up). New 18-month min. terms. Prices may change during this period. Over 400 games: based on 128 Premier League games; 228 English Football League games (includes 80 red button matches); up to 48 Scottish Professional Football League games; and up to 44 Women’s Super League matches shown across the football season from 31 July 2021 to 29 May 2022. General: Non-standard set-up may cost extra. Weekend set-up costs £15 extra. Connect to TV using HDMI cable. Sky Q kit is loaned to you at no cost and must be returned at the end of the relevant subscription. You own the Sky dish. Prices may vary if you live in a flat. You must get any consents required (e.g. landlord’s). UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man residential customers only. Email 22required | BLUESso NEWS BIRMINGHAM CITY vs DERBY COUNTY address we can keep in touch about your services. Correct at 15 July 2021. Further terms apply.

Remembering

E

SAM OJI

veryone at Blues was extremely saddened to learn of the recent passing of former defender Sam Oji.

An extremely likeable figure both on and off the pitch, Oji played as a centre-back throughout his career and, most recently, was the Assistant Manager at Highgate United.

Born in London, he grew up in Arsenal’s Academy before signing his first professional contract with Blues in 2004.

Cup quarter-final at Belle Vue. Oji replaced Sam Guy in the secondhalf of extra-time that evening in a match still fondly remembered by those on Doncaster’s terraces, despite it ending in penalty shootout heartbreak.

Oji would also enjoy loan periods at Bristol Rovers and Leyton Orient before he left Blues to join the O’s permanently in 2008.

After time spent with Swedish outfit Ljungskile SK, Hereford

United and Tamworth, Oji would feature successfully for Limerick and Galway in Ireland. He returned to England with Worcester City, also playing for Hednesford Town before joining Highgate United in 2018, where he became Assistant Manager in July this year.

The thoughts of everyone at Birmingham City remain with Sam’s wife, children, family and friends at this very sad time.

Rest in peace, Sam.

Oji made his Birmingham City debut on 7 February 2006, replacing Stephen Clemence in a 2-1 win over Reading in an FA Cup fourth round replay.

He spent a total of four years at Blues, enjoying a number of successful loan spells during his time at St. Andrew’s.

The pick of these arguably came at Doncaster Rovers in 2005, when plucky Donny took Arsenal all the way to penalties in a League

www.bcfc.com

BLUES NEWS | 23

Match Report

B

Under 18s

lues Under-18s picked up their first win of the season against Tottenham Hotspur at Wast Hills Training Ground on the final Saturday of August.

The hosts struck late as they overturned a half-time deficit in an entertaining Premier League South game where the lead changed hands three times.

Midfielder Rico Patterson put Blues ahead after just seven minutes as he whipped a low free-kick around a Lilywhites wall, but two goals from Riley Owen turned the match on its head going into the break.

However, Spurs were unable to build on their advantage and as the pressure mounted an equaliser came 20 minutes from time. Possession was turned over in the middle of the park, with Kieran Wakefield slipped through before he finished cooly.

This set up a thrilling finale and with the clock edging towards 90, a well-worked move created the chance for George Hall to cross for Jobe Bellingham who headed home the winner.

“By the end, the goal was coming.

The manner of the third goal was really pleasing as it was how we want to attack and things that we have worked on.”

Speaking to BCFC.com after the game, Martyn Olorenshaw gave his reaction to a brave performance that got its rewards.

He said: “I was really pleased. We were very dominant second-half, we were excellent. First-half there were patches of good stuff and there was a moment where Spurs were quite good as well, so it was a real challenge and a quality game.

“We just ground them down eventually and to get the winner at the end is always a nice moment.”

The Lead Under-18s Coach then detailed how his side improved after the break, giving them control of the game and the chance to take all three points.

24 | BLUES NEWS

Olorenshaw explained: “We pressed higher up the pitch and put a bit more pressure on them and they kept giving us the ball back. We moved the ball well, our shape was good and we sustained the ball really high for long periods.

Blues: Brooks, Fogarty, Nguepissi, Browne, Patterson, Manton, Sullivan, James, Wakefield, Hall, Bellingham.

Substitutes not used: Brooks, Khela, Ogor, Oni, Home.

GOALSCORERS: Patterson 7, Wakefield 70, Bellingham 89.

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs DERBY COUNTY

Match Report

B

Under 23s

lues Under-23s were narrowly beaten by West Bromwich Albion in their most recent Premier League 2 fixture.

At the Hawthorns a fortnight ago, Steve Spooner’s side led twice but were unable to convert these advantageous positions into any points.

Leo Dos Reis put Blues ahead when he was the beneficiary of a sweeping counter-attack to slot home from Keyendrah Simmonds’ perfectly-placed centre after just five minutes.

And the lead could have been doubled shortly before half-time, however, Jordan Graham saw his penalty saved

by Mac Chisholm after Juan Castillo was felled inside the area.

This sparked a brief momentum shift and, despite having the better of the opening period, the visitors were pegged back on the stroke of half-time. Rico Richard’s found himself onside beyond the opposition backline and lofted the ball over Neil Etheridge to bring the Baggies level against the run of play.

West Bromwich Albion: Mac Chisholm, Aurio Teixeira, Zac Ashworth, Reece Hall (Josh Shaw 63), Kevin Joshua (Saul Shotton 74), Zak Delaney, Rico Richards, Jamie Andrews, Owen Windsor (Mo Faal 63), Toby King, Jovan Malcolm

The second-half continued much as the first had, with Blues setting the agenda and going close on a number of occasions before hitting the front again through the ever-dangerous Simmonds. Both him and Graham hit the woodwork in the build-up as the former Manchester City youngster made no mistake at the next opportunity for his second of the season.

With 20 minutes left on the clock, it appeared the away side would go on to cement victory by adding to their lead.

But as further chances slipped by the

hosts sensed a way back into the game and struck twice in a matter of minutes to turn things around and leave Blues empty-handed.

Substitute Mo Faal headed in a leveller and, lifted by this unexpected route back into the match, West Brom found a winner when Jovan Malcolm fired in just six minutes from time.

Blues returned to action earlier today (Friday 10 September) as they hosted Sunderland at Wast Hills Training Ground. Visit BCFC.com for a recap of all the action in the West Midlands.

Substitutes not used: Ben Cisse Blues: Neil Etheridge, Mitchell Roberts, Alfie Chang, Marcel Oakley, Remi Walker (Jobe Bellingham 89), Caolan Boyd-Munce, Juan Castillo, Kyle Hurst (Tommy Fogarty 75), Jordan Graham, Keke Simmonds, Leo Dos Reis (Yoane Zohore 70) Substitutes not used: Archie Matthews, Oriol Soldevila Booking: Alfie Chang 55, Keke Simmonds 60, Tommy Fogarty 90 Referee: Scott Jackson www.bcfc.com

BLUES NEWS | 25

BaRnsley 1 1 Blues SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP | SATURDAY 28 AUGUST

T

here is a feeling of quiet satisfaction at Blues’ total of eight points from their opening batch of Sky Bet Championship matches. Although, when reflecting on the meeting with Barnsley in isolation, it is a tally that with a bit more luck in front of goal could have been pushed into double figures.

Barnsley (3-4-3): Brad Collins, Toby Sibbick (Jasper Moon 84), Michal Helik, Liam Kitching, Callum Brittain, Romal Palmer, Josh Benson, Callum Styles, Cauley Woodrow (captain), Clarke Oduor, Dominik Frieserm, (Victor Adeboyejo 80).

Substitutes not used: Jack Walton, Ben Williams, Aapo Halme, George Miller, Cameron Thompson.

Booking: Palmer 29, Styles 86.

Blues (3-5-2): Matija Sarkic, Harlee Dean (Captain), Marc Roberts, Kristian Pedersen, Maxime Colin, Gary Gardner, Ryan Woods, Tahith Chong, Jeremie Bela, Lukas Jutkiewicz (Jonathan Leko 89), Scott Hogan (Chuks Aneke 76).

Substitutes not used: Connal Trueman, George Friend, Gary Gardner, Riley McGree, Ivan Sanchez.

Booking: Woods 25, Chong 58, Dean 65, Pedersen 89.

Referee: Matthew Donohue Attendance: 13,950 (2,023 away) 26 | BLUES NEWS

Events at Oakwell did not start positively for Blues as Callum Styles fired the Tykes into an early lead, but just over a third through the contest there was a deserved equaliser for Lee Bowyer’s men. Lukas Jutkiewicz’ touch and finish would be the final net buster of a two-goal game, although it was not for the want of trying.

Scott Hogan went closer with each chance that presented itself without scoring during a series of opportunities before Chuks Aneke did everything but score late on.

The former Charlton man could only

steer the ball onto the woodwork as Blues camped themselves inside the Barnsley half but had to settle for a point as they remain unbeaten on their travels this term.

Grand old Juke of York(shire) With both Hogan and Aneke opening their accounts for the campaign at Luton Town a week previous, Jutkiewicz followed suit in South Yorkshire to earn Blues a seventh away point from three trips this term.

Inevitable he would get off the mark sooner rather than later, it was the manner of the frontman’s finish that was most notable. First beating Barnsley’s offside trap, Jutkiewicz’ first touch deftly evaded challenging defenders and set him up for a flawless finish.

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs DERBY COUNTY

blues women MATCH REPORT

SPURS 1 0 Blues B

BARCLAYS FA WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE | SATURDAY 4 SEPTEMBER

lues Women were narrowly beaten by Tottenham Hotspur as they started their 2021/2022 Barclays FA Women’s Super League campaign.

Six players (Emily Ramsey, Libby Smith, Louise Quinn, Lisa Robertson, Jade Pennock and Sarah Ewens) made their full debuts in North London, with a further four (Arabella Suttie, Jamie Finn, Emily Whelan and Eleanor Ryan-Doyle) making their maiden appearances for the Club from the bench in the second-half to provide a glimpse of what talent will be showcased in the weeks and months to come.

Throughout the encounter, Scott Booth’s side showed plenty of promise against the Lilywhites and created a range of chances, with just a goalscoring touch evading them in front of 4,681 spectators at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

It was, however, a first-half Kit Graham strike that decided the game as

Spurs successfully executed a premeditated set-piece routine to score just five minutes before the interval.

Prior to that, both teams had threatened in relatively equal measure.

For Blues, Rebecca Holloway twice delivered inviting centres that alluded her teammates, whilst Emily Ramsey remained largely untroubled at the other end but did do well to smother Josie Green as she attempted a volley.

After the break, the home side had chances to wrap up the three points in comfortable fashion, but a combination of wastefulness in front of goal from Rehanne Skinner’s players, Ramsey’s fine goalkeeping and admirable Blues defending ensured all results remained possible.

And had efforts from the left-foot of Veatriki Sarri and Captain Quinn been steered more carefully towards goal it may have been a different story, but time eventually ran out on the visitors as they continue to gel following what has been a transformative close season for the First Team roster.

Next up, Blues face Brighton & Hove Albion at St. Andrew’s in what will be a first competitive game at the team’s new home for Booth after his tenure as Head Coach started earlier this summer.

You can be at the team’s second league game of the season on Sunday 12 September, kickoff 2pm, by purchasing your tickets now at www.eticketing.co.uk/bcfc/ or by calling 0121 772 0101 and choosing option 2.

Tottenham Hotspur (4-3-3): TinjaRikka Korpela, Asmita Ale, Shelina Zadorsky (captain), Molly Bartrip, Ashleigh Neville, Maeva Clemaron, Josie Green (Angela Addison 83), Ria Percival, Rachel Williams (Chioma Ubogagu 60), Kit Graham (Jiali Chang, 53), Jessica Naz. Substitutes not used: Rebecca Spencer, Rosella Ayane, So-Hyun Cho, Kerys Harrop, Esther Morgan.

Booking: None Blues (4-2-3-1): Emily Ramsey, Libby Smith, Louise Quinn (captain), Gemma Lawley, Rebecca Holoway (Arabella Sutttie 87), Lucy Whipp, Lisa Robertson (Emily Whelan 61), Jade Pennock (Jamie Finn 61), Lucy Quinn, Sarah Ewens (Eleanor Ryan-Doyle 75), Veatriki Sarri.

Substitutes not used: Marie Hourihan, Abi Cowie.

Booking: Robertson 46.

Referee: Lisa Benn Attendance: 4,681

www.bcfc.com

BLUES NEWS | 27

ROLL CALL & LEAGUE TABLE PLAYER

LEAGUE APPS GLS

FA CUP APPS GLS

LEAGUE CUP APPS GLS

CHUKS ANEKE

0 (4) 1

0 (0) 0

2 (0) 0

POS.

P

JEREMIE BELA

5 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

1 FULHAM

5 4 1 0 10 13

JOBE BELLINGHAM

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

2 WEST BROMWICH ALBION 5 4 1 0 7 13

TATE CAMPBELL

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (1) 0

ALFIE CHANG

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (1) 0

TAHITH CHONG

4 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

MAXIME COLIN

5 (0) 1

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

HARLEE DEAN

5 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

NEIL ETHERIDGE

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

GEORGE FRIEND

0 (0) 0

GARY GARDNER

3 (1) 1

W

D

L

GD PTS

3 QUEENS PARK RANGERS

5 3 2 0 6 11

4 HUDDERSFIELD TOWN

5 3 1 1 2 10

5 STOKE CITY

5 3 1 1 1 10

6 BOURNEMOUTH

5 2 3 0 3 9

1 (0) 0

7 COVENTRY CITY

5 3 0 2 0 9

0 (0) 0

2 (0) 0

8 BIRMINGHAM CITY

5 2 2 1 4 8

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

9 CARDIFF CITY

5 2 2 1 3 8

10 BLACKBURN ROVERS

5 2 2 1 1 8

11 BRISTOL CITY

5 2 1 2 0 7

12 LUTON TOWN

5 2 1 2 -2 7

13 MIDDLESBROUGH

5 1 3 1 0 6

14 BARNSLEY

5 1 3 1 0 6

NICO GORDON

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

JORDAN GRAHAM

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

2 (0) 0

SCOTT HOGAN

4 (1) 2

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

IVAN SANCHEZ

0 (2) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

JUAN CASTILLO

0 (1) 0

0 (0) 0

2 (0) 0

LUKAS JUTKIEWICZ

5 (0) 1

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

CHARLIE LAKIN

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (1) 0

15 DERBY COUNTY

5 1 3 1 0 6

JONATHAN LEKO

1 (3) 0

0 (0) 0

2 (0) 0

16 PRESTON NORTH END

5 2 0 3 -2 6

RILEY MCGREE

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (1) 0

17 MILLWALL

5 1 2 2 -2 5

MARCEL OAKLEY

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

2 (0) 1

18 HULL CITY

5 1 1 3 -3 4

KRISTIAN PEDERSEN

5 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

19 SWANSEA CITY

5 1 1 3 -4 4

MARC ROBERTS

5 (0) 1

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

MITCHELL ROBERTS

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

20 PETERBOROUGH UNITED

5 1 1 3 -4 4

DION SANDERSON

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

21 READING

5 1 0 4 -6 3

MATIJA SARKIC

5 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

22 BLACKPOOL

5 0 2 3 -4 2

KEYENDRAH SIMMONDS

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (1) 0

23 SHEFFIELD UNITED

5 0 2 3 -6 2

24 NOTTINGHAM FOREST

5 0 1 4 -4 1

IVAN SUNJIC

3 (1) 0

0 (0) 0

2 (0) 0

CONNAL TRUEMAN

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

REMI WALKER

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

RYAN WOODS

5 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

www.bcfc.com

BLUES NEWS | 29

Fixtures & RESULTS 2021/22 DATE

KO

OPPONENT

RES

COMP

POS

ATT 29,043

STARTING XI

AUGUST SARKIC

ROBERTS

DEAN

PEDERSEN ■

COLIN 1 ■

TRUEMAN

OAKLEY 1

GORDON

FRIEND

CASTILLO

SUNJIC

10,189

SARKIC

ROBERTS

DEAN

PEDERSEN

COLIN

SUNJIC

11

9,922

SARKIC

ROBERTS

DEAN

PEDERSEN ■

COLIN

CHONG

8

10,014

SARKIC

ROBERTS 1 ■

DEAN

PEDERSEN

COLIN

SUNJIC

-

4,783

ETHERIDGE

ROBERTS

SANDERSON

FRIEND

OAKLEY

SUNJIC

8

13,950

SARKIC

COLIN

DEAN

PEDERSEN

OAKLEY

SUNJIC

Sat 07

8.00pm

SHEFFIELD UNITED

A

1-0

LEAGUE

5

TUE 10

7.45PM

COLCHESTER UNITED

H

1-0

EFL CUP

-

Sat 14

3.00pm

STOKE CITY

H

0-0

LEAGUE

10

WED 18

7.45pm

AFC BOURNEMOUTH

H

0-2

LEAGUE

SAT 21

3.00pm

LUTON TOWN

A

5-0

LEAGUE

TUE 24

7.45PM

FULHAM

H

0-2

EFL CUP

Sat 28

3.00pm

BARNSLEY

A

1-1

LEAGUE

GARDNER ■

SEPTEMBER FRI 10

8.00pm

DERBY COUNTY

H

WED 15

7.45pm

FULHAM

H

LEAGUE LEAGUE

SAT 18

3.00pm

PETERBOROUGH UNITED

A

LEAGUE

Sat 25

3.00pm

PRESTON NORTH END

H

LEAGUE

TUE 28

7.45pm

QUEENS PARK RANGERS

A

LEAGUE

OCTOBER Sat 02

3.00pm

NOTTINGHAM FOREST

H

LEAGUE

Sat 16

3.00pm

WEST BROMWICH ALBION

A

LEAGUE LEAGUE

Wed 20

7.45pm

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN

A

Sat 23

3.00pm

SWANSEA CITY

H

LEAGUE

Sat 30

3.00pm

MIDDLESBROUGH

A

LEAGUE LEAGUE

NOVEMBER Tue 02

7.45pm

BRISTOL CITY

H

Sat 06

3.00pm

READING

H

LEAGUE

Sat 20

3.00pm

HULL CITY

A

LEAGUE

Tue 23

7.45pm

COVENTRY CITY

A

LEAGUE

Sat 27

3.00pm

BLACKPOOL

H

LEAGUE

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

mon 18

3.00pm

BLACKPOOL

A

LEAGUE

sat 23

3.00pm

MILLWALL

H

LEAGUE

Sat 30

3.00pm

CARDIFF CITY

A

LEAGUE

12.30pm

BLACKBURN ROVERS

H

LEAGUE

MAY Sat 01

30 | BLUES NEWS

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs DERBY COUNTY

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)

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

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)

www.bcfc.com

TRUEMAN, FRIEND, ANEKE, SANCHEZ SARKIC, BELLINGHAM, WALKER, CHANG, ROBERTS

TRUEMAN, BELLINGHAM, WALKER TRUEMAN, FRIEND, SÁNCHEZ, McGREE, GARDNER

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 DENNEY 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 FULHAM WEDNESDAY 15 SEPTEMBER 2021 KICK-OFF 7.45PM

DERBY COUNTY HEAD COACH: WAYNE ROONEY

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

1 DAVID MARSHALL GK 2 NATHAN BYRNE 3 CRAIG FORSYTH 4 GRAEME SHINNIE 5 KRYSTIAN BIELIK 6 PHIL JAGIELKA 7 KAMIL JOZWIAK 8 MAX BIRD 9 SAM BALDOCK 10 TOM LAWRENCE 11 RAVEL MORRISON 13 COLIN KAZIM-RICHARDS 16 RICHARD STEARMAN 17 LOUIE SIBLEY 21 KELLE ROOS GK 26 LEE BUCHANAN 31 RYAN ALLSOP GK 32 JORDAN BROWN 33 CURTIS DAVIES 34 JACK STRETTON 35 LOUIE WATSON 36 FESTY EBOSELE 37 KORNELL MCDONALD 38 JASON KNIGHT 40 ISAAC HUTCHINSON 41 EIRAN CASHIN 42 LIAM THOMPSON 43 DYLAN WILLIAMS

MATCH OFFICIALS REFEREE GAVIN WARD ASSISTANT REFEREE ANDREW FOX ASSISTANT REFEREE CRAIG TAYLOR 4TH OFFICIAL THOMAS BRAMALL