Birmingham City v Fulham

BLUES NEWS Birmingham City v Fulham Tuesday 24 August 2021 Kick-off 7.45pm ISSUE 04 | £3

Carabao Cup Round Two

GREAT-TASTING LOW-CAL ENERGY

NOW AVAILABLE AT

In terms of this group of players, what are your first impressions?

Really good. In terms of on the pitch, we have a lot of quality there. But for me, as a group of men, as blokes, really strong. They’re all together, there’s a really good atmosphere and I could feel that when I walked through the door. The lads are all chomping at the bit to taste success. If they continue working as they have in the first few games, then it could come.

Looking more longer term are there processes and a structure you can put in place here?

BIRMINGHAM CITY FC Telephone: 0121 772 0101 Ticket Office: 0121 772 0101 (ext 2)

Following his popular first spell at the Club, the return of Sean Rush as Head of Physical Performance came as a welcome surprise to all. His emergence from the tunnel in Blues final preseason friendly was met with rapturous applause from the stands. Now with his feet firmly back under the table, we caught up with ‘Rushy’ to talk through his return, his relationship with supporters and challenges for the season…

sean rush

Commercial: 0121 772 0101 (ext 3) Club Superstore / Mail Order: 0121 772 0101 (ext 4) Web: www.bcfc.com Store: www.blues.clubstore.co.uk

There’s lots we can do to make sure we have a successful programme.

We can profile what kind of player we require from a physical performance perspective, what we demand, and it will hopefully have an effect on player recruitment. We have to put something substantial in place to make sure we are constantly improving. It’s about helping the players reach the required level for Championship football and maintaining that through what is a gruelling campaign. If we can get a programme in place where they have that base and platform to build from season-on-season, then the players will be in a good place.

Rushy, welcome back! Firstly, what did you make of the reaction from supporters when we announced your return ahead to the West Brom game?

It was so humbling, and I was surprised to be honest. I saw a lot of the comments on social media and the messages were really nice so very humbling. I think I’m quite open with the fans and we open ourselves up to the work that goes on here on a working day. So fans see that side and appreciate that because it gives them a bit more of an insight into what physical performance is.

Did the way you left the Football Club and your memories of the first spell here make it an easy decision?

Massively. Craig (Gardner) rang me and asked if I would consider coming back and it was a no-brainer. I love the Club and the people within it. I think the Club’s got a real future and the potential to push on again. I drove down from Sheffield, and I sat on the M1 with the biggest grin you’ve ever on my face. I think people thought I was bonkers sitting there smiling. Since I’ve been back the people have been unbelievable and the fans have been

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

There’s been a few changes at the Club since you left, what’s your remit this time around?

My first couple of weeks has been about assessing where the group are at physically. Getting to know the Gaffer, how he wants to play and what his requirements are. We’ve been putting a plan together with my staff and taking that forward. A lot of foundations are still in place from when I was here last so hopefully, we can build quicker.

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs FULHAM

IN THE DUGOUT

Assistant Head Coach: Mark Kennedy

Marco Silva The Portuguese tactician may feel he has some unfinished business across English dug-outs this season, having taken up a first position since leaving Everton in 2019.

The 44-year-old masterminded silverware for Sporting CP and Olympiakos before making an impression in the Premier League with Hull City in 2017. Despite eight wins in 22 games in charge, he couldn’t save the Tigers from relegation and switched to Watford to remain in the top-flight.

Fabio Carvalho ATTACKING MIDFIELDER DOB: 30 August 2002 There may be more household names in Fulham’s squad than the livewire teenager, but his full-throttle start to the new campaign has thrust him into the spotlight this August.

Although team-mates Harry Wilson, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Ivan Cavaleiro arguably boast more blockbuster appeal, the Portuguese born England Under-19 international has started the season was a fearless abandonment that has seen the Cottagers score eight goals in their opening three games.

The 18-year-old former Benfica youth, who only made his league debut against Chelsea in May, scored one and made another against Millwall in Fulham’s last away day.

It was a performance that led Head Coach Marco Silva to wax lyrical about the exciting prodigy, telling the Evening Standard: “It was a very good performance from Fabio, in the first-half he was fantastic. He looks fresh every time. Not just with the ball because he’d done fantastic work without the ball too.

FULHAM’S QUEST FOR SILVA

T

wenty one years ago Fulham journeyed the furthest they’d ever managed into the sharp end of the League Cup.

After eliminating Northampton Town, Chesterfield, Wolves and Derby County, they held Liverpool to a goalless stalemate at Anfield in December 2000 at the quarter-

It remains the closest the west Londoners have come to reaching the tournament’s semi-finals.

Although there has been a more recent last-eight experience, losing 2-1 to Chelsea in 2005, that was settled within 90 minutes. Ever since the men from SW6 have been confined to early exits, with a dozen eliminations in the third round or sooner over the last 17 campaigns.

The same 2000-01 season that Liverpool prevented them from reaching that elusive semi-final spot for the first time, Fulham had won their opening 11 Championship games

10 | BLUES NEWS

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs FULHAM

and sustained the pace to lift the title with an astonishing 101 points.

The club’s start to this term has been equally as encouraging that prolonged interest across all domestic trophies can be achieved.

After an opening-day draw with Middlesbrough, there was a 5-1 success at Huddersfield Town with 10 men - the first time since 2017 that Fulham had produced a five-star performance on the road.

Following a bleak Premier League campaign which saw them collect just five wins all season and finish 11 points adrift of safety, the return to winning ways has been a welcome one.

A decent start to life at Vicarage Road was disrupted after temptations from Goodison Park couldn’t be resisted, and Silva steered them to an eighthplace finish in his first campaign on Merseyside.

A 5-2 defeat to city rivals Liverpool in November 2019 saw him depart with the Toffees languishing in 18th place, but a first managerial role in the Championship could help him rebuild his reputation.

Upon penning a three-year deal at Craven Cottage Silva told the Evening Standard: “I’m really pleased and proud to be appointed head coach of such a historic football club. I’m excited to get started and for my message for our fans ahead of this big challenge is we will all be working very hard together to be successful so they can feel proud at the end of the season.”

New manager Marco Silva, who replaced Bournemouth-bound Scott Parker in July, has wasted no time in getting his side on the front foot and firing on all cylinders.

The Portuguese was certainly pleased to see his inherited crop go three games unbeaten after a slick passing display at The Den saw them emerge 2-1 victors over Millwall.

www.bcfc.com

BLUES NEWS | 11

How reliant are you upon Data?

Data is just one tool in the box of many. Eyes, experience, being around the players, knowledge of your

I think COVID-19 is going to have a big effect on the season. We have to have depth in our squad and it’s so important that those players in the squad are available for selection. The more we can maintain players fitness so they can cope with SaturdayTuesday games then the better chance we’ll have of being successful.

It’s very tough. I’ve just got a feeling teams could possibly go a two or three game period where COVID-19 hits, you can’t train and it’s how you cope with that.

Welcome back Rushy, it’s like you’ve never been away!

Saturday-Tuesday or SaturdayWednesday is so relentless. It’s an absolute nightmare physically. It’s a lot of recovery sessions and making sure those who are lacking game time are ready to go because the Gaffer could call on them at any time. We need to make sure if those players are brought into the team for a matchday then they are able to cope with those demands.

We have the first international break next week, how do you use that time?

Initially, we will look at recovery.

These first few weeks of the season have been very demanding on the players with so many games. So, there are players that will need some rest and then there are others who haven’t had the game time. The www.bcfc.com

BLUES NEWS | 7

04 LEE BOWYER

Unlike nowadays when it is normal procedure for teams to make numerous changes in this competition, particularly in the early rounds, back in the early seventies managers picked their strongest XI. Remember too that in this era of just one sub – who was frequently not used – players would almost certainly play a full 90 minutes every time.

So it was that Blues lined up at QPR on this Tuesday night showing just one change from the side who had taken Charlton apart the previous Saturday, goalkeeper Mike Kelly being replaced by Dave Latchford.

It was a similar story for Gordon Jago’s Rangers. Their only change saw them strengthen from the weekend as future England international Gerry Francis – then a teenager – came in for Barry Salvage. QPR’s Francis may well have been still a teenager but he was two and a half years older than Birmingham’s own teenage Francis – Trevor. Gerry Francis wasn’t the only big name on show in the home side. Rangers also included Terry Venables who would go on to manage England, Rodney Marsh who was already well on the way to becoming a superstar, Frank Saul, who had scored in the 1967 FA Cup final for Chelsea, and amongst a host of excellent professionals future England goalkeeper Phil Parkes.

7250 @

J

Immediate League Cup elimination was a disappointment for Birmingham but cup excitement would come in the same season in the FA Cup, while the ultimate glory would come in the league.

QPR: Parkes, Clement, Gillard, Venables, Hunt, Hazell, Busby, Francis, McCulloch, Marsh, Saul.

Blues: Latchford D., Martin, Page, Smith, Hynd, Pendrey, Campbell, Francis, Latchford B., Summerhill, Taylor.

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

ust as Blues face Fulham in the Carabao Cup tonight, in 1971-72 domestic cup competition commenced with west London opposition in the same competition, then simply called The League Cup. It was on 7 September that Freddie Goodwin took his promotion hopefuls to Loftus Road to take on Queen’s Park Rangers. Having just beaten Charlton Athletic 4-1 Blues had received a

18 | BLUES NEWS

Blues early season travel troubles continued as again they failed to score, going down 2-0 to goals from Gerry Francis and Rodney Marsh which took QPR through to the next round where they knocked out Lincoln City before going out in a fourth round replay with Bristol Rovers.

Queen’s Park Rangers would become serious contenders for promotion in a race that went down to the wire. In the final analysis they finished just two points behind Blues after a tremendous late season run that saw them drop just four points from their final 11 fixtures, Marsh top scoring with 20 goals.

confidence booster but needed to show improvement on the road after successive 1-0 losses at Hull and Portsmouth.

In contrast Rangers went into the game on the back of successive clean sheets in the shape of a goalless draw at Swindon Town following a handsome 3-0 win at the home of tonight’s visitors Fulham.

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs FULHAM

Attendance: 15,032

ELSEWHERE IN FOOTBALL On the same night as Blues went out of the League Cup at QPR, tonight’s visitors Fulham lost 3-0 at Sheffield United where England winger Alan Woodward scored twice. Soon to join the squad at St. Andrews, Bob Hatton scored twice as Carlisle United walloped Sheffield Wednesday 5-0 and Manchester United won 3-1 at Ipswich with the help of two goals from George Best. This would be the year Stoke City won the League Cup and 24 hours later the Potters began the journey to their only major trophy in modest fashion by winning 2-1 at Southport. On the same day Blues were in action at Loftus Road former Mansfield Town footballer Brian Phillips was given licence to play again having been banned for life following a 1963 bribery affair. Meanwhile 1966 World Cup winner Ray Wilson took over as caretaker manager at Bradford City. www.bcfc.com

06 SEAN RUSH INTERVIEW 09 The Opposition: FULHAM 15 Harlee Dean 18 72@50 23 WE MEET AGAIN

The Hoops had sensationally won the first ever Wembley final of the League Cup just over four years earlier in 1967. On that occasion they had beaten Blues in the semi-final and done so convincingly, winning the two legs 4-1 and 3-1. To date, this meeting in September 1971 remains the only other League Cup meeting of the clubs. Defeat in that semifinal thwarted what would have been a Wembley meeting with West Bromwich Albion.

Goalkeeping Coach: Andy Marshall

First Team Analyst: Dan Millard

final stage. Unfortunately, three extra-time goals from Michael Owen, Vladimir Smicer and Nick Barmby abruptly ended the Cottagers’ interest in the competition for another year.

In recent ties Manchester City, Southampton and Brentford – in last season’s fourth round – have been the Cottagers’ Wembley deniers as they labour to get within touching distance of one of English football’s major domestic cups.

“Everything we ask of him, he is doing. He’s learning, he’s only 18-years-old. He is showing very good things and it’s up to me to keep giving him the right information. It’s important for him to keep his feet on the floor.”

First Team Development Coach: Paul Harsley

Head of Physical Performance: Sean Rush

What’s going to be your biggest challenge this season from a physical performance perspective?

We probably work differently to most Club’s and always phase our blocks of work. So, they are usually four to five weeks. We’ll evaluate where we’re at, at the end of that phase, analyse what worked and what didn’t and build on that going into the next block. Usually, they fit around the international breaks so by the time we reach the spring international break, the players are maintaining towards the end of the season. Then it’s onto the next season!

DOB: 12 July 1977 Appointed: July 2021

ONE TO WATCH

Head Coach: Lee Bowyer

How do you break down a season?

IN THIS ISSUE

FOOTBALL MANAGEMENT Technical Director: Craig Gardner

players, all goes into the pot alongside data, and you can build the big picture.

I think a lot of physical departments overreact to data, but my team and I will look at the data along with other factors and put it all together.

How do you manage the squad during this busy start to the season when they’re playing three games a week?

great with me. I’m absolutely loving it, I’m bouncing in!

6 | BLUES NEWS

international break gives us a window of opportunity to get a physical hit on the players who need it. It’s not a mini pre-season as such but we can go into different zones because we haven’t got a game to build towards.

24 action replay CLASS OF 71/72 DAVE LATCHFORD The older brother of star striker Bob Latchford, goalkeeper Dave’s game was about stopping goals rather than scoring them. Dave managed to play 239 senior games for Blues but had to battle hard to win the number one shirt. At the time Mike Kelly was playing most games as first choice with 22 year-old Latchford pushing for a place. He had already reached a cup final with Birmingham, playing in the 1967 FA Youth Cup final against Sunderland.

He had also done well enough to earn selection for England youth squads but with his contemporary being Peter Shilton he remained uncapped.

Dave’s debut came at Bury in April 1969.

Four days later he was thrown into the deep end in front of over 50,000 at Villa Park, being beaten only once. The match featured here at Loftus Road was Dave’s debut in the League Cup. He stayed at St. Andrew’s until 1977 when he left to join Motherwell who were being managed by his centre-half in this game, Roger Hynd. Dave went on to represent Bury, Barnsley, Redditch, Cheltenham Town and East Worle. Following his retirement from playing in 1992 he became a funeral director and later superintendent of Solihull cemeteries.

As well as playing alongside brother Bob at Birmingham, Dave had another brother who like him was a goalkeeper – Peter Latchford played for Celtic, as well as WBA, Clyde and England at Under 23 level.

BLUES NEWS | 19

26 UNDER-18s REPORT 27 blues women bulletin 32 squad lists

First Team Physical Conditioning: Elliott Woolmer Under-23s Head Coach: Steve Spooner Head of Academy: Mike Dodds 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 to St. Andrew’s, including everyone connected with Fulham Football Club, for another Carabao Cup game under the lights.

I know we are not yet in a position to welcome all of our supporters back in but, hopefully, for those of you here tonight, we can put on a positive performance against what is a very good Fulham side.

I have been delighted with the players this week.

Of course, we did not get the result we wanted against AFC Bournemouth, and I thought we paid the price for not quite executing the right delivery or finish in the final third. For large parts of the game, we more than matched them and it would be easy to feel hard done by when you don’t take anything from the game.

We moved the ball well, we made life difficult for them and it was just that final little bit that was missing from our attacking play.

You have to hold your hands up and say it is a very good finish for their opening goal but to concede a second from a set-piece was frustrating.

I’ve got to know this group of players over the past few months, and I knew, because of the characters we have in that dressing room, that we would not let the result affect us heading into Luton.

Needless to say, it did not!

I said after Saturday’s win, that it was the best performance by any team I’ve managed.

To play Wednesday-Saturday is tough but from the first whistle we were on the front foot, played with real intensity and everything we did was with a purpose. In possession we moved the ball extremely well, off the ball we had great energy, landed on second balls, and put pressure on Luton.

4 | BLUES NEWS

Another clean sheet is a big plus and to score five goals will add even more belief to the group. I know we have goals in this squad but felt we needed to be a little more ruthless with our chances. Saturday proved that we are a goal threat because we could have had a few more than five!

It was a fantastic display and I’m made up for the players and more so our supporters. They spend their hard-earned money following us so to send them home happy after a difficult week was really pleasing.

We have to keep our feet firmly planted on the ground because it is just one result and we have another tough week ahead of us - starting tonight against Fulham followed by a trip to Barnsley on Saturday.

The standards we set ourselves and the demands we put on each other mean we want to keep going, keep improving and continue to build momentum.

I was critical of aspects of our performance in the first round of this competition and Fulham have lots of quality throughout their squad so we will need to be at our best tonight if we want to progress.

Of course, with the relentless nature of the fixtures we will look at giving opportunities to players and we have to keep everybody fresh, but we also want to win every game, regardless of the competition or the opposition.

Finally, a huge thank you for your continued support again this week. Not being able to support the players in the stadium has been difficult and I just hope in the near future we can get as many of you in here as possible.

Keep Right On, Lee Bowyer

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs FULHAM

www.bcfc.com

BLUES NEWS | 5

Following his popular first spell at the Club, the return of Sean Rush as Head of Physical Performance came as a welcome surprise to all. His emergence from the tunnel in Blues final preseason friendly was met with rapturous applause from the stands. Now with his feet firmly back under the table, we caught up with ‘Rushy’ to talk through his return, his relationship with supporters and challenges for the season…

sean rush

Rushy, welcome back! Firstly, what did you make of the reaction from supporters when we announced your return ahead to the West Bromwich Albion game?

It was so humbling, and I was surprised to be honest. I saw a lot of the comments on social media and the messages were really nice so very humbling. I think I’m quite open with the fans and we open ourselves up to the work that goes on here on a working day. So fans see that side and appreciate that because it gives them a bit more of an insight into what physical performance is.

6 | BLUES NEWS

Did the way you left the Football Club and your memories of the first spell here make it an easy decision?

Massively. Craig [Gardner] rang me and asked if I would consider coming back and it was a no-brainer. I love the Club and the people within it. I think the Club’s got a real future and the potential to push on again. I drove down from Sheffield, and I sat on the M1 with the biggest grin you’ve ever seen on my face. I think people thought I was bonkers sitting there smiling. Since I’ve been back the people have been unbelievable and

the fans have been great with me. I’m absolutely loving it, I’m bouncing in!

There’s been a few changes at the Club since you left, what is your remit this time around?

My first couple of weeks has been about assessing where the group are at physically. Getting to know the Gaffer, how he wants to play and what his requirements are. We’ve been putting a plan together with my staff and taking that forward. A lot of foundations are still in place from when I was here last so, hopefully, we can build quicker.

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs FULHAM

In terms of this group of players, what are your first impressions?

Really good. In terms of on the pitch, we have a lot of quality there. But for me, as a group of men, as blokes, really strong. They’re all together, there’s a really good atmosphere and I could feel that when I walked through the door. The lads are all chomping at the bit to taste success. If they continue working as they have in the first few games, then it could come.

Looking more longer term are there processes and a structure you can put in place here?

There’s lots we can do to make sure we have a successful programme.

We can profile what kind of player we require from a physical performance perspective, what we demand, and it will hopefully have an effect on player recruitment. We have to put something substantial in place to make sure we are constantly improving. It’s about helping the players reach the required level for Championship football and maintaining that through what is a gruelling campaign. If we can get a programme in place where they have that base and platform to build from season-on-season, then the players will be in a good place.

international break gives us a window of opportunity to get a physical hit on the players who need it. It’s not a mini pre-season as such but we can go into different zones because we haven’t got a game to build towards.

players, all goes into the pot alongside data, and you can build the big picture.

I think a lot of physical departments overreact to data, but my team and I will look at the data along with other factors and put it all together.

How do you break down a season?

What is going to be your biggest challenge this season from a physical performance perspective?

We probably work differently to most Club’s and always phase our blocks of work. So, they are usually four to five weeks. We’ll evaluate where we’re at, at the end of that phase, analyse what worked and what didn’t and build on that going into the next block. Usually, they fit around the international breaks so by the time we reach the spring international break, the players are maintaining towards the end of the season. Then it’s onto the next season!

How reliant are you upon Data?

Data is just one tool in the box of many. Eyes, experience, being around the players, knowledge of your

I think COVID-19 is going to have a big effect on the season. We have to have depth in our squad and it’s so important that those players in the squad are available for selection. The more we can maintain players fitness so they can cope with SaturdayTuesday games then the better chance we’ll have of being successful.

It’s very tough. I’ve just got a feeling teams could possibly go a two or three game period where COVID-19 hits, you can’t train and it’s how you cope with that.

Welcome back Rushy, it’s like you’ve never been away!

How do you manage the squad during this busy start to the season when they are playing three games a week?

Saturday-Tuesday or SaturdayWednesday is so relentless. It’s an absolute nightmare physically. It’s a lot of recovery sessions and making sure those who are lacking game time are ready to go because the Gaffer could call on them at any time. We need to make sure if those players are brought into the team for a matchday then they are able to cope with those demands.

We have the first international break next week, how do you use that time?

Initially, we will look at recovery.

These first few weeks of the season have been very demanding on the players with so many games. So, there are players that will need some rest and then there are others who haven’t had the game time. The www.bcfc.com

BLUES NEWS | 7

8 | BLUES NEWS

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs FULHAM

Fact file

Nickname: The Cottagers Formed: 1879 Stadium: Craven Cottage Stadium Capacity: 19,286 Chairman: Shahid Khan Manager: Marco Silva Last season finish: 18th in the Premier League

The Opposition

FULHAM

ONE TO WATCH

Fabio Carvalho ATTACKING MIDFIELDER DOB: 30 August 2002 There may be more household names in Fulham’s squad than the livewire teenager, but his full-throttle start to the new campaign has thrust him into the spotlight this August.

Although teammates Harry Wilson, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Ivan Cavaleiro arguably boast more blockbuster appeal, the Portuguese born England Under-19 international has started the season with a fearless abandonment that has seen the Cottagers score eight goals in their opening three games.

The 18-year-old former Benfica youth, who only made his league debut against Chelsea in May, scored one and made another against Millwall in Fulham’s last away day.

It was a performance that led Head Coach Marco Silva to wax lyrical about the exciting prodigy, telling the Evening Standard: “It was a very good performance from Fabio, in the first-half he was fantastic. He looks fresh every time. Not just with the ball because he’d done fantastic work without the ball too.

FULHAM’S QUEST FOR SILVA

T

wenty one years ago Fulham journeyed the furthest they had ever managed into the sharp end of the League Cup.

After eliminating Northampton Town, Chesterfield, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Derby County, they held Liverpool to a goalless stalemate at Anfield in December

“Everything we ask of him, he is doing. He’s learning, he’s only 18-years-old. He is showing very good things and it’s up to me to keep giving him the right information. It’s important for him to keep his feet on the floor.”

10 | BLUES NEWS

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs FULHAM

IN THE DUGOUT

Marco Silva DOB: 12 July 1977 Appointed: July 2021 The Portuguese tactician may feel he has some unfinished business across English dug-outs this season, having taken up a first position since leaving Everton in 2019.

The 44-year-old masterminded silverware for Sporting CP and Olympiakos before making an impression in the Premier League with Hull City in 2017. Despite eight wins in 22 games in charge, he could not save the Tigers from relegation and switched to Watford to remain in the top-flight.

2000 at the quarter-final stage.

Unfortunately, three extra-time goals from Michael Owen, Vladimir Smicer and Nick Barmby abruptly ended the Cottagers’ interest in the competition for another year.

It remains the closest the west Londoners have come to reaching the tournament’s semi-finals.

Although there has been a more recent last-eight experience, losing 2-1 to Chelsea in 2005, that was settled within 90 minutes. Ever since the men from SW6 have been confined to early exits, with a dozen eliminations in the third round or sooner over the last 17 campaigns.

In recent ties Manchester City, Southampton and Brentford – in last season’s fourth round – have been the Cottagers’ Wembley deniers as they labour to get within touching distance of one of English football’s major domestic cups.

The same 2000-01 season that Liverpool prevented them from reaching that elusive semi-final spot for the first time, Fulham had won their opening 11 Championship games www.bcfc.com

and sustained the pace to lift the title with an astonishing 101 points.

The club’s start to this term has been equally as encouraging that prolonged interest across all domestic trophies can be achieved.

After an opening-day draw with Middlesbrough, there was a 5-1 success at Huddersfield Town with 10 men - the first time since 2017 that Fulham had produced a five-star performance on the road.

Following a bleak Premier League campaign which saw them collect just five wins all season and finish 11 points adrift of safety, the return to winning ways has been a welcome one.

A decent start to life at Vicarage Road was disrupted after temptations from Goodison Park could not be resisted, and Silva steered them to an eighthplace finish in his first campaign on Merseyside.

A 5-2 defeat to city rivals Liverpool in November 2019 saw him depart with the Toffees languishing in 18th place, but a first managerial role in the Championship could help him rebuild his reputation.

Upon penning a three-year deal at Craven Cottage Silva told the Evening Standard: “I’m really pleased and proud to be appointed head coach of such a historic football club. I’m excited to get started and for my message for our fans ahead of this big challenge is we will all be working very hard together to be successful so they can feel proud at the end of the season.”

New manager Marco Silva, who replaced Bournemouth-bound Scott Parker in July, has wasted no time in getting his side on the front foot and firing on all cylinders.

The Portuguese was certainly pleased to see his inherited crop go three games unbeaten after a slick passing display at The Den saw them emerge 2-1 victors over Millwall.

BLUES NEWS | 11

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

R A C NEXT O O Z A C CAZOO YEAH!

ADVERT

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

12 | BLUES NEWS

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs FULHAM

AROUND THE GROUNDS There are 22 Carabao Cup Second Round fixtures being contested this evening, with one of only two all-Premier League ties happening in the capital.

Watford face Crystal Palace for only the fourth time in the competition and visiting manager Patrick Vieira, who won five FA Cups, will be keen that the Eagles progress after the silverware eluded him during a trophy-laden playing career.

At the other end of the spectrum, Barrow will be looking to cause a major upset against Aston Villa in the first-ever competitive meeting between the two clubs.

Prior to facing Hull on Saturday, Fulham sat second in the fledgling Championship table.

Silva told London News Online: “I was really pleased to see how we played, we deserved the three points. We were the best team on the pitch from the first minute to the last, we dominated all the game.

“We created so many chances that could’ve made it a different score.

At 2-0 we had chances to score the third, fourth and the fifth. It was a good feeling for me that we created so many chances. Against Huddersfield we scored five but we cannot always score four or five, but we should have scored more than the two we needed. However, I’m really pleased with the way we controlled the game. Our opponents had maybe two shots, nothing more.”

The Cottagers boast a core of players that achieved promotion on the bank of the Thames only a year ago. That list includes USA international Tim Ream, centre-back Alfie Mawson, playmaker Josh Onomah and DR Congo cap Neeskens Kebano to name but a few.

Although a glut of loanees including Joachim Anderson and Ademola Lookman are no longer at the club, new recruits include former Tottenham ‘keeper Paulo Gazzaniga www.bcfc.com

and Wales international winger – and set-piece specialist – Harry Wilson.

It’s the wealth of attacking luminaries at Head Coach Silva’s disposal that made Fulham close-season favourites for an immediate topflight return.

Two-time Championship promotion winner Ivan Cavaleiro has scored twice in his opening three outings; Serbia’s all-time leading goalscorer Aleksander Mitrovic has 24 Premier League goals to his name; winger Bobby Decordova-Reid played for Jamaica at this summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup and it looks like it could prove to be teenage hot-shot Fabio Carvalho’s breakthrough year.

Yet it will be Silva’s deft manmanagement at reintegrating those on the books that were previously deemed surplus to requirements which could make the difference.

Captain Tom Cairney hardly played last year but is a major influence in the dressing room, having been instrumental to the club’s play-off successes in 2018 and 2020.

While Fulham will be keen to rid themselves of their yo-yo tag, having not had a second season at the same level for five years, Silva will want his new squad to convince him as to which division they want to belong to.

Elsewhere, Premier League sides Brighton and Everton have been handed tricky assignments on the road at Championship sides Cardiff City and Huddersfield Town. While Wolves travel to four-time former winners Nottingham Forest and Leeds United host Crewe Alexandra in a first encounter since 2009.

Lancashire animosities are renewed in other ties in the Northern section of the draw. League Two Morecambe will be hoping they can embarrass county rivals Preston North End in only a sixth-ever game between the two, while Wigan Athletic have a plum home tie against old foes - and League One counterparts - Bolton Wanderers to get stuck into.

In the Southern section newlypromoted Premier League sides Brentford and Norwich City are both on home soil. The Bees welcome a Forest Green side to Middlesex that they’ve never encountered before, while the Canaries meet Scott Parker’s AFC Bournemouth who are flying high in the Championship.

TONIGHT’S SELECTED FIXTURES Barrow vs Aston Villa Huddersfield Town vs Everton Leeds United vs Crewe Alexandra Sheffield United vs Derby County Wigan Athletic v Bolton Wanderers Nottingham Forest vs Wolves Norwich City v AFC Bournemouth Cardiff City vs Brighton Watford vs Crystal Palace Stoke City vs Doncaster Rovers BLUES NEWS | 13

GREAT-TASTING LOW-CAL ENERGY

SHOP NOW AT

DRINKCARABAO.CO.UK 14 | BLUES NEWS

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs FULHAM

Captain

Harlee dean G

ood evening and welcome to tonight’s game against Fulham.

left to play but I am confident we will continue learning and improving as the weeks go by.

Saturday’s win over Luton Town was one of the most impressive I have been involved in for a while. To score five goals away from home, keep a clean sheet and have opportunities to score more was fantastic. I’m delighted for both Scott Hogan and Chuks Aneke, who are now off the mark for the season. A confident, in-form Scott is a real weapon in our arsenal and Chuks has the ability to unnerve any defence.

We take good momentum into this evening’s fixture having overcome Colchester United in the last round and a good cup run is a positive for so many reasons. It helps build momentum and, of course, the further you get, the more chance you have of winning silverware which is ultimately why we all play the game.

Robbo’s header to open the scoring was as good as they come and what can I say about Gazza’s finish – he does that sort of thing in most training sessions, so, it is great to see it happen during a game.

And whilst I am delighted for the team, what brought me most happiness on Saturday was watching our supporters celebrate such a big win with us. 1,000 Bluenoses followed us to Bedfordshire, and you would be forgiven for thinking we were at home. Your support really is unrivalled.

Granted, we are not going to win every week, let alone by five goals, but to get a result like that over a strong Luton team shows what we can do on our day.

From here, we need to continue working hard.

We are all happy with our start, but we know it is just that – a start. There are still many games www.bcfc.com

We welcome Fulham to St. Andrew’s for second round action and are extremely aware of the threat they will pose. Marco Silva has been a winner in many of the countries where he has managed and will want to see his team go as far as possible in this tournament.

The Cottagers sit top of the Championship and are yet to lose a game. In that sense, I expect them to be strong tonight as well. Saying that, we fear no one and this game gives us another opportunity to build momentum.

I am also aware that everyone associated with this Club holds the tournament in extremely high regard having won it back in 2011 when the gaffer was here as a player. He knows the importance and so do we - which is why, like in every match, we will give tonight our all.

A huge thank you for your continued support and enjoy the game!

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.

16 | BLUES NEWS

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs FULHAM

GET THE APP

0 old

Bet Responsibly www.bcfc.com

BLUES NEWS | 17

7250 @

J

by ROB MASON

ust as Blues face Fulham in the Carabao Cup tonight, in 1971-72 domestic cup competition commenced with west London opposition in the same competition, then simply called The League Cup. It was on 7 September that Freddie Goodwin took his promotion hopefuls to Loftus Road to take on Queen’s Park Rangers. Having just beaten Charlton Athletic 4-1 Blues had received a

18 | BLUES NEWS

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

confidence booster but needed to show improvement on the road after successive 1-0 losses at Hull and Portsmouth.

In contrast, Rangers went into the game on the back of successive clean sheets in the shape of a goalless draw at Swindon Town following a handsome 3-0 win at the home of tonight’s visitors, Fulham.

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs FULHAM

The Hoops had sensationally won the first ever Wembley final of the League Cup just over four years earlier in 1967. On that occasion they had beaten Blues in the semi-final and done so convincingly, winning the two legs 4-1 and 3-1. To date, this meeting in September 1971 remains the only other League Cup meeting of the clubs. Defeat in that semifinal thwarted what would have been a Wembley meeting with West Bromwich Albion.

Unlike nowadays when it is normal procedure for teams to make numerous changes in this competition, particularly in the early rounds, back in the early 1970 managers picked their strongest XI. Remember too that in this era of just one sub – who was frequently not used – players would almost certainly play a full 90 minutes every time. So it was that Blues lined up at QPR on this Tuesday night showing just one change from the side who had taken Charlton apart the previous Saturday, goalkeeper Mike Kelly being replaced by Dave Latchford.

It was a similar story for Gordon Jago’s Rangers. Their only change saw them strengthen from the weekend as future England international Gerry Francis – then a teenager – came in for Barry Salvage. QPR’s Francis may well have been still a teenager but he was two and a half years older than Birmingham’s own teenage Francis – Trevor. Gerry Francis was not the only big name on show in the home side. Rangers also included Terry Venables who would go on to manage England, Rodney Marsh who was already well on the way to becoming a superstar, Frank Saul, who had scored in the 1967 FA Cup final for Chelsea, and amongst a host of excellent professionals future England goalkeeper Phil Parkes.

Blues’ early season travel troubles continued as again they failed to score, going down 2-0 to goals from Gerry Francis and Rodney Marsh which took QPR through to the next round where they knocked out Lincoln City before going out in a fourth round replay with Bristol Rovers.

Queen’s Park Rangers would become serious contenders for promotion in a race that went down to the wire. In the final analysis they finished just two points behind Blues after a tremendous late season run that saw them drop just four points from their final 11 fixtures, Marsh top scoring with 20 goals.

Immediate League Cup elimination was a disappointment for Birmingham but cup excitement would come in the same season in the FA Cup, while the ultimate glory would come in the league.

QPR: Parkes, Clement, Gillard, Venables, Hunt, Hazell, Busby, Francis, McCulloch, Marsh, Saul.

Blues: Latchford D., Martin, Page, Smith, Hynd, Pendrey, Campbell, Francis, Latchford B., Summerhill, Taylor.

Attendance: 15,032

ELSEWHERE IN FOOTBALL On the same night as Blues went out of the League Cup at QPR, tonight’s visitors Fulham lost 3-0 at Sheffield United where England winger Alan Woodward scored twice. Soon to join the squad at St. Andrews, Bob Hatton scored twice as Carlisle United walloped Sheffield Wednesday 5-0 and Manchester United won 3-1 at Ipswich with the help of two goals from George Best. This would be the year Stoke City won the League Cup and 24 hours later the Potters began the journey to their only major trophy in modest fashion by winning 2-1 at Southport. On the same day Blues were in action at Loftus Road, former Mansfield Town footballer Brian Phillips was given licence to play again having been banned for life following a 1963 bribery affair. Meanwhile, 1966 World Cup winner Ray Wilson took over as caretaker manager at Bradford City. www.bcfc.com

CLASS OF 71/72 DAVE LATCHFORD The older brother of star striker Bob Latchford, goalkeeper Dave’s game was about stopping goals rather than scoring them. Dave managed to play 239 senior games for Blues but had to battle hard to win the number one shirt. At the time, Mike Kelly was playing most games as first choice with 22 year-old Latchford pushing for a place. He had already reached a cup final with Birmingham, playing in the 1967 FA Youth Cup final against Sunderland.

He had also done well enough to earn selection for England youth squads but with his contemporary being Peter Shilton he remained uncapped.

Dave’s debut came at Bury in April 1969.

Four days later he was thrown into the deep end in front of over 50,000 at Villa Park, being beaten only once. The match featured here at Loftus Road was Dave’s debut in the League Cup. He stayed at St. Andrew’s until 1977 when he left to join Motherwell who were being managed by his centre-half in this game, Roger Hynd. Dave went on to represent Bury, Barnsley, Redditch, Cheltenham Town and East Worle. Following his retirement from playing in 1992 he became a funeral director and later superintendent of Solihull cemeteries.

As well as playing alongside brother Bob at Birmingham, Dave had another brother who like him was a goalkeeper – Peter Latchford played for Celtic, as well as WBA, Clyde and England at Under 23 level.

BLUES NEWS | 19

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

20 | BLUES NEWS

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs FULHAM

www.bcfc.com

BLUES NEWS | 21

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 22 | BLUES NEWS

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

EFL.com

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs FULHAM

we meet again T

3 1

SUNDAY 6 MAY 2018

here is little glamour involved when it comes to fighting relegation on the final day, but there was certainly glory to be had when Blues met Fulham in May of 2018.

crowd they found their feet. Thriving, as all great Blues teams do in the face of adversity, they began to penetrate Slavisa Jokanovic’s side and took a deserved lead with a quarter of an hour played.

With the sun beaming down on St. Andrew’s, the temperature was notched up even further on the field as both sides needed the points from matchday 46 but for very different reasons.

Wes Harding’s inviting low cross was resoundingly stabbed home by Lukas Jutkiewicz, giving Garry Monk’s men the launchpad required to go on and truly take the game to Fulham.

Blues knew that three points would be enough to secure their Sky Bet Championship status, whilst a maximum would give Fulham a chance of claiming the second automatic promotion spot, should results go their way.

Therefore, it was unsurprising that the Cottagers – unbeaten in 23 league matches going into the clash – started brightly and could have led just moments after kick-off when Lucas Piazon spooned an effort off-target.

This served as a warning to the hosts and driven on by a bumper home www.bcfc.com

Before half-time, the advantage was doubled as the Whites failed to significantly clear a corner, allowing Jota the chance to deliver. His farpost cross was met by Harlee Dean, with the Captain comprehensively heading in and embarking on an iconic celebratory run and jump in front of the Kop. Of course, a team of the visitor’s pedigree did not simply fade away and created far more after the break, although it seemed this would be for no reward. But as is a final-day rite of passage, there would be a twist as Tom Cairney headed home with six minutes to play.

Fulham had hope. Bluenoses were left with an anxious wait.

And this was made no easier when Aleksandar Mitrovic firmly planted a header towards goal, with every rotation of the football feeling like an eternity until David Stockdale acrobatically tipped it over the crossbar.

The relief was palpable and it was about to get 100 times better as Che Adams turned an ambling run forward into one of the great moments in Blues’ recent history. Showing Fulham’s defence a clean pair of heels, the frontman made sure of the Club’s second tier status with a cheeky finish the Tilton will never forget.

The away side despaired at the outcome, knowing a slip-up from second-placed Cardiff City had in fact opened the door to the Premier League.

But apart from the disappointed section of travelling fans, B9 rejoiced, with shouts of Keep Right On filling the air underneath a royal blue sky. Blues were staying up!

BLUES NEWS | 23

Blues 0 2 AFC Bournemouth SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP | WEDNESDAY 18 AUGUST Blues (3-5-2): Matija Sarkic, Harlee Dean (Captain), Marc Roberts, Kristian Pedersen, Maxime Colin, Gary Gardner, Ryan Woods, Tahith Chong (Ivan Sanchez 87), Jeremie Bela, Lukas Jutkiewicz (Chuks Aneke 70), Jonathan Leko (Scott Hogan 79).

Substitutes not used: Connal Trueman, Juan Castillo, George Friend, Ivan Sunjic.

Booking: Pedersen 73.

AFC Bournemouth (5-3-2): Mark Travers, Leif Davis (Ben Pearson 69), Chris Mepham, Zeno Ibsen Rosi, Lloyd Kelly (captain), Jordan Zemura, Emiliano Marcondes (Junior Stanislas 60), Gavin Kilkenny, Philip Billing, Jaidon Anthony, Dominic Solanke.

Substitutes not used: Orjan Nyland, Kyle Taylor, Christian Saydee, Nathan Moriah-Welsh, Brennan Camp.

Booking: None.

Referee: Andy Davies Attendance: 9,922 24 | BLUES NEWS

There was a feeling of what might have been when the final whistle blew at St. Andrew’s on Tuesday night, with the quality of Blues’ performance not being reflected in the scoreline.

As they had against Stoke City a handful of days previous, Lee Bowyer’s team created the better chances and at a greater rate than their visitors but were just unable to get one to past Mark Travers in the Cherries goal.

Even when they did, the roar of the St. Andrew’s crowd swiftly turned to groans as supporters spotted the assistant referee’s flag raised on the far side. Lukas Jutkiewicz was the man caught offside, meaning his trademark, towering header counted for nothing.

And as is often the cruelty of the beautiful game, Scott Parker’s men alarmed by this close shave went and scored a legitimate goal of their own.

Dominic Solanke’s tidy 77th-minute finish turned the game on its head before Jaidon Anthony thumped home a second late on to give the Cherries all three points.

Un-Bela-evable

Having been such a sizeable driving force of Blues’ attacking play since his signing in 2019, it is remarkable how smoothly Jeremie Bela has adapted to his new role at wing-back.

Still able to contribute offensively, the 28-year-old is showcasing exceptional discipline and stamina to cover the left-hand side and support his teammates at either end of the pitch.

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs FULHAM

LUTON TOWN 0 5 Blues SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP | SATURDAY 21 AUGUST If there could be any finger of criticism pointed at Blues’ start to the season it would be the lack of goals. Although being the last Sky Bet Championship defence to be breached, going into the game against Luton Town Lee Bowyer’s side had notched just one league counter.

away win in almost a decade against a Hatters side that had won two of their three opening matches.

But that all changed at Kenilworth Road as Blues recorded their biggest

In cruise control, Blues rung the changes and two of these – Gary

First-half goals from Marc Roberts and Scott Hogan put Bowyer’s side in the ascendency before the latter completed a brace after a marvellous Tahith Chong run.

Gardner and Chuks Aneke – struck in the closing stages to give a five-star performance a scoreline to match.

Luton Town (3-5-2): MSimon Sluga, Peter Kioso (Glen Rea, 28), Kal Naismith (captain), Tom Lockyer, James Bree, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu , Allan Campbell, Admiral Muskwe, Amari’I Bell, Harry Cornick (Cameron Jerome 57), Elijah Adebayo.

Substitutes not used: Harry Isted, Elliot Lee, Carlos Mendes Gomes, Fred Onyedinma, Gabe Osho Booking: Rea 34.

Hotshot Hogan

Going into the weekend, defenders had scored Blues’ early-season counters. So, when Roberts nodded in the opener at Kenilworth Road, Hogan might have been wondering when his chance would come.

But staying true to striking principles, the number nine occupied the width of the 18-yard box to earn his just deserts. Hogan’s header was sublime, with the second - a tap in - just reward for another tireless shift.

www.bcfc.com

Blues (3-5-2): Matija Sarkic, Harlee Dean (Captain), Marc Roberts, Kristian Pedersen, Maxime Colin, Gary Gardner, Ryan Woods, Tahith Chong (Ivan Sanchez 70), Jeremie Bela, Lukas Jutkiewicz (Gary Gardner 81) Scott Hogan (Chuks Aneke 61).

Substitutes not used: Connal Trueman, George Friend, Juan Castillo, Jonathan Leko.

Booking: Roberts 4.

Referee: John Busby Attendance: 10,014 (1,006 away) BLUES NEWS | 25

B

Action Replay Under 18s REPORT

lues Under-18s were defeated in their maiden Premier League South outing against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.

It was a first outing for the young Blues side in a new league competition for the Club and the Lead Coach is confident that with time, his players will adapt to the increase in quality amongst teams in the league.

The game was Blues’ first at that level after the Club was granted Category 1 status in May of this year and the team showed little nerves as they started strongly against the Seagulls.

He told BCFC.com: “This level is completely different to what we were playing before - there’s certainly more quality and we’ll need a bit of time to adapt to that.

George Hall opened the scoring just shy of the half-hour mark as he burst through the Brighton defence after a good pass from Kieran Wakefield, slotting past Brighton goalkeeper Hugo Fisher.

“There might be some early learning to do but long-term it’s all about the boys and getting them to the best level possible and playing in this league will certainly aid their development. There are huge longterm benefits to playing at Category 1 level and it’s what the club has wanted for a long time.”

It took until just after the hour mark for Albion to respond when Zak Emmerson calmly received Jake Gee’s pass, rolling home to bring the scores level.

Next up for Blues is a trip to Southampton and a chance for Olorenshaw and his team to bounce back on the South Coast.

Blues would not have to wait long though to go back in front. After good play down the right, Wakefield hit the post after Hall’s cutback, but Rico Patterson was on-hand to power home from the edge of the box.

But Brighton would cruelly claim the points late on, drawing level in the 88th through Emmerson’s driven finish, before the former Oldham Athletic striker struck at the backpost with the last kick of the match to complete his hat-trick.

Speaking after the contest, Lead Under-18s coach, Martyn Olorenshaw, admits his players were hurt to concede late on but says everyone will take plenty of positives from the game.

He said: “They scored with the last kick of the game which was 26 | BLUES NEWS

He concluded: “We learnt a lot from the first game - plenty of positives and some things we’ll need to improve but the players are excited to get back out there. disappointing but, in the end we couldn’t quite hang on. It was a tough match, but we scored two well-worked goals which was fantastic to see.

“Take nothing away from the boys - we were particularly pleased with the first 45 - we moved the ball well and it felt like a proper Birmingham City performance.

“Credit Brighton because they came at us in the second-half and we weren’t quite able to sustain our level.”

“We played Southampton in a preseason friendly so have an idea of how they will play. I’m confident in my players and I think we have the quality to cause them problems and get a result.”

Blues: Brooks, Sullivan, Fogarty, Brown, Nguepissi, Manton (Ifeoni 74), James, Patterson (Home 85), Bellingham, Wakefield, Hall.

Goalscorers: Hall 25, Patterson, 71.

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs FULHAM

blues women BULLETIN

0 0

SUNDAY 22 AUGUST 2021

B

lues Women continued their preparations for the fastapproaching Barclays FA Women’s Super League season with a behind closed doors friendly against Liverpool at St. Andrew’s.

All that was missing from a controlled performance was a winning goal,

with Scott Booth’s side creating the superior chances in the West Midlands sunshine.

Sarah Ewens went closest in the firsthalf, with fellow summer arrival Louise Quinn going even closer after the interval when the Captain's towering header was pushed onto the crossbar.

Further opportunities fell the way of Libby Smith and Lisa Robertson, but Blues were unable to find the net as Liverpool’s backline battled well to keep the home side at bay.

The fixture followed previous outings against Coventry United of the FA Women’s Championship and BFAWSL newcomers Leicester City, and was a continuation of such efforts to ensure First Team players are match sharp ahead of the season opener away to Tottenham Hotspur.

Blues: Emily Ramsey, Gemma Lawley (Lucy Hepburn, 83), Louise Quinn (captain) Cecilie Sandvej, Rebecca Holloway, Lisa Robertson, Lucy Whipp (Trialist 74), Veatriki Sarri, Jade Pennock (Harriet Scott, 55), Libby Smith, Sarah Ewens (Abi Cowie 67).

Substitutes not used: Lucy Jones, Sophie Phillips, Abbi Jenner.

www.bcfc.com

BLUES NEWS | 27

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

MY

K

28 | BLUES NEWS

BIRMINGHAM CITY vs FULHAM

ROLL CALL & LEAGUE TABLE PLAYER

LEAGUE APPS GLS

FA CUP APPS GLS

LEAGUE CUP APPS GLS

CHUKS ANEKE

0 (3) 1

0 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

POS.

P

JEREMIE BELA

4 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

1 FULHAM

4 3 1 0 7 10

JOBE BELLINGHAM

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

2 WEST BROMWICH ALBION 4 3 1 0 6 10

TATE CAMPBELL

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (1) 0

ALFIE CHANG

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

TAHITH CHONG

3 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

MAXIME COLIN

4 (0) 1

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

HARLEE DEAN

4 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

GEORGE FRIEND

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

GARY GARDNER

3 (1) 1

0 (0) 0

W

D

L

GD PTS

3 STOKE CITY

4 3 1 0 4 10

4 COVENTRY CITY

4 3 0 1 2 9

5 QUEENS PARK RANGERS

4 2 2 0 4 8

6 CARDIFF CITY

4 2 2 0 4 8

1 (0) 0

7 BOURNEMOUTH

4 2 2 0 3 8

0 (0) 0

8 BIRMINGHAM CITY

4 2 1 1 4 7

NICO GORDON

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

9 BLACKBURN ROVERS

4 2 1 1 1 7

JORDAN GRAHAM

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

10 HUDDERSFIELD TOWN

4 2 1 1 -2 7

SCOTT HOGAN

3 (1) 2

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

11 LUTON TOWN

4 2 0 2 -2 6

IVAN SANCHEZ

0 (2) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

JUAN CASTILLO

0 (1) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

12 MIDDLESBROUGH

4 1 2 1 0 5

LUKAS JUTKIEWICZ

4 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

13 BARNSLEY

4 1 2 1 0 5

CHARLIE LAKIN

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

14 DERBY COUNTY

4 1 2 1 0 5

JONATHAN LEKO

1 (2) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

15 BRISTOL CITY

4 1 1 2 -1 4

RILEY MCGREE

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (1) 0

16 SWANSEA CITY

4 1 1 2 -2 4

MARCEL OAKLEY

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (0) 1

17 PETERBOROUGH UNITED

4 1 1 2 -3 4

KRISTIAN PEDERSEN

4 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

18 READING

4 1 0 3 -2 3

MARC ROBERTS

4 (0) 1

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

19 HULL CITY

4 1 0 3 -3 3

MITCHELL ROBERTS

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

MATIJA SARKIC

4 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

20 PRESTON NORTH END

4 1 0 3 -4 3

IVAN SUNJIC

2 (1) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

21 MILLWALL

4 0 2 2 -3 2

CONNAL TRUEMAN

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

1 (0) 0

22 BLACKPOOL

4 0 2 2 -3 2

REMI WALKER

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

23 SHEFFIELD UNITED

4 0 1 3 -6 1

RYAN WOODS

4 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

0 (0) 0

24 NOTTINGHAM FOREST

4 0 0 4 -4 0

Fixtures & RESULTS 2021/22 DATE

KO

OPPONENT

RES

COMP

POS

ATT 29,043

STARTING XI

AUGUST 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

TUE 18

7.45pm

AFC BOURNEMOUTH

H

0-2

LEAGUE

11

SAT 21

3.00pm

LUTON TOWN

A

5-0

LEAGUE

8

TBC

FULHAM

H

EFL CUP

3.00pm

BARNSLEY

A

LEAGUE

FRI 10

8.00pm

DERBY COUNTY

H

LEAGUE

WED 15

7.45pm

FULHAM

H

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

Sat 28

TBC

SARKIC

ROBERTS

DEAN

PEDERSEN ■

COLIN 1 ■

GARDNER ■

W

TRUEMAN

OAKLEY 1

GORDON

FRIEND

CASTILLO

SUNJIC

S

10,189

SARKIC

ROBERTS

DEAN

PEDERSEN

COLIN

SUNJIC

G

9,922

SARKIC

ROBERTS

DEAN

PEDERSEN ■

COLIN

CHONG

G

10,014

SARKIC

ROBERTS 1 ■

DEAN

PEDERSEN

COLIN

SUNJIC

SEPTEMBER

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

NOVEMBER Tue 02

7.45pm

BRISTOL CITY

H

LEAGUE

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 LEAGUE

DECEMBER SAT 04

3.00pm

MILLWALL

A

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

FEBRUARY SAT 05

3.00pm

SHEFFIELD UNITED

H

LEAGUE

WED 09

7.45pm

AFC BOURNEMOUTH

A

LEAGUE

SAT 12

3.00pm

LUTON TOWN

H

LEAGUE

SAT 19

3.00pm

STOKE CITY

A

LEAGUE

TUE 22

8.00pm

READING

A

LEAGUE

Sat 26

3.00pm

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN

H

LEAGUE

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

APRIL sat 02

3.00pm

WEST BROMWICH ALBION

H

LEAGUE

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 FULHAM

■

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

CHONG

WOODS

BELA

HOGAN 2

JUTKIEWICZ

ANEKE 1 (61)

SÁNCHEZ (70)

GARDNER 1 (81)

TRUEMAN, FRIEND, CASTILLO, LEKO

www.bcfc.com

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

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 ■ ■ JONATHAN LEKO 14 ■ ■ 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 ■ ■

CHARLIE LAKIN 31 ■ ■

IVAN SUNJIC 34 ■ ■

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 DERBY COUNTY FRIDAY 10 SEPTEMBER 2021 KICK-OFF 8.00PM

FULHAM HEAD COACH: MARCO SILVA

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

1 MAREK RODAK GK 2 KENNY TETE 3 MICHAEL HECTOR 4 DENIS ODOI 5 TERENCE KONGOLO 6 HARRISON REED 7 NEESKENS KEBANO 8 HARRY WILSON 9 ALEKSANDAR MITROVIC 10 TOM CAIRNEY 11 ANTHONY KNOCKAERT 13 TIM REAM 14 BOBBY DE CORDOVA-REID 16 TOSIN ADARABIOYO 17 IVAN CAVALEIRO 20 MAXIME LE MARCHAND 21 PAULO GAZZANIGA GK 22 CYRUS CHRISTIE 23 JOE BRYAN 24 JEAN MICHAEL SERI 25 JOSH ONOMAH 26 ALFIE MAWSON 28 FABIO CARVALHO 29 ANDRE-FRANCK ZAMBO ANGUISSA 31 FABRICO AGOSTO RAMIREZ GK 33 ANTONEE ROBINSON 35 TYRESE FRANCOIS 43 STEVEN SESSEGNON

MATCH OFFICIALS REFEREE SAMUEL BARROTT ASSISTANT REFEREE OLIVER BICKLE ASSISTANT REFEREE TBC 4TH OFFICIAL AARON JACKSON