Matchday 17 ~ Birmingham vs Reading - Page 3

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:20 AM

Interview: Birmingham boss Alex McLeish

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:20 AM

The result leaves Birmingham only a point adrift of the bottom three and McLeish knows his side spurned the chance to take maximum points.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:20 AM

Birmingham missed a host of chances and hit the woodwork twice in a frantic second half but with Reading keeper Marcus Hahnemann in fine form they had to be content with just a point.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:20 AM

McLeish was given a standing ovation as he was introduced to the Birmingham fans for the first time at St Andrews prior to the game.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:20 AM

And just four minutes later they were on their feet again, to celebrate Forssell's opener.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:20 AM

The Finn bundled the ball home from close range after his initial header from McSheffrey's corner was cleared off the line from Nickey Shorey.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:20 AM

Forssell and strike partner Cameron Jerome looked lively for the Blues and caused the Reading defence problems with their pace and movement.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:20 AM

Reading were forced to make a change after 27 minutes when midfielder Brynjar Gunnarsson suffered a knee injury and was replaced by Kalifa Cisse.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:20 AM

And then Reading skipper Graeme Murty became the first player to be yellow-carded after 38 minutes for bringing down Muamba in full flight.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:21 AM

Johnson quickly followed him into referee Lee Probert's note-book after blocking the run of Hunt down the right flank.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:21 AM

The visitors had their best chance of the opening 45 minutes just before the break, with midfielder James Harper firing straight at Birmingham keeper Taylor, who did well to close down the angle and make it tough for the midfielder.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:21 AM

Reading did equalise though and it came within minutes of the re-start.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:21 AM

Hunt latched onto a weak back-pass from defender Mat Sadler and then took the ball round Taylor, who brought down the Irishman.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:21 AM

Hunt sent his penalty right down the middle to level matters at 1-1.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:21 AM

As the game wore on Jerome continued to create chances for himself and he was unlucky to see his header superbly kept out by Hahnemann from close range.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:21 AM

Birmingham captain Liam Ridgewell was fortunate to stay on the field after he was only given a yellow card for a late, two-footed lunge on Reading midfielder Bobby Convey.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:21 AM

The Blues then hit the woodwork twice in a matter of seconds after McSheffrey hit the crossbar before Sonko's clearance off the line hit the bar.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:21 AM

Despite Birmingham's second-half pressure it was Reading who nearly stole all three points, but Hunt side-footed wide late on.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:21 AM

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish:
"It was a decent performance but I think we know that we should have taken the three points.

"We made a great start but despite how many chances we created we just couldn't get the ball in the net after our first goal.

"The equaliser was a calamity and the player knows that next time he should put the ball in the stand."

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:22 AM

Reading boss Steve Coppell:
"The goal we gave away in the first half was a nonsense goal as far as we were concerned.

"But it's another point on the board. I thought the commitment of both sides was terrific. The purist might say the game could have been more pleasing on the eye.

"But you saw a game between two sides desperate to get three points which was played at a frenetic and incredible pace."

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:22 AM

Birmingham: Maik Taylor, Kelly, Schmitz, Ridgewell, Sadler, Larsson, Johnson, Muamba, McSheffrey, Forssell (O'Connor 75), Jerome.
Subs Not Used: Doyle, De Ridder, Parnaby, Jaidi.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:22 AM

Booked: Johnson, Ridgewell.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:22 AM

Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Hunt, Harper, Gunnarsson (Cisse 28), Convey (Long 84), Doyle, Kitson.
Subs Not Used: Federici, Lita, Bikey.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:22 AM

Booked: Murty.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:22 AM

Att: 27,300

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:22 AM

Ref: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:22 AM

Alex McLeish gives the thumbs-up to the Birmingham supporters

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:22 AM

Mikael Forssell celebrates his opener for Birmingham

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:23 AM

Stephen Hunt's second-half penalty halted a run of six successive away defeats for Reading.

Freddy Adu · 12-16-2007, 04:23 AM

Hunt scored from the spot after he had been brought down by Birmingham City goalkeeper Maik Taylor following a weak back-pass from defender Mat Sadler.

12-16-2007, 04:20 AM	#62 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	The result leaves Birmingham only a point adrift of the bottom three and McLeish knows his side spurned the chance to take maximum points.

12-16-2007, 04:20 AM	#63 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Birmingham missed a host of chances and hit the woodwork twice in a frantic second half but with Reading keeper Marcus Hahnemann in fine form they had to be content with just a point.

12-16-2007, 04:20 AM	#64 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	McLeish was given a standing ovation as he was introduced to the Birmingham fans for the first time at St Andrews prior to the game.

12-16-2007, 04:20 AM	#65 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	And just four minutes later they were on their feet again, to celebrate Forssell's opener.

12-16-2007, 04:20 AM	#66 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	The Finn bundled the ball home from close range after his initial header from McSheffrey's corner was cleared off the line from Nickey Shorey.

12-16-2007, 04:20 AM	#67 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Forssell and strike partner Cameron Jerome looked lively for the Blues and caused the Reading defence problems with their pace and movement.

12-16-2007, 04:20 AM	#68 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Reading were forced to make a change after 27 minutes when midfielder Brynjar Gunnarsson suffered a knee injury and was replaced by Kalifa Cisse.

12-16-2007, 04:20 AM	#69 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	And then Reading skipper Graeme Murty became the first player to be yellow-carded after 38 minutes for bringing down Muamba in full flight.

12-16-2007, 04:21 AM	#70 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Johnson quickly followed him into referee Lee Probert's note-book after blocking the run of Hunt down the right flank.

12-16-2007, 04:21 AM	#71 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	The visitors had their best chance of the opening 45 minutes just before the break, with midfielder James Harper firing straight at Birmingham keeper Taylor, who did well to close down the angle and make it tough for the midfielder.

12-16-2007, 04:21 AM	#72 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Reading did equalise though and it came within minutes of the re-start.

12-16-2007, 04:21 AM	#73 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Hunt latched onto a weak back-pass from defender Mat Sadler and then took the ball round Taylor, who brought down the Irishman.

12-16-2007, 04:21 AM	#74 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Hunt sent his penalty right down the middle to level matters at 1-1.

12-16-2007, 04:21 AM	#75 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	As the game wore on Jerome continued to create chances for himself and he was unlucky to see his header superbly kept out by Hahnemann from close range.

12-16-2007, 04:21 AM	#76 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Birmingham captain Liam Ridgewell was fortunate to stay on the field after he was only given a yellow card for a late, two-footed lunge on Reading midfielder Bobby Convey.

12-16-2007, 04:21 AM	#77 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	The Blues then hit the woodwork twice in a matter of seconds after McSheffrey hit the crossbar before Sonko's clearance off the line hit the bar.

12-16-2007, 04:21 AM	#78 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Despite Birmingham's second-half pressure it was Reading who nearly stole all three points, but Hunt side-footed wide late on.

12-16-2007, 04:21 AM	#79 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Birmingham boss Alex McLeish: "It was a decent performance but I think we know that we should have taken the three points. "We made a great start but despite how many chances we created we just couldn't get the ball in the net after our first goal. "The equaliser was a calamity and the player knows that next time he should put the ball in the stand."

12-16-2007, 04:22 AM	#80 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Reading boss Steve Coppell: "The goal we gave away in the first half was a nonsense goal as far as we were concerned. "But it's another point on the board. I thought the commitment of both sides was terrific. The purist might say the game could have been more pleasing on the eye. "But you saw a game between two sides desperate to get three points which was played at a frenetic and incredible pace."

12-16-2007, 04:22 AM	#81 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Birmingham: Maik Taylor, Kelly, Schmitz, Ridgewell, Sadler, Larsson, Johnson, Muamba, McSheffrey, Forssell (O'Connor 75), Jerome. Subs Not Used: Doyle, De Ridder, Parnaby, Jaidi.

12-16-2007, 04:22 AM	#82 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Booked: Johnson, Ridgewell.

12-16-2007, 04:22 AM	#83 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Reading: Hahnemann, Murty, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Hunt, Harper, Gunnarsson (Cisse 28), Convey (Long 84), Doyle, Kitson. Subs Not Used: Federici, Lita, Bikey.

12-16-2007, 04:22 AM	#84 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Booked: Murty.

12-16-2007, 04:22 AM	#85 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Att: 27,300

12-16-2007, 04:22 AM	#86 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Ref: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).

12-16-2007, 04:22 AM	#87 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Alex McLeish gives the thumbs-up to the Birmingham supporters

12-16-2007, 04:22 AM	#88 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Mikael Forssell celebrates his opener for Birmingham

12-16-2007, 04:23 AM	#89 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Stephen Hunt's second-half penalty halted a run of six successive away defeats for Reading.

12-16-2007, 04:23 AM	#90 (permalink)
Freddy Adu Fredua Koranteng Adu Offline Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Estados Unidos Posts: 256,709 vCash: 20158194 Rep Points: 916	Hunt scored from the spot after he had been brought down by Birmingham City goalkeeper Maik Taylor following a weak back-pass from defender Mat Sadler.