Blues 2 Blackburn 1 .. Ron's Report

Last updated : 22 August 2010 By Richard Barker

Only last week I was moaning about the side that McLeish put out against Sunderland and commenting that, and I quote, "Zigic, Gardner and probably McFadden all have to be in the team against Blackburn next week".  

You can thank me later, Eck...

Those three came in for Garry O'Connor, Lee Bowyer and Keith Fahey respectively and so it is a rare occasion that I can't and won't complain about the team selection at all.  Actually, there wasn't a whole host of things to complain about at all, in fairness.  This was a good result for Blues against very useful opposition.

The biggest complaint really has to be about Blues' first half display which was poor.  With Zigic in the starting line-up they appeared to revert to a Blackburn-esque set of tactics - basically banging the ball up at his head.  Anyone who's seen Zigic play much will know that for someone his height, he's not exactly a powerhouse in the air.  Of course he has an advantage over some, but he's not going to bully centre halves in the way that, say, Andy Carroll can.  He was up against Christopher Samba and Ryan Nelsen and it was always going to be a struggle for him.

As I say, that's not his game.  He had a frustrating afternoon but, like at Sunderland, he showed more than enough ability on the deck to show that he'll be a useful addition.  He's a clever player and is good when the ball is played into his feet or chest - he manipulates the ball well and links the game far better than someone like Jerome can.  He does win some flick-ons, but Blues shouldn't resort to long balls as that's not his game.  In fairness to him, he's much better than that.

His teammates are going to have to get used to him and vice versa.  There'll be a learning curve for both.  It was noticeable (and perhaps a little concerning) that there were a number of occasions when the likes of Stephen Carr, Roger Johnson and McFadden had a go at Zigic and I do think there's work to be done on the understanding there.  He's certainly shown enough to evidence that he'll be an attribute though - it's just a work in progress at present.

It was Zigic who gave a penalty away early in the second half and both his and his teammates lack of complaints suggested it was a just award by Michael Oliver (who, after that Plymouth game a few years back people had concerns about, but refereed this game very well - possibly being overly generous at times... both Carr and Liam Ridgewell should probably have been booked in the first half).  Morten Gamst Pedersen's left foot is one of the best in the Premier League and he struck his penalty very well, but Ben Foster's save was stunning.

This was an excellent home debut for Foster who'll have impressed those few Blues fans who bothered to turn up to watch.  Foster's goalkeeping was generally excellent.  There were one or two nervy moments when he came for crosses and only parried them down, but on all occasions he recovered well.  I've said many times before (most notably last season when comparing Joe Hart and Maik Taylor) that defenders need to know where they stand with their 'keeper.  That's Taylor's problem - you never know whether he's coming or going.  At least with Foster you seem to know that he'll come for the ball.  He may get it wrong sometimes, but I'd rather have a proactive 'keeper in that sense than someone like Taylor.  Foster's also got a hell of a kick on him - bizarrely he probably needs to try a little less and take 20 yards off some of his kicks.  With Paul Robinson at the other end, at times you didn't need the 20 outfield players - Robinson and Foster were quite capable of exchanging passes with one another.

Foster's penalty save lifted what had been until then a dreadful atmosphere.  Blues finished 9th last season and haven't lost at home for close to a year, but only 21,000 turned up and those there were quiet themselves.  The one thing noticeably lacking from Blues' side is a "bums off seats" player - someone like a Dugarry, a Dominguez, a De Ridder or an Otto.  Blues' are solid, efficient, neat and tidy, but there's no one to really excite the fans.  That does seem to be the kind of player the club are looking to recruit, and it might take someone like that to help get some fans back.  There's certainly still something lacking, which is a shame as McLeish and the side deserve more support than they're getting.

The atmosphere was only lifted for a short time before Steven N'Zonzi (a very talented player himself) made it 1-0 to Blackburn.  Pedersen's sweet left foot clipped the ball to the near post from a right wing corner and with Foster impeded and Dann not tracking N'Zonzi he was able to flick the ball in at the near post.  It was Dann's only error in an otherwise excellent display.  Blackburn's set pieces were a threat throughout, as you'd expect from any Sam Allardyce team.

Blues were level not long after and Carr and McFadden really played their part.  As the ball went back to Carr from a corner, as all the players drifted right (particularly the Blackburn defenders), he spotted both McFadden and Ridgewell in space towards the left of the penalty area and floated the ball towards them.  McFadden's cushioned cross was absolutely sublime - evidence of the huge talent he has - and Craig Gardner only needed to cushion it over the line himself.  McFadden's ball was one of those into that corridor of uncertainty that you can imagine Andy Gray eulogising over - "it just needed a touch from anyone".  For McFadden do so first time, on the volley, made it even better.

Gardner struck the winner with a fine long range strike that seemed to catch Robinson cold.  Gardner had tried his luck from distance a few times with little success, but his second was a quality strike.  Gardner's overall midfield display perhaps wasn't that impressive, but two goals from the centre of the park can't be knocked.  He does seem to be the natural replacement for Lee Bowyer.

Bowyer would no doubt have been disappointed to have been dropped to the bench, but I have to say I think it's been coming.  By no means should he be written off though - I think he'll be an excellent player to have on the bench.  Here he came on when Blues were holding on to the game and his experience was much needed.  He picked out a few excellent passes and was (to a lesser extent) Scholes-like in his control of the midfield.  When Blues are chasing a game too, he'll be a more than useful substitute making the late runs that he does and chipping in (hopefully) with the odd goal.  I think the role could suit him and suspect he'll still get plenty of game time.

Also coming off the bench was Matt Derbyshire who looked decent.  He lacked a little conviction when played through by Gardner for the only chance that he really had, but his movement was very good.  I've always liked him and he looks a proper striker with his movement and positioning - a proper on-the-shoulders forward who seems to read the game well and play intelligently.  He'll be useful.

Blues were forced to hang on, but they did so well.  Make no mistake, Blackburn are a very useful side.  Allardyce, when given time at a club (which he wasn't at Newcastle) is a very, very good manager.  People may not like the style of his teams, but I'm very much in the "there's no right or wrong way to play football" camp.  Yes, we all love watching the likes of Arsenal, Spain, Barcelona and Blues, but if Allardyce's football gets results, it's just as valid a way to play the game.

Blackburn's finish to last season (they were unlucky not to overhaul Blues to claim 9th spot) showed that he was beginning to have an impact, and last week's good win against Everton highlighted it again.  With their prowess at set pieces, height, power and some skill, they're a very, very useful side and I reckon they'll have a decent season.  On that basis it was a very good result for Blues, following up another good result last week.

Had Blues lost at Sunderland and drawn at home to Blackburn, there'd have been an argument that they were two very tough games and that it wasn't a horrendous start to the season.  To have taken four points from the two games is an excellent return.

The performances haven't been emphatic or that impressive and have, at times, been far more disjointed than some last season.  However, the results have been very good and both have come after Blues have come from behind.  There's a lot of improvement needed still - starting the game well would be a good way to go - but it's an impressive start so far.