What a happy Valentine's weekend for Blues, who made it to the quarter finals of the FA Cup for only the second time in 26 years. It wasn't all plain sailing, however, as Blues were made to work hard for their victory.
In a game that had captured the imagination of Blues fans, with 5,500 making the short trip up the A38 and many more attempting to source tickets, Alex McLeish reverted back to The Unbeatables. This meant that Seb Larsson, James McFadden and Christian Benitez all came into the side with Keith Fahey, Craig Gardner and Kevin Phillips making way after the defeat at Upton Park.
The game started slowly, and if anyone had control, it was Blues. However, they did little with that control which they soon began to lose as Derby grew into the contest. Cameron Jerome perhaps should have done better for Blues after just about their only decent move of the first half, whilst at the other end Shaun Barker and Stephen Pearson both went close for the home side.
Make no mistake about it, Blues were poor in the first half. In a game that the fans were up for and that the players and management had claimed to be up for, well, there seemed to be a worrying lack of desire and zest to Blues' play. Yes, Derby have run into a bit of form of late, but only last month they lost 4-1 at home to Scunthorpe United and they're still about 16th in the Championship. The fact that they bossed much of the first half was a real worry.
Valentine's Day is all about couples, and the two sets at the opposite ends of the pitch were quite a contrast for much of the game. Both sides had Little & Large front pairings. For one, the big man controlled the ball superbly, held the ball up well, brought others into play and looked menacing in the air, whilst his miniature mate dropped deep, made probing runs, picked good passes, evaded defenders and generally ran the show. I'd like to be talking about Cameron Jerome and Christian Benitez, but I'm actually describing Rob Hulse and Kris Commons. If we're talking partners, Jerome and Benitez were more like Dumb & Dumber - I'm not sure which one would be the dumber one though. Some of Jerome's touches were shocking. In one first half spell of ten minutes or so, the ball was played to him about five times, and each time it went out of play directly off him. Benitez, whether wary of his injury, was just not at his hustling and bustling best either and barely got into the game.
With Commons dictating play as he can, and Derby's midfield worryingly getting the better of Blues', it was probably a relief for Blues to get into half-time at 0-0. Barry Ferguson was desperately poor at times, and whilst the pitch didn't really assist passing football, Blues struggled to get any kind of momentum to their play. Lee Bowyer, who I've accused of looking very tired lately, was just about the only Blues performer in the first half who could take much credit.
The second half started in a similar manner, and it wasn't a great surprise when Derby went 1-0 up about ten minutes in. Jay McEveley had a speculative shot from distance which dipped and bounced awkwardly in front of Joe Hart. The pitch was awful and the ball did jump up, but Hart still should have done better. Someone else who also should have done better, however, was Larsson who had come out to McEveley as he picked the ball up and put in a pathetic challenge, turning his back on him and ducking out of a proper challenge.
You hoped that it was the kind of kick up the backside that Blues needed, but they continued to struggle to get going. Phillips was unsurprisingly introduced for Benitez, who was as poor as he's been for Blues, whilst Fahey came on for Larsson.
Blues continued to toil and Derby understandably dropped a little deeper. Blues still weren't creating a great deal, however, and you began to wonder if, once again, there'd be disappointment when so much was expected. I confess that I was beginning to feel concerned about the rest of the season. I was starting to think that, after West Ham, crashing out of the FA Cup at Derby would demoralise those fans who'd travelled and the team, and that we'd be in for a final third of the season with more apathy from the fans and ever-tiring players underperforming. I was beginning to worry.
This "new Blues" is made of sterner stuff though. 18 months ago, my concerns would have probably come to fruition, but not now, it seems. Scott Dann rose to head home a McFadden corner, and suddenly Blues were level, Derby were on the back foot and a winner was possible.
Gardner replaced McFadden (who had been poor for 95% of his time on the pitch, but had actually just started to cause problems when removed) and in injury time stood over a free-kick. Rather than a looped cross that Stephen Bywater could have plucked from the air, or a Seb Larsson special - a curling shot five yards too high - Gardner drove the ball low into the danger area. I'm not sure if it was meant as a shot or deliberate ball or just, as I say, a ball to cause problems. That's what it did though - it was something different that was unexpected which found Phillips about eight yards out. Phillips being Phillips immediately span on the ball and hit it goalwards. Hearts were in mouths as the ball trickled against the post then ran along the goalline, appearing to be going in. Liam Ridgewell quite rightly wasn't about to wait and see, and prodded the ball home from literally about half an inch out to put Blues 2-1 up.
There was still time for Robbie Savage to come close to a wonder goal, only to be denied by Hart, before the Blues fans were able to celebrate further progress and rejoice in the sight of a clearly frustrated Savage leaving the pitch.
It wasn't pretty and, let's be honest, it wasn't very good either. If Blues are to have any hopes whatsoever of progressing any further in this competition, they'll have to play far better, as they will have to do at Fulham next week. However, they got through.
This Blues side does have something about it when it comes to character. Recently, after disappointing performances, they've come from behind to get results against Spurs, Wolves and now Derby. With the Chelsea and West Ham defeats the other games in the last five, not so long ago, you'd probably be looking at a Blues side who'd lost five in a row. There is this desire, grit and determination though and Blues do keep going, even if it's not the prettiest. They'll keep at you and will never give up, and there's an awful lot to be said for that.
Again, the worry will be that it's another game without a clean sheet and another game in which Blues conceded first - that's five games in a row now in which Blues have gone 1-0 down. They can't always be expected to mount comebacks, and the defensive qualities on which Blues based their fine recent form appear to be slipping a little, which is a concern. Take nothing away from the fighting qualities displayed though to once again come back from what was looking like the dead.
Another thing you can't take away is that Blues are doing bloody well in the FA Cup. They were drawn away at Notts Forest who were the form team in the country, and got a result before winning the replay - also, don't forget that we wouldn't be where we are today if Robert Earnshaw could take penalties.
Blues then went to Everton who had just beaten Manchester City comfortably at home and had gone to Arsenal and been unlucky not to win before drawing 3-3. Blues hadn't won at Goodison Park for some fifty-odd years, but they blew Everton away with a stunning first half performance. Since then Everton have beaten Chelsea at home too.
Next it was an away trip to Derby who went into the game on the back of a six game unbeaten run which included two home victories over the two form teams in the division (one of whom, in Forest, hadn't lost away from home in the league all season, and had only lost away from home at all once - at Blues) in which they hadn't conceded a goal.
Blues have had it tough in the draw so far, and have done tremendously well to get through - maybe, just maybe, it is their year. As much fun as doing it the hard way has been though, I'd love a home draw for the sixth round. Anyone (possibly except Chelsea) will do me at home. I just hope that, for the first time this season, those people playing with the FA's balls are kind to Blues.
Que sera, and all that.