Blues Res 0 - Liverpool Res 1

I missed the kick-off tonight because of, wait for it……

Crowd congestion!!!!

The car park attendances at Solihull Borough seemed unable to deal with a late rush of Blues fans and Liverpool hangers-on. There were dozens of red scarves and replica shirts on display. Now here lies an enigma, if ever there was one. Surely if one decides to be adopt the role of glory-hunter, one would choose to make one’s allegiance with Man Utd or Arsenal? Why would anyone want to glory-hunt after LIVERPOOL??? They’ve won sod all for decades. I mean, is Michael Owen the new Matt LeTissier, or will he leave to join a successful club and get the medals his ability deserves?

Anyway, to the game itself: the match started off at a cracking pace, with both teams getting the ball down well and trying to pass it. The damn thing was pinging around all over the shop in midfield. Highly entertaining. After only two minutes, we had the first (of two) Highly Predictable Event, when Cisse clogged someone on the edge of the box, giving away an ultimately squandered free-kick. A few minutes later, Pongole turned Purse inside-out and streaked through on goal, to be denied by Doyle in the Blues goal. Shortly afterwards, Motteram likewise turned Raven, the Liverpool full-back, inside out and laid the ball into the path of Barrowman, who missed the target (not for the last time, alas!).

After about 15 minutes, Liverpools’s Le Tallec pulled up running for the ball. It looked as though he’d turned his ankle. He tried to carry on for a few minutes, and then collapsed in pain. It looked serious, and the kid was stretchered off.

In midfield, Liverpool’s Michael Foley was having a great game, bossing things against Carter, who, once again, looked very much like a boy trying to play a man’s game. He was yards off the pace and totally unable to find a Blues player with a pass. Alongside him, Cisse was his usual belligerent self, winning most things but lacking imagination with his passes.

After 22 minutes, we were able to finally witness the game’s second Highly Predictable Event – Pongole’s first serious dive of the evening. This was indeed a fine specimen – a triple salko, with dramatic scream. I was seriously impressed and somewhat surprised when the Norwegian judge only awarded it 6.4. It deserved better. Certainly fooled the ref (who was actually quite good).

As the first half wore on, Liverpool were getting on top and creating the better chances. Blues were increasingly reduced to punting the ball upfield, only to see it come straight back, as the young strike pair of Barrowman and Curtis struggled against the bigger Liverpool central defence pairing of Medjani and Whitbread (a real Drama Queen, if ever I saw one). This lack of imagination was frustrating, particularly as it meant Motteram was completely starved of the ball and so the supply of crosses was drying up completely.

Just before half-time, Purse went in for a 50/50 and collapsed in pain. It looked like a fair challenge to me, but the ref appeared to book the Liverpool player, so maybe he’d left his foot in, I couldn’t see. Purse limped out of the game and was replaced by young Duane Courtney. I doubt we’ll see Purse in the squad for Leicester at the weekend.

Half time 0-0.

Very acceptable Bovril, accompanied by a Twix. I passed the time listening to Liverpool fans discussing the merits of various expensive French nonentities.

The second half was much more scrappy than the first and so I won’t write much about it. The scrappiness seemed to suit Blues more than Liverpool, who went off the boil. Courtney was impressive – he seemed to rapidly get Pongole in his pocket, to the extent that Mr P was subbed early in the second half, to be replaced by Wilkie.

Carter got booked for petulantly kicking out at a Liverpool player after a midfield tussle. At the very end of the game he was to get involved in another off-the-ball tussle which the tolerant referee decided to overlook, thus avoiding a sending-off.

After 75 minutes, Cisse made two solid challenges in rapid succession and, having laid the ball off, fell over. He’d hurt his leg and required treatment. Although he insisted he was OK to carry on, Bertschin persuaded him to come off (probably saving him for Saturday) and he was replaced by Asa Hall. By now, the Blues side had a very U-19’s look about it and the game began to decline in quality. Both teams had reverted to lumping the ball forwards instead of playing through midfield, although Liverpool’s impressive Michael Foley was doing his best to get some proper football going.

Liverpool grabbed the only goal of the game after about 77 minutes. A hopeful punt upfield caught the Blues back four very square. Liverpool’s Gillespie (looking offside) found himself through and clear, with only the advancing Doyle to beat. He lifted the bouncing ball over Doyle’s head with a very fine volleyed chip, using the outside of his right foot. Quality finish.

The goal seemed to galvanise Blues into playing some football again and, suddenly, Motteram ceased to be invisible to his teammates. The ball was repeatedly played out to the left wing, Motteram beat his man several times with some ease and put in three or four reasonable crosses, one of which offered the unmarked Barrowman a straightforward side footed chance, which he missed.

Not long after that, the game ended.

No Brucie Watch tonight. I arrived too late to almost crash into him, or judge his sartorial presentation. Instead, I offer you, as meagre compensation, a Saddo Watch. Leaving the ground, I saw some ‘Liverpool fans’ walking along the street, waving their scarves at the passing traffic! Maybe those glory days are back, after all?......