City
4 Birmingham City 1
December 17th 2005 att 41,343
After
the last poor away performance against West Brom the City players earned a Christmas
day off with a spirited win against a poor Birmingham City. Having just returned
from the Far East suffering from temperatures in the 90's (old money) to visit
the City of Manchester Stadium on a freezing December evening to suit a television
audience I wished the person who decides these winter late kickoffs would have
to suffer an evening out in the cold too!
On this display Birmingham are heading
with Sunderland for relegation. The intense City pressure from the first whistle
was just too much for them and ease of City's win despite the absence of Cole
and Dunne was an excellent start to the Christmas programme.
December
2005
City
made two changes with both Dunne and Cole suspended -in came Onuoha and Sibierski.
Fowler made a rare bench appearance.
In
the first few seconds City almost scored. Sibierski passed to Vassell whose shot
was saved by Vaesen for a corner
From
the corner taken by Jihai Sun a loose ball following a header by Sibby was pushed
by Vassell into the path of David Sommeil who lashed it into the net from close
range. One minute gone and City were one up.
David
Sommeil was thrilled to bits with his goal as were the City faithful. We could
not have wished for a better start to warm us on this bitterly cold night.
A
minute
or so later and City almost made it two nil. Sibierski strode through a non existent
Birmingham defence and his shot beat the keeper but hit the far post and the ball
was eventually cleared.
On
13 minutes Vassell's speed took him past defenders only to be brought down by
the keeper. A penalty for City and a yellow card for Vaesen.
Joey
Barton was entrusted with the kick and with the keeper diving the wrong way his
well placed penalty put City two goals up
Jihai
Sun was having lots of room to play on the left and he linked well with Sibby.
After
18 minutes a Sibieski header almost beat Vaesen - only an acrobatic save stopping
City from taking a three goal lead.
City
continued to press and though Steve Bruce had made early changes the visitors
attack rarely put James under pressure.
Five
minutes before the break City went further ahead. A Barton free-kick found the
head of Sibierski who headed home.
The
Birmingham defence was in tatters and Antoine Sibierski was having easily his
best game since joining City.
Only
600 or so visiting supporters had turned up and several were already leaving for
a cold journey back down the M6. I bet many of the others wished they had stayed
at home.
James
had little to do in the first half -the occasional long range shot or centre to
deal with.
Vassell
should have made in four ten minutes into the second half. A Barton cross caused
havoc and Vassal's header went wide.
With
twenty minutes to go BWP came on for Vassell and City scored their fourth, Sinclair
burst down the right wing and crossed.
A
beautiful cushioned header by Sibierski laid the ball for Bradley Wright-Phillips
who with his first touch of the ball lashed it into the Birmingham net. Four nil
and virtually game set and match.
Birmingham
did get the ball into the net but the ball had gone over the goal line as the
linesman pointed out.
There
was late appearance for Robbie Fowler who replaced Reyna but he had little time
to make his presence felt.
Bradley
Wright Phillips had livened things up and City always looked likely to score more
goals.
But
it was Birmingham who scored a consolation goal. Jarosik who had come on after
70 minutes had plenty of time to pick his spot and beat David James from outside
the box. Where was the marking?
With
seconds to go Bradley Wright Phillips chased a long ball and keeper Vaesen handled
the ball outside the box
The
keeper got his second yellow card and was sent off. Fowler took the free-kick
but his poor shot hit the defender and City ended with a well deserved comprehensive
4-1 win.
There were no weak spots in the City display. Onuoha fitted in well
in the centre of defence. Sommeil continued his improving form as deputy for the
injured Mills. Jihai Sun worked his socks off though some of the timing of his
tackling is a little dubious. Reyna gave his quiet workmanlike display in midfield
and Joey Barton was impressive too. Upfront Vassell's speed causes problems for
defences and with luck he might have scored twice. Sinclair continues to sparkle
on the right wing though he tired at the end. Sibierski was excellent today and
a revelation at times.
Team:
James
6: Sommeil 7, Onuoha 6, Distin 7, Thatcher 6: Sinclair 7, Reyna 6 (Fowler 6),
Barton 7.5, Sun 7: Sibierski 9, Vassell 7 ( Bradley Wright-Phillips 7)
Wigan
Athletic 4 City 3
December 26th 2005 att. 25,017
One
of my few away games took me to Wigan and my first visit to the new JJB Stadium
. A record attendance for the Lancashire club meant that it took for ever having
left the M6 to get to the ground and only by luck did I find the car park. I easily
could have ended up shopping at Tesco! Considering the result maybe that would
have been better as the City defence decided that Wigan needed some late Christmas
presents in a thrilling open game. My position at the back of the stand was not
ideal but the Stadium is a good viewing ground and the full City contingent gave
the game great atmosphere.
Though
their programme was overpriced at £3 compared to the City one Wigan put
on some pre match entertainment with singers and dancers. The latter not been
too put off by the appearance of Moonchester anxious to get in on the act.
With
Dunne and Cole returning to the squad after suspension it was somewhat surprising
to see an unchanged City side with Sibierski and Onuoha keeping their place. Perhaps
they were being rested for the Chelsea game!
I
would have liked to show you the first goal but alas after an initial sortie into
the City penalty area by Wigan a great cross from Sommeil was headed in by Sibierski
just as a latecomer passed infront of me! So Sibby's header pic is someone's back!
Never mind City were one up and Sibby had deserved his managers vote of confidence.
Play
continued from end to end but we had early concerns with the pace of Roberts and
Camara but Wigan equalised following this catch by Pollitt He threw the ball out
and..........
Disaster
struck just before half time . A poor defensive header by Thatcher let in Roberts
whose pace and strength was too much for Distin and Wigan were in front 3-1.
Despite
the defensive errors City were unchanged at half time but Pollitt was called into
action several times early on.
The
Wigan keeper made two great saves to keep City at bay when he first saved from
Sinclair and then when the rebound ran loose he managed to block Vassells effort.
After
76 minutes a cross by Sinclair was cleared but it dropped to Barton who volleyed
it into the net to make it 2-4.
Distin
missed kicked a through ball and let in Jason Roberts who beat James in the 11th
minute.
Roberts
was proving a handful. Why West Brom let him go is a mystery.
After
22 minutes Wigan were ahead. a cross from the right wing found McCullouch unmarked
( where was Sommeil) and his well placed header beat James.
Distin
was having great trouble in the City defence and James had to be smart to save
and moments later Distin almost gave a penalty away but referee Dermot Gallacher
waved away the Wigan appeals.
Joey
Barton who was proving City's best player had bad luck when his shot hit the inside
of the post and came out. It was not going to be City's day
City
had a hand ball turned down but their efforts came to naught.
City
continued to press but Pollitt saved the day for Wigan on several occasions
In
the 70th minute Dunne who had come on for Sommeil was nutmegged by Camara who
went on to score and make it 4-1. Unbelievable!
City
made it 3-4 after 97 minutes. Sinclair burst through and when the ball rebounded
Cole ( on for Reyna) turned on the ball and shot it home. Wigan were beginning
to panic now.
Sibierski
had a chance from corner but headed wide and time was running out for City as
the three minutes extra time was announced.
With
only seconds to go City won yet another corner and David James came up to join
his City colleagues but his efforts failed to get a goal and an exciting game
ended with a win for Wigan 4-3 . It was a poor defensive display by City and I
can never remember Distin playing so poorly. I wondered whether in retrospect
City played too far up the park leaving gaps for the Wigan strikers to use. Maybe
a third defender acting as a sweeper would have helped but then who would have
expected Distin to have been so poor. What did he do Christmas Day! It is always
easy after the event. At least City fought back after being 4-1 down.
Team
James
6: Sommeil 5 (Dunne 5), Onuoha 5, Distin 4, Thatcher 5: Sinclair 7, Reyna 5 (
Cole 7) Barton 8, Sun 5; Sibierski 6, Vassell 5
City
0 Chelsea 1
December 28th 2005 att. 46,587
I
had to miss last seasons win against Chelsea so I was looking forward to this
battle against the league champions. A battle it was and an improved defensive
display restricted Chelsea to a single fortunate goal. I thought a goalless draw
would have been a fitting result. The non appearance of SWP in the Chelsea squad
was a talking point. The absence of Frank Lampard to end his run of consecutive
league games was a last minute change.
The
return of Cole and Dunne was expected with Reyna (injured) and Sommeil dropped
out.
An
impeccable minutes silence was held for those who died during the year
An
early long range effort by Barton saved easily by Cech
A
Duff effort goes well wide as Sun goes in to tackle
Damien
Duff tried his best to break the City defence without success
The
Chelsea goal had a lucky escape n the 17th minute when Bartons shot was blocked
by Cech's legs
Though
they tried neither Vassell or Sinclair on the flanks could make much headway against
the experienced Chelsea defence
A
long ball evades Distin and the ball drops to Drogba who loses control and appears
to be brought down by James
Drogba
writhes around in agony whilst Dunne tells the ref he is putting it on, Cole and
Duff try to convince the referee its a penalty but it looks like some medical
advice is called for!
The
joint forces of Holby City and Casualty send on a stretcher but the magic of the
sponge has Drogba back on his feet apparently none the worse for wear. Yet another
miracle at Christmas!
A
minute later and Drogba is still explaining his miracle recovery to Mr Rennie
This
time its Joey Barton's turn to be injured but he's soon up and at them
Cech
clears a loose ball to foil a City attack
Both
defences were playing well and neither keeper had much to do as the first half
progressed.
David
James just manages to grab the ball at full stretch to foil Drogba
The
half time entertainment
Joe
Cole was giving Ben Thatcher plenty to think about down the right wing
Sun
Jihai manages to block a centre from Cole
After
58 minutes Crespo and Robben came on for Drogba and Duff - what a bench!
Barton
and Thatcher keep out Gudjohnsen
Cole
and Vassell had little chance to show their ability to play together
Manager
Mourinho passes on some tips he got from Bobby Robson
Robben
takes on the City defence
A
Chelsea free kick flashes past the City goal
Robben
foiled at the last minute by a save by James
With
just 11 minutes to go Chelsea broke the deadlock. Gudjohnsens shot was half saved
..........
.....
but
the ball ran kindly for Joe Cole at the far post who scored easily.
Despite
a late City effort Chelsea hung on to the final whistle and thus got their revenge
for the defeat last season. The City defence played better than at Wigan but the
forwards could not really make much headway against the experienced Chelsea defence.
Plenty of effort but misplaced passes at vital moments let City down.
Team
James
7: Onuoha 6, Distin 7, Dunne 6, Thatcher 5: Sinclair 7 (Croft 6), Barton 8, Sun
6, Sibierski 7(Wright Phillips 6) Vassell 6 Cole 6
