The Premier League game between Birmingham City and Stoke City at St Andrew's on Saturday Aug 22, 2009.
Even though Carson Yeung is the largest individual shareholder at Birmingham City, and now the prospective owner, the businessman was apparently not invited to see his future side take on Stoke in what was a good chance to build on their midweek win over Portsmouth.
Clearly no one at the club felt the need to sugar the 49-year-old up with a few freebies now he has made his £81.5 million offer, and in fact they did him a favour.
The activity off the pitch was in sharp relief to the inactivity on it.
This was a keenly fought contest, but with little to cause overexcitement except for an interesting final 30 minutes in which Garry O’Connor should have scored for the home side but for a terrific save from Thomas Sorensen, and Stoke’s Ricardo Fuller tried to get away with his very own hand of God.
It is 21 years since Stoke last won at St Andrews, and with their away form it was always going to be a tricky business to break the trend.
True to form, there was scant opportunity for trouble-making. An early pile-driver from Birmingham defender Franck Quedrue, which must have given Sorensen a few heart flutters as he fisted it clear, proved an uncommon diversion.
The lack of inspiration of both sides was summed up when Stuart Parnaby was brought down a yard outside the area.
Rather than roll around theatrically, the Birmingham winger just sat there, massaging a sore foot, affording the other 21 players on the pitch enough time to saunter to their respective technical areas and enjoy a swig of water and some encouraging words from their managers.
Looking to ignite something in his side with half an hour to go, Alex McLeish sent on Seb Larsson and Christian Benitez, his ideas men.
Suddenly there was some excitement, as Benitez was brought down, Larsson swung in the free-kick and Garry O'Connor forced Sorenson into an excellent.
Stoke had a go too, Fuller climbing high to meet a cross but, realising he was not going to get there with his head, tried his luck with his hand, forcing Carr to clear on the line.
Chris Foy didn’t see the funny side and brandished the yellow. It was as close as they came.
This was not the three points either side would really have wished for, but they will take it none the less.
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