The FA Cup third round replay between Birmingham City and Nottingham Forest at St Andrew's on Tuesday Jan 12, 2009.
At half time, concern had begun to ripple around St Andrews that this match might actually go to extra time. Viewed from the warmth it had seemed rather a shame that one of these teams would see their wonderful run ended, but on the sort of night that freezes the knee joints of anyone sitting still for more than a minute few will have minded when Barry Ferguson scored and sent Birmingham City into the FA Cup fourth round.
For Billy Davies, the Championship’s manager of the month, this will come as a bitter pill. His team’s unbeaten run of 18 games has come to an end, thanks as much to Joe Hart as Ferguson, the Birmingham goalkeeper once again on splendid form. Davies will know that had Nottingham Forest's front line been even slightly more clinical – Dele Adebola especially – extra time there would have been, for certain.
Birmingham, guilty of showing too much respect during the first half of their match against Manchester United on Saturday, were guilty of showing too little on this occasion (even though it was clearly not Alex McLeish’s intention – he had named his strongest side, after all), and they got lucky.
Forest, complete with seven changes, had the majority of the chances, and if results were decided on work-rate, this would have been theirs.
Moving the ball at pace between them, David McGoldrick and former Birmingham striker Dele Adebola conjured an early cross for Nathan Tyson to get his head on. The attempt – always dropping just wide of the left post – drew an unnecessarily acrobatic leap from Joe Hart, but it was good that the Birmingham goalkeeper warmed himself up: he would be needed later.
Neither side able to gain supremacy in midfield, the early minutes took on the look of a basketball match, both teams seemingly taking it in turns to run the length of the pitch and have a shot at goal. Cameron Jerome broke with Christian Benitez and Liam Ridgewell, but the Ecuadorian anticipated the pass too early and overshot the defence, and Ridgewell, now expecting Jerome to shoot, pulled up just as Jerome decided to pass.
And so up the other end, where McGugan missed a volley from close range but managed to chip the ball back into the area, where Adebola attempted to head home, only for the ball to skim the top of his shaven head.
If Birmingham had got lucky on that occasion – which they had – they had Hart to thank with the break approaching. With six minutes to go McGoldrick latched onto a lovely ball from Adebola, and found himself one-on-one with the Birmingham goalkeeper. All it needed was a solid volley, or so it seemed, but Hart somehow spread himself and blocked the shot.
McLeish sent his side out early for the second half, and although it had a marginal effect on their immediate performance – Hart again being called into action within seconds – Birmingham finally sprung in to life after 61 minutes. Gareth McLeary muffed a clearance, and the ball was picked up by Ferguson, who played a quick one-two with Benitez and then curled a delightful shot beyond Lee Camp.
McLeish sent his side out early for the second half, and although it had a marginal effect on their immediate performance – Hart again being called into action within seconds – Birmingham finally sprung in to life after 61 minutes. Gareth McLeary muffed a clearance, and the ball was picked up by Ferguson, who played a quick one-two with Benitez and then curled a delightful shot beyond Lee Camp.
It was unfortunate for the Forest goalkeeper, for he had been largely untroubled until then. It had no ill-effects on his performance, however, for he produced a wonderful save in the 74th minute, reflexively keeping out a diving header from Roger Johnson off a Larsson corner. Yet it had no impact. Adebola came close to ensuring it did, but he squandered his chance at the death.
Birmingham (4-4-2): Hart; Carr, Roger Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell; Larsson, Ferguson, Bowyer (Fahey, 64), McFadden; Jerome, Benitez (Phillips, 68). Subs: Maik Taylor, Martin Taylor, McSheffrey, Queudrue, D Johnson. Booked: Bowyer
Nottingham Forest (4-4-2): Camp; Perch, Morgan, Chambers, Cohen; McCleary, McGugan, Moussi, Tyson; Adebola, McGoldrick (Garner, 67). Subs: Smith, Anderson, Gunter, Majewski, Lynch, Moloney. Booked: McGoldrick.
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire) Attendance: 9,399
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