Birmingham City 1 Charlton Athletic 1
A great point halting an awful run of results. We turned up today and navigated tough moments, defended like our lives depended on it, and got the goal when we were on top.
That was something to absolutely get behind from the reds today. More please.
Jones made some changes dropping Campbell to the bench, and starting Fullah, Anderson and Olaofe.
All three contributed. Olaofe had an assist and really should have had two. Anderson and Fullah provided energy and I felt from both of them despite their ages, an element of calmness.
I thought we started pretty well, but the Blues have players and a style of play that can hurt you and will wear you down and as the 1st half went on they got their noses ahead. It was another concession from a set-piece but Klarer’s header was masterfully directed.
Their goal was coming, but we should have been equal at the break, and you won’t see a worse open goal miss this season. Olaofe did really well to close down Birmingham overplaying at the back. He laid a perfect ball on a plate for Leaburn, who with the goal at his mercy, blasted over.
Olaofe also had a shot which went over, and although statistically we were second best at the break, there were signs that we could get something from the game.
Those signs became bigger as the 2nd half wore on with the locals getting restless. We were getting on the ball, and were much better in possession.
The equalizer came on 66 minutes. Olaofe, who had an eventful half, attacked their defender, put the ball through his legs to get into the box and hit a cross low and hard. It came off Allsop and fell to sub Campbell to control and slam home. Campbell had again come off the bench and turned a game.
After that we defended stoically and it says a lot about us that Roberts and Stansfield was kept quiet as was Demarai Gray in regular play at least. He did hit the post in the 1st half, then the bar in the 2nd, plus had a free-kick saved by Kaminski after we scored.
As the game entered the final stages, it resembled the old us as we navigated some pressure and held out for a deserved point.
Backed by another good and noisy following we regained some pride this afternoon, and everyone played their part. Anderson in particular was excellent as was Docherty giving a skipper’s performance when he came on, and I liked Rankin-Costello’s energy and the fact that he wasn’t afraid to take players on. Fullah also impressed.
A word again for Lloyd Jones, who at one point looked like his game was done in the 1st half after throwing up on the side of the pitch. There’s no keeping that lad down. He is a lion.
To coin a phrase. That was much more like us.
🎙️ “We were much more aggressive in the second half and stepped on to them, with no fear in terms of our press. It was more like us – totally us – for the first time in about four or five games. That gives me good heart.” – Nathan Jones
⭐️ Karoy Anderson
🏟️ 26,822 (1,977 Addicks)
📸 Kyle Andrews
I’m happy for Karoy Anderson. Considering that he played a big part in last season’s run-in, there seemed to be a general feeling amongst many that he wouldn’t be good enough for the Championship. He has obviously kept working hard in training, and now he has been given a chance, seems determined to take it. I understand the logic of packing the team with experience, but sometimes what you need is that youthful energy and a desire to prove some people wrong.
On a side note, DK scored a screamer yesterday for Walsall!
A welcome point but it doesn’t disguise our miserable run.
Current form (the last six) Five defeats and one draw, that’s relegation standard.
The Messiah points to injuries being the problem, with some justification. I also point to poor team selection.
He’s taken 20 games to realise TC isn’t good enough to start virtually every game (one assist and now one goal) Coming from the bench has provided TC’s two best performances, yesterday and previously Ipswich away. I am of course sure that he’ll start again V Oxford !
NJ continues to shuffle players around in unfamilier roles, is it any wonder we struggle.
This time last year we were in the same position, albeit in League one, looking like candidates for the drop. We all know what happened by the new year.
Can NJ repeat the feat. I don’t mean the play-offs, that’s a stretch too far. Safety will do. I have my doubts.
Well it’s about time NJ didn’t play TC from the start look what he can create from the bench which is what I ve been telling everybody 10 or more games ago. Leaburn looked out of his depth again and to miss an absolute sitter like that is ludicrous Anderson Fullah Dochertyand Lloyd Jones were best players Lloyd reminds me very much like jason Pearce BTW anyway much better performance lets hope we can get wins from Oxford and Norwich. COYR
We got a point! We got a point!
Quite frankly, that is all that matters after 5 consecutive defeats.. To get it at Birmingham makes that little point just so much sweeter!
That was a much needed positive result. I agree that TC looks better coming on as a sub rather than starting. Perhaps Tanto would be better with a run of games under his belt. That miss by Leaburn was awful and he has not looked happy all season so that makes me wonder. The defence looked shattered. There are plenty of issues that need sorting, but having said that i still think we have enough to stay up. Oxford at home is a must win for me and then a tough trip to an improving Norwich. 4 points from those two games has to be the target.
Seventeen days until the widow opens. Leaburn needs to go out on loan to build up his confidence. TC needs to start every game from the bench and be used as an impact sub. Incomings,(if there are to be any) must be a striker with Championship experience at least.
Having said that, yesterday was a vast improvement on the previous five games, and I agree with others that Anderson and Fullah were our best players.
Why on earth doesn’t NJ give us supporters an update on our injuries, Godden, Edwards and Bell especially.
I was pleased to watch us compete against a very strong team with an amazing home record. So let’s us all put that in some perspective. To stop this wretched run against some very good teams with limited squad resources was a priority and I appreciated the effort from the players and management team. NJ made some big calls, yes he has to shuffle the squad and ask players to play in unfamiliar positions as he has limited options.
Anderson was energetic, he still has flaws at this level but he covered a lot of ground and was dead on his feet. Olafe and Fullah did ok , Olafe was aggressive after his yellow card incident… let’s see more of that please Tanto! Fullah was asked to play in different role against a very experienced fullback and did ok. Personally I thought Lloyd Jones was man of the match. The enigma of TC continues and I hope this kick starts his season. I believe there’s a good player there and he is still learning as is Anderson. Some our fans have high expectations and need to reflect on where we have come from.. I think we will be a okay and it will be a scrap but from that performance there is a lot of hope rather than the negativity. Some big games coming up over the festive holiday. I hear some players are coming back and then we have the January window, oh a good FA cup draw.. so lots to be optimistic about.. rather than the humbug vibes.
A season defining point IMO.
The injury list has not been kind to us and neither has the fixture list. We have, in our poor run of form, also setup a little too attacking at times, ending with some brutal reminders that we are at a higher level this season.
All in all, the group has remained focused on the task and has put in some good individual performances (even when we lost badly). This season was never going to be a walk in the park.
I’d say a solid 8/10 so far this season, despite recent results.
As for yesterday, every player, made their mark, every player did their job and every player is one that I’m proud to have in my team. Well done to all of them.
Well done in getting a point. The Charlton time wasting was shocking and how the player who shoved his hand to Allsop face only got a yellow was bewildering. I think the last defender who committed the professional foul on Stansfield bearing down on goal would also have seen red with a lot of referees. We were below par on the day and it was an awful game to watch and yet again another incompetent referee. I think a mdtable finish for us which the fans would be okay with – I don’t know about the owners. I think you’ll survive relegation – just about.
Thanks for the comment.
I don’t know if you saw Oloafe’s shove in the Allsop’s face again, but Allsop’s rolling around as if he’d been shot was embarrassing.
Anderson’s was a poor foul on Stansfield but being out on the touchline by the benches hardly represents a goal scoring opportunity.
I think your squad could do better than mid table. You have a lot of good players. I’ll be interested to see if the owners stick with Davies. They should
That was a tough sequence of matches and results against some in-form sides but I expected more than one point from those six games.
The fixture list looks a bit easier for awhile, at least on paper, but we have to take the mentality into those games that we are determined to get a couple of wins and not scrap for a point here and there. I hope our confidence hasn’t been dented by the last few games.
And we need to recruit when the window opens in January.
Anyone know what the news is on Shinnosuke Fukada? we tried to sign him in the summer on a loan with a view to a permanent move when his contract expired. The Japanese season has ended (although it recommences in February). We need some defensive signings…
A well deserved point and our roller coaster of ups and downs continues….We are unpredictable and that can be to our advantage as opponents will find preparing for us a challenge….dont forget we are the new boys !!!
I’m hopeful that new blood can be brought in after Christmas and add a new dimension to our play.
Keep the faith !!!!
Troubled me when TC did not want to approach the away supporters after he scored. Lloyd pushed him in that direction but still he turned away. I was at the Hull game and heard lots of negatives comments, “don’t give it to TC” one of the more repeatable. Please spread the word to give this young talent a chance, lets not knock his confidence anymore. I also believe he is best suited coming off the bench at this point in his development.
Playing as one of a two up front, TC has found it difficult to make the step up to the Championship, as has Leaburn, Statistics don’t lie. TC’s best two games in the first half of this season,has been as an impact sub from the bench. Let him stay that way for the rest of this season,while he continues to learn how it is in the Championship. Giving him a starting berth in games where he has little or no positive contribution, is no good for him personally, or the team as a whole. At twenty-two he is still learning, and the team cannot afford to ‘carry’ anyone if we are to avoid a bottom three finish to the season.