The Birmingham City Blues At Home

[William the White]

Much improved. Well done to all.

Thought Alonso was getting dicked on first half by Burke was it? But he was very comfortable in the second half. Ream played well. Looked assured, but they had zero pace to get behind him. Knight kept getting caught under the ball. 4 or 5 times it happened.. And his headers flew 20 yards behind him. Bonkers. After the goal the defenders sussed out Zigic. Let him flick it on. There'll be nobody there.

Midfield, best area. They dominated. Andrews was excellent in his positioning and reading. Spearing his usual busy self, but with added quality today. Pratley, everywhere. He looked hungry and I'm made for him! Great goal by Lee and some nice moments. Eagles was man marked for the opening 15 minutes, but once he found space he started to hurt them. Davies was ok. Some nice early flicks, but his MOTM award was a bit baffling.

Downside: Our fans. Again. Booing from the opening minute. They were booing short throws FFS. We'd be a better team if we played in an empty stadium.

I too was dismayed by the early booing (which didn't really come until they took the lead and we had a rocky 10-15 mins). Just as bad were the ironic cheers for Bogs catching the ball after, presumably, blaming him for their goal - he half went to try and get the cross, then took a back step... It looked messy but i don't think he was at fault. sight of a replay might resolve the issue...

It stopped completely, i thought, from our equaliser... Though the crowd was so thin it hardly had the Reebok rocking...

But don't boo during the game, FFS! Stupid and counter-productive.

Too many fans going to get on players backs. Bloke in front of me booed Pratleys name, first touch, second touch etc. even in the second half he screamed for Dougie to remove him from the pitch.

He sounds an idiot. What did his guide dog think?

[Bruce Rioja]

Oh, and Mears was excellent. Not for the first time.

Couldn't agree more, with both your posts.

He played well, but Zigic goes through him like he wasn't there for their goal. Excellent? Really?

Edit: That said though, how come he was left to deal with the big clot Zigic on his own at the back stick when the thoroughly useless c*nt, Knight, gives his usually pathetic star-jump underneath the ball that allows Zigic to out-muscle Mears. As always - Zat knight's fault - the clueless nice person.

[jaffka]

that score line comes back into effect in this game

well done bolton, a great win

[SmokinFrazier]

Tim Ream shut a few people up today and I'm glad he did, he was outstanding and my man of the match. He had that lump of shit Zigic in his back pocket and he proved that after Zigic shoulder charged him and got sent off. Great work considering he's a foot shorter than him!

I've been a big fan of Ream, but didn't see us early on in the season when he seemed to be getting slated, so was glad to see him play well.

I agree with you two.

I've always quite liked Ream and I think he's been given a lot of unfair stick this season. If you go back to last year, I don't remember any harsh critics and I'm sure that if you look back at the match preview threads, you'll find the vast majority of fans wanted him in the team. He was far better than Knight was last year, and he and Wheater formed a good partnership. I hope we get to see them two together again soon.

[YtarmyYtarmy]

I thought Pratley was motm for me, he worked his socks off and by far his best game in a Bolton shirt. The same can be said for Ream and Spearing too. The problem is going to be performing like this week in week out. Same 11 to start on Tuesday for me

I agree, I thought Alonso was the best player for the first 45, but Pratley edged it over the 90 minutes. Who picks the MOTM cos sometimes i think its just picked out of a hat ? SKD played a good game but Pratley seemed to be involved all over today, his touch/control and passing was very good today, defo the best game he's had here so far.

Problem is, like most of our players we dont seem to have any consitency, so will it be back to the same old shite next game ?

[boltonboris]

Oh, and Mears was excellent. Not for the first time.

Couldn't agree more, with both your posts.

He played well, but Zigic goes through him like he wasn't there for their goal. Excellent? Really?

Edit: That said though, how come he was left to deal with the big clot Zigic on his own at the back stick when the thoroughly useless c*nt, Knight, gives his usually pathetic star-jump underneath the ball that allows Zigic to out-muscle Mears. As always - Zat knight's fault - the clueless tw*t.

Thought he was a bit unfortunate. Alonso allowed the cross to come in too easily and he tried his best to get goal side of a man mountain as Knight was picking his arse. Could maybe have seen the danger a second earlier, but he shouldn't have to gamble on the fact that somebody is going to feck up their marking..

[Wandering Willy]

I thought KD was brilliant today. He kept himself away from anything that was going on.

[Harry Genshaw]

Aye, I couldn't blame Mears for the goal. Any half decent striker will try and get to the back post where he can jump against a shorter full back. Zigic is a man mountain and our only hope at stopping the goal imo was either Boggy coming off his line for the cross or Knight man marking and jumping with Zigic.

I hated the ironic cheers but Boggy did seem indecisive on their crosses today. He punched one out at shoulder height in the 1st half that a confident keeper would have come out and caught.

[boltonboris]

Their keeper did the same, more often. He's lauded as a future world star.

Iirc correctly, that Bogdan punch made its way 30 yards to Spearing in acres and he drove forward and we almost scored.... So...

[89bwfc89]

Oh, and Mears was excellent. Not for the first time.

Couldn't agree more, with both your posts.

He played well, but Zigic goes through him like he wasn't there for their goal. Excellent? Really?

Edit: That said though, how come he was left to deal with the big clot Zigic on his own at the back stick when the thoroughly useless c*nt, Knight, gives his usually pathetic star-jump underneath the ball that allows Zigic to out-muscle Mears. As always - Zat knight's fault - the clueless tw*t.

Honestly think all Mears lacks is confidence, same could probably be said for a lot of the team.

[Harry Genshaw]

Their keeper did the same, more often. He's lauded as a future world star.

Iirc correctly, that Bogdan punch made its way 30 yards to Spearing in acres and he drove forward and we almost scored.... So...

Oh aye, punching isn't always a bad thing but it just seemed to me that in that instance he elected to punch as a result of a lack of confidence, rather than any great counter attacking idea.

[Worthy4England]

Oh, and Mears was excellent. Not for the first time.

Couldn't agree more, with both your posts.

He played well, but Zigic goes through him like he wasn't there for their goal. Excellent? Really?

Edit: That said though, how come he was left to deal with the big clot Zigic on his own at the back stick when the thoroughly useless c*nt, Knight, gives his usually pathetic star-jump underneath the ball that allows Zigic to out-muscle Mears. As always - Zat knight's fault - the clueless tw*t.

I thought he was bypassed too easy for their goal too.

I also thought Ream was picking up Zigic, but on the occasion of their goal not a poor expectation to expect Knight to.

[Worthy4England]

I thought KD was brilliant today. He kept himself away from anything that was going on.

I guess you mean other than the ball that played CYL in and the pengy?

Well spotted that man. Goals scored in the last two games Davo started - 7. Goals scored in the last game sick-note started - 0

Sorted

[Holden midfielder]

Today was a pi$$ take! 2 horrible results followed by a morale lifting victory... Just a tease to jerk he heart strings of the faithful. It will all end in tears... ;

[Hodori]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... 5G1M5BPNbM" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I found the goal highlights

[Worthy4England]

Very pleasing performance.

MotM was Spearing for me although as said, Alonso, CYL, Ream & Pratley all had good games too.

Easy to see what DF is trying to do when it's going well. 7 or 8 consecutive passes before Mears crossed to Alonso for the first. The keep ball session at the end that involved about 20+ passes was beautiful to watch.

Only blemish for me today was Zat Knight's seeming loss of form. He was poor on the goal and this playing from the back doesn't suit him as his distribution is so bad. Something Ream excelled at today imo

Agree on your motm pick Harry. Spearing was all over central mf and his distribution was excellent yesterday.

Might be out on a limb here, but I didn't think we were too bad in the first 15 minutes either. Most of the action was down at the Brum end up until them scoring and as you say, the build up to our first goal was excellent. Pity it doesn't show a bit more of it on the highlights.

[thebish]

wow!! that Lee goal was fantastic - smacked in from such a narrow angle with such confidence..

and - that penalty - pretty much perfectly taken even though the keeper went the right way - he still had no chance!

we're ace!!

[Gooner Girl]

we're ace!!

Shall look forward to reminding you of that next time you start moaning on

[Annoyed Grunt]

wow!! that Lee goal was fantastic - smacked in from such a narrow angle with such confidence..

and - that penalty - pretty much perfectly taken even though the keeper went the right way - he still had no chance!

we're ace!!

Let's not get carried away now

[bobo the clown]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... 5G1M5BPNbM

I found the goal highlights

Amazing .... what the fck was the Brum defender doing to handle the ball for the penalty ?? Then he & his teammates challenge the referee for giving the decision !!