Birmingham City vs WBA - FA Cup Fourth Round Match Thread

**Ska'dForLife-WBA** · 22-01-2015, 07:09

Always nice to pay a visit somewhere we haven't been very often in the last few years. No, not St Andrews - although Birmingham City's tireless dedication to financial and footballing struggle has certainly kept us out of Small Heath for a good while - but rather, the fourth round of the cup. You could argue we've got bigger things on our plate, but Tony Pulis reckons a decent cup run will boost confidence all around the club, and I agree with him. It's been five years since we last made the fifth round. If we really want to prove ourselves one of the top 17 teams in England, reaching the last 16 of football's oldest (and, in spite of its recent woes and indignities, greatest) competition would, for me, be the ideal start.

When Gary Rowett said he'd beef up the Blues defence, he wasn't lying.

But the hurdle in our path is bigger than many might suspect. Gary Rowett's Blues side are pretty much the definition of "resurgent"; they've lost only two matches under his reign so far in all competitions, and with the momentum and winning mentality they've built up, they'll fancy themselves on home turf. Ticket sales suggest a near-capacity crowd; isolated from Villa and starved of success over Wolves, plenty of Noses will happily take an Albion scalp for local bragging rights. Expect an atmosphere with more spice than a Balsall Heath balti.

It's no secret that Albion are still a work in progress. Three clean sheets in a row is a great building block, but up front, scoring goals is still very much a Saido one-man show, and giving him the ammunition - as we saw at Goodison on Monday - will probably require fresh faces in the team. If we accept those fresh faces are unlikely to arrive between now and Saturday, it means taking on Blues with the existing attacking line-up. Anyone for a goalless draw and a replay in a more civilised postcode?

Either way, give it maximum effort and I'll be happy. It's our first FA Cup tie against Blues since 1968, so who knows? We might just be in for something special this year...

Classic Matches

Birmingham vs West Bromwich Albion

Plenty of good times against the blue half of Brum, but these ones would be well worth repeating on Saturday!

DanTheSmethwickMan · 22-01-2015, 10:21

Haven't got a clue what team we will see in this one Laugh

Foster
Gamboa Dawson Mcauley Poco
Dorrans Gardner Yacob Sess
Berahino Ideye

tidy · (This post was last modified: 22-01-2015, 11:48 by tidy.)

(22-01-2015, 10:21)DanTheSmethwickMan Wrote: Haven't got a clue what team we will see in this one

Foster
Gamboa Dawson Mcauley Poco
Dorrans Gardner Yacob Sess
Berahino Ideye

Not sure if you will see Ideye. I hope not.

This has got a Blues win, and weeks of wumming, written all over it.... Sad

However, I'm going with my heart and predict a Saido hat-trick in a 4-0 win.... Smile

Luke_East_Baggie · (This post was last modified: 22-01-2015, 16:05 by Luke_East_Baggie.)

I went to the last Blues away game (In the league of course!) and going to this one with 3 mates.

REALLLLLYYY looking forward to it - think the atmosphere will be one of the best in the last few years (or here's hoping)

--------------- Foster ----------------
--Wisdom -- Dawson -- Mcauley -- Poco
---------------- Yacob ------------------
Sess --------- Morrison ---------- Brunt
-------- Berahino ------- Ideye***--

*** = Either Ideye or Anichebe up front. Berahino will be up top for sure - TP will need to keep his confidence high after playing him Left back vs Everton. Lescot might get a rest maybe to keep Dawson in the loop if he's called upon. I think Poco will play as I really see him as a TP player, so I think he will want to see him have a run out. He might start with Dorrans for Sess, and Bring sess on a little later.

To be honest, I can't think of anyone else to make the first 11, (especially in the Midfield / Striker Position) than those above (except Dorrans and the other of Anichebe / Brown) as Samaras / Varela / Blanco seem to be gone.

Maybe might see Nabi on the bench?

tidy · 22-01-2015, 13:13

I'm not sure whats happening to Nabi but this would be a great time to put him in the squad. He could be the next Berahino.

pieandabovril · 22-01-2015, 14:00

Was it really 1968 the last time we played Blues in the FA Cup? Remember that day well. Another repeat performance would do nicely! Supporters of Clubs like ours just crave for a good Cup run.I just wish the message would get across to Players and Managers alike.Just go out and play with pride and passion Lads,its what our Supporters want! Should be a cracker!

betterthanbaird · 22-01-2015, 21:34

Not going to this one but I'd have been in the blues end and I think they'll win so small mercies.

Hopefully he'll give some players a chance but I want a strong team to win.

silverbaggie · 22-01-2015, 23:52

(22-01-2015, 14:00)pieandabovril Wrote: Was it really 1968 the last time we played Blues in the FA Cup? Remember that day well. Another repeat performance would do nicely! Supporters of Clubs like ours just crave for a good Cup run.I just wish the message would get across to Players and Managers alike.Just go out and play with pride and passion Lads,its what our Supporters want! Should be a cracker!

Not so sure about the repeat performance pie.

We were rather lucky to win that semi final in 1968. Seem to remember a Blues player that they had signed from Chelsea (forgotten his name) who had a mare and missed at least two good chances to score.
On the day they were the better side!! Doh

BBB · (This post was last modified: 23-01-2015, 00:28 by BBB.)

(22-01-2015, 13:13)tidy Wrote: I'm not sure whats happening to Nabi but this would be a great time to put him in the squad. He could be the next Berahino.

Now that is a clever thought Tidy, and could work. Thumb up

Also Ska'd like the touch about the 'buvver boys' in Birmingham, The ... name escapes me. Thumb up

Loved the series.

Why do we insist on playing Brunt ( No stupid answers please ) cos he doesn't challenge up close for the ball, and when he loses possession, often first touch, he doesn' t know where to go. He always hoofs to the centre, and apart from an occassional brilliant pass, the manager needs to gives new player a chance, probably thats one player he wants to replace in the transfer window.

Birmingham are going to be up for this one, and have been playing well lately. Hopw this will not be a bad result.

Score WBA 3 Birmingham 1.

Also the Birminghan Hotels are far too expensive.

aries22 · 23-01-2015, 11:06

(22-01-2015, 23:52)silverbaggie Wrote: We were rather lucky to win that semi final in 1968. Seem to remember a Blues player that they had signed from Chelsea (forgotten his name) who had a mare and missed at least two good chances to score.
On the day they were the better side!!

The name Barry Bridges springs to mind.
I was at that game and I thought Albion deserved it, but back then as a 14 year old I always wore my blue and white striped tinted glasses! Amazing to think we've never played them in the FA Cup in the 47 years since.