retired_bbcarr

Bah, a Hibee's never done anything worthwhile :p

---------------------------------------------

November 2004

The first match of the month came just three days after the encounter with Wolves, and was an away trip to face Norwich at Carrow Road. The recently relegated Premiership side were expected to put up a hard fight for the points, but to be honest they never looked in doubt for Birmingham. Even though it took half an hour for Pongolle to open the scoring, they had been in control from the first minute, and things were wrapped up in the second half when Pongolle stole in to double his own, and the team's tally.

Back at St Andrews, Birmingham faced Leicester on the first Saturday of the month, and it was a Leicester side that fielded five Scotsmen to compliment their Scottish manager, Craig Levein. It was clear from early on that these boys were out to do everything they could to help the Alliance on their way, Didi Agathe taking advantage of their defensive generosity early on to give Rob's side the lead. In fact, so easy was it for the home side that they were three up by the break, McIndoe and Djorkaeff adding to Agathe's earlier strike. The remainder of the game was played out in a relaxed fashion but there was still time enough for Pongolle to get his third goal in two games and his tenth in the ten starts he had made for the Alliance to date.

The two times Birmingham had faced sides at the bottom of the table, they had managed a hard fought win over Stoke and a disappointing goalless draw at Brighton. So, naturally, there was some trepidation amongst the squad when they travelled to play 23rd placed Crewe at Gresty Road. The snow was falling thick and heavy amidst the -2°C weather and the orange ball had to be broken out. Whether this added to the squad's nervous mindset or not is difficult to say, but it certainly didn't seem to help as Crewe came flying out of the blocks and took an early lead through Eddie Johnson. Birmingham did pull themselves together enough to gain an equaliser on the half hour when Stephen Murray slammed home a loose ball from ten yards, but the three points were destined for the home side, and that was evident just after the interval when they were given a fortuotous penalty for Penneteau impeding Johnson, and Mark Rivers tucked the spot kick away.

The chance to get back on the winning trail was provided quickly, with a home game against Preston just three days later. The match itself was a drab affair with little for either set of fans to get excited about, but the hosts did find themselves in front just after the hour when Michael McIndoe was played clear by Youri Djorkaeff and slid his shot under Andrew Lonergan. It wasn't all going to go their way though, and Danny Dichio was left unmarked at a corner with seven minutes left and powered his header past Penneteau, grabbing his side a point in the process and keeping Birmingham down in sixth place.

The month ended with another game against a side low in the table as 20th placed Cardiff played host to Robert Bruce's campaign for supremacy, but this time around there were none of the jitters that had plagued them against Stoke, Brighton and Crewe. Indeed, they took the lead as early as the tenth minute (and had forced two good chances before that) when Agathe's pinpoint cross from the right was turned into his own goal by Kevin Cooper, and the win had been all but secured before the break with a quite stunning thirty yard stike from Murray. The former Kilmarnock winger even got away with missing a penalty, after David Clarkson had been hauled down in the box, without it affecting the result, or his standing in the minds of those who decide the monthly awards as he was named second in the young player category, behind only fellow alliance warrior Florent Sinama-Pongolle.

retired_bbcarr

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Southampton | | 19 | 12 | 2 | 5 | 43 | 21 | +22 | 38 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Derby | | 19 | 10 | 7 | 2 | 29 | 9 | +20 | 37 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | West Brom | | 19 | 12 | 1 | 6 | 35 | 26 | +9 | 37 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Birmingham | | 19 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 30 | 16 | +14 | 35 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Hull | | 19 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 27 | 17 | +10 | 35 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Coventry | | 19 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 35 | 21 | +14 | 34 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Crystal Palace | | 19 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 38 | 31 | +7 | 33 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Leicester | | 19 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 29 | 23 | +6 | 33 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | Sunderland | | 19 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 31 | 18 | +13 | 31 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | Preston | | 19 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 37 | 32 | +5 | 31 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | Burnley | | 19 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 26 | 22 | +4 | 31 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | | Wolves | | 19 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 26 | 19 | +7 | 27 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | | Norwich | | 19 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 21 | 20 | +1 | 26 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | | Luton | | 19 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 19 | 25 | -6 | 25 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | | Q.P.R. | | 19 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 31 | 35 | -4 | 22 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | | Plymouth | | 19 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 17 | 25 | -8 | 22 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | | Ipswich | | 19 | 6 | 3 | 10 | 30 | 34 | -4 | 21 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | | Sheff Wed | | 19 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 25 | 30 | -5 | 19 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 19th | | Stoke | | 19 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 14 | 27 | -13 | 19 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 20th | | Cardiff | | 19 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 21 | 33 | -12 | 17 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 21st | | Crewe | | 19 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 19 | 35 | -16 | 16 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 22nd | | Leeds | | 19 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 18 | 30 | -12 | 15 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 23rd | | Millwall | | 19 | 4 | 2 | 13 | 22 | 46 | -24 | 14 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 24th | | Brighton | | 19 | 1 | 5 | 13 | 10 | 38 | -28 | 8 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

retired_bbcarr

December 2004

The win over Cardiff had come at a cost with Barry Nicholson picking up an ankle injury which would keep him out for two weeks, and Robert wasn't entirely sure still that Lilian Nalis was up to the job of playing the holding role. His fears were backed up against Burnley at St Andrews when he lost track of Ade Akinbiyi's run and the visiting striker struck the ball into the bottom corner from Charles Nzogbia's cross. That, however, was just an equalising goal as Pongolle had put Birmingham in front just three minutes before, and it was not to spoil their day as Djorkaeff bagged what turned out to be the winner two minutes into first half injury time.

A week passed before a visit to the KC Stadium for a game against play-off chasing Hull came around, but Birmingham looked more sluggish for the rest than they had against Burnley. Perhaps that was to do with an improved performance from their opposition, perhaps from Rob's decision to rest a few key players, particularly in his defence, but whatever the cause, it didn't stop them from claiming a single goal victory, given to them by Eric Skora's twenty-fifth minute strike.

The F.A. Cup Third Round draw had given Birmingham a home tie against Q.P.R., and the two squared up at St Andrews in a league dress-rehersal midway through the month. If this was anything to go by, Robert's lads would have no problems winning themselves a place in the fourth round of the Cup, even though they had to wait until the final fifteen minutes for Pongolle's double to give them the points in this encounter. They had been the better side throughout, and only some smart goalkeeping from Simon Royce had kept the London club in the match.

Birmingham were trying to make it five wins on the bounce when they visited Hillsbrough, but Sheffield Wednesday had other ideas. It had all looked rosy for the Alliance side when a second Pongolle double strike in as many games gave them a two goal half time lead. They really should have extended that lead early in the second period, but Chris Brunt's creativity was keeping the home side in the match, and it was he who created the goals for traitorous Scots Steven MacLean and Lee Peacock to steal two points from the noble cause.

Their first return match of the season saw Birmingham travel to face Plymouth at Home Park on Boxing Day. Having been held to a goalless draw in the opening match of the season against the Pilgrims, mainly due to the heroics of now Alliance member Romain Larrieu, Robert Bruce was on a revenge mission to claim all three points. Larrieu's replacement, dirty Englishman Michael Oakes, did his level best to destroy Rob's plans, but goals from Djorkaeff and Pongolle either side of half time gave Birmingham a comfortable two goal victory which propelled them up to second in the table.

The final game of the month tok place just two days later back at St Andews against West Brom. The Baggies had come back from two goals down against Birmingham's nine men at the Hawthorns, but they needed no such heroics at the home of the Alliance. Birmingham surrendered the three points quite easily, with barely even a whimper as Jason Koumas and Nathan Ellington netted the early goals which were enough to see West Brom home to the win and knock Birmingham down the tight table to fifth.

retired_brinker317

I consider this challenge as racist and offensive.

Oh, and FM06, crap? - wrong tbh

However, this is excellent Terk

retired_bbcarr

Racist and offensive? Fantasic And FM06 was so disappointingly crap it has made me question whether I'll bother purchasing FM07. Oh, and thanks as well :thup:

----------------------------------------

January 2005

The New Year’s Day fixture for Birmingham involved a trip to face Ipswich at Portman Road, and until the final three minutes it looked like they were going to suffer their second defeat on the run. Ian Westlake had given the home side the lead when he nipped in front of Andy Webster to convert Dean Bowditch’s cross, and veteran midfielder Ian Taylor had doubled that lead on the stroke of half time, tapping home the rebound after Nicolas Penneteau had parried Bowditch’s long range effort.

Birmingham had provided little threat at all, but that all changed three minutes from the end when a long ball over the top from Youri Djorkaeff was pounced on by Florent Sinama-Pongolle, and a point was rescued when Djorkaeff netted two minutes later.

There was hardly time to breath before they had to take to the field again, a home match against Luton was scheduled for just forty-eight hours later. That meant an almost entirely different eleven taking to the field, only goalkeeper Penneteau kept his place, though it seemed to matter little as Léandre Griffit bagged the lead within sixty seconds of the start. Barry Nicholson missed a penalty before half time, but the win was never in doubt and was sealed in the second half thanks to a lovely strike from Paul Hartley.

Their third round tie in the F.A. Cup, against Queen’s Park Rangers, was moved to Sunday afternoon for live television coverage, though as one would expect there was hardly a big audience tuned in for the game. Having beaten the same opponents in the league during the previous month, Rob was plenty confident, and it looked rightly so when Djorkaeff continued his superb form by netting the first half opener.

The game was all but over in the first few seconds after the interval, a rare appearance for Stevie Crawford paid dividends when he nicked an even rarer goal, and the place in the fourth round, which would see them take on Norwich at St. Andrews, was clinched by Didi Agathe’s late effort.

Before they returned to league action, Birmingham received a triple boost on the playing front. Youri Djorkaeff, having thoroughly impressed in his six months at the club, signed a twelve-month extension to his initial one year deal as Rob was sure he’d be a valuable asset in the Premiership. Scottish striker Garry O’Connor finally joined from Hibernian after rejecting Birmingham’s advances over the summer months. The four times capped Edinburgh lad cost the Alliance £400,000, but Rob was certain it would be money well spent. The third and final piece of news was the pre-contractual agreement to sign Olivier Bernard from Southampton on a free transfer in July. The 25 year old attacking full back had plenty Premiership experience, and that would be vital if Birmingham were to move forward.

And indeed it was against Southampton who Birmingham returned to their promotion campaign, the south coast club visiting St. Andrews seven days after Q.P.R. had been disposed of. Bernard was included in the visitors’ line up, but he made little impression on the game as Agathe and Hartley gave Birmingham a comfortable first half lead. Southampton did pull one back late on via a Michael McIndoe own goal, but McIndoe soon put that right as he netted in the right goal just minutes later to restore the two goal advantage.

With Skora and Sorlin picking up injuries in the victory over Southampton, Rob’s choices were cut down a bit for the Cup visit of Norwich to St. Andrews, and a few tired legs told on the match as it ended in an uneventful, goalless draw. It was probably a good thing that this tie hadn’t been picked for T.V..

If they came through the replay against Norwich, they had been handed the incentive of further progress with a fifth round tie against Torquay, but first they had to concentrate on the league and a trip to face Coventry. It couldn’t have got off to a worse start as Gary McSheffrey scored on fourteen seconds for the Sky Blues, but a point was eventually salvaged thanks to Griffit’s second half equaliser.

The final game of the first month of 2005 saw Stoke visit Birmingham, and had it not been for their Welsh ‘keeper Jason Brown, awarded man of the match honours for his sterling work, they could have gone home with their tail firmly between their legs. As it was, only a single effort separated the sides despite Birmingham’s dominance, and that effort came courtesy of a quite wonderful eleventh minute free kick from Djorkaeff; the Frenchman ever enhancing his place as a fans’ favourite.

retired_bbcarr

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | West Brom | | 30 | 19 | 4 | 7 | 59 | 35 | +24 | 61 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Birmingham | | 30 | 17 | 8 | 5 | 48 | 25 | +23 | 59 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Southampton | | 30 | 18 | 3 | 9 | 59 | 34 | +25 | 57 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Sunderland | | 30 | 16 | 8 | 6 | 49 | 21 | +28 | 56 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Derby | | 30 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 45 | 23 | +22 | 55 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Crystal Palace | | 30 | 16 | 7 | 7 | 58 | 45 | +13 | 55 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Wolves | | 30 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 47 | 29 | +18 | 50 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Coventry | | 30 | 12 | 13 | 5 | 49 | 34 | +15 | 49 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | Hull | | 30 | 13 | 8 | 9 | 37 | 27 | +10 | 47 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | Leicester | | 30 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 42 | 41 | +1 | 45 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | Norwich | | 30 | 12 | 7 | 11 | 37 | 34 | +3 | 43 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | | Preston | | 30 | 13 | 4 | 13 | 54 | 56 | -2 | 43 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | | Burnley | | 30 | 11 | 6 | 13 | 41 | 44 | -3 | 39 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | | Sheff Wed | | 30 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 39 | 43 | -4 | 36 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | | Cardiff | | 30 | 9 | 9 | 12 | 36 | 45 | -9 | 36 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | | Stoke | | 30 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 28 | 40 | -12 | 35 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | | Luton | | 30 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 30 | 48 | -18 | 35 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | | Ipswich | | 30 | 9 | 7 | 14 | 51 | 53 | -2 | 34 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 19th | | Q.P.R. | | 30 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 41 | 48 | -7 | 33 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 20th | | Plymouth | | 30 | 8 | 6 | 16 | 26 | 45 | -19 | 30 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 21st | | Leeds | | 30 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 32 | 49 | -17 | 27 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 22nd | | Crewe | | 30 | 7 | 6 | 17 | 27 | 49 | -22 | 27 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 23rd | | Millwall | | 30 | 7 | 3 | 20 | 41 | 66 | -25 | 24 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 24th | | Brighton | | 30 | 2 | 9 | 19 | 23 | 65 | -42 | 15 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

retired_bbcarr

February 2005

The final day of January had seen the prolific Florent Sinama-Pongolle suffered a slipped disc in training, and early physio reports put his recovery time at two months. When that was followed up an hour later by David Clarkson suffering a back strain which would keep him out for three months, Robert Bruce panicked and arranged a quick loan deal to bring in the pathetically useless Scottish striker Kevin Kyle on a two month loan deal from Sunderland.

It was O'Connor, however, who got the nod to start in the F.A. Cup replay at Norwich, and the ex-Hibs striker had a big say in the early proceedings, first cracking a shot off the crossbar before nestling one into the back of the net on the quarter hour. Norwich, it has to be said, were the better side for much of the match; the first hour of it certainly, and it was somewhat surprising that it took them until three minutes after the break to equalise, Dean Ashton striking from the penalty spot. Despite that, they were in the end made to pay for their missed chances as Léandre Griffit, on an a second half substitute, netted himself two goals in five minutes to send Birmingham into a fifth round showdown with Torquay.

A blow came in the form of French centre back Jean Pierre Antonetti pulling a hamstring in the build-up to the televised match against Crystal Palace at St. Andrews, the injury would rule him out for the best part of three weeks. His teammates, however, seemed not to mind as they scored either side of half time (through Garry O'Connor and Paul Hartley) to claim a victory wihch kept them healthily in second place.

A trip to Sunderland was the third of an eventual six matches in the shortest month of the year, and it was at the Stadium of Light that goalkeeper Nicolas Penneteau showed every ounce of his ability. Having been beaten early on by a rocket shot from Stephen Elliott, the French 'keeper beat away everything else that came near him as Sunderland layed siege to the BIrmingham goal without any reward. Building on Penneteau's excellence, Rob's side managed to nick themselves a leveller with quarter of an hour left through Nicholson, and then an even more unlikely winner came their way with just a minute left when Crawford pounced to knock in a rebound.

For no other reason other than simply because he felt like it, Rob bolstered the squad in the build-up to the Torquay match with Scotland U-21 midfielder Nick Montgomery joining on loan from Sheffield United for three months. The new boy was given a place on the bench for the trip down south, a trip which began in the best possible fashion as Djorkaeff netted inside the first minute. Things didn't quite progress as planned from there, Alan Connell equalising for the League Two side before O'Connor and Jason Fowler swapped goal to leave the scores tied at the interval. A stern team talk from Rob fired them up, and O'Connor in particular as the striker scored twice in the second period to clinch his first hat-trick in a Birmingham shirt and send his side through to a quarter final match-up with Cardiff.

Perhaps tired after their exertions against Torquay, Birmingham struggled as they hosted Leeds at St. Andrews. There was, to be honest, little in the way of action at either end as Leeds matched Birmingham's anonimity and the inevitable goalless draw was finally brought to an end by the blessed relief of the referee's final whistle.

The final game of February saw the Alliance travel to hapless, bottom-of-the-table Brighton, though Rob wasn't overly confident given the struggles his side had faced against lowly opposition at times in the season. He needn't have worried, however, as Griffit got the scoring underway, and though it took them until the second half to add to their advantage, when they did it clinched the three points as first Hartley and then O'Connor struck superb goals past Florent Chaigneau. The home side did manage one consolation through Maheta Molango with just two minutes left, but it was never going to be enough to stop Birmingham climbing to the top of the table and strengthening their already firm case for promotion.

retired_bbcarr

March 2005

Having suffered through an intensely dull 0-0 draw with Derby in September, Rob wasn't too hopeful that the return match at Pride Park was going to be any more exciting. And, to be honest, he wasn't too far off the mark as, other than O'Connor's twenty-fifth minute goal, there was little to talk about afterwards. Still, if they were to win every remaining game in such a fashion, he would hardly be complaining.

The win over Derby had left Birmingham four points clear of second placed West Brom and a further one ahead of Southampton in third. It was a mightily good position to be in, but a groin injury to Paul Hartley which would keep him out for two weeks made Rob slightly anxious as they went into their home match against Millwall. Things got worse in the eleventh minute as Olivier Sorlin limped off, replaced by Eric Skora, and Millwall went close just moments later when Carl Asaba headed just wide from a corner. Garry O'Connor was in a rich vein of form, however, and it was his goal on thirty-five minutes that would separate the sides come the final whistle, and the final moments of the match were made that bit easier after Kevin Muscat was sent off for his second bookable offence.

A trip to seventh placed Wolves was next on the calendar, and for much of the first half, the home side had the better of the game, twice forcing good saves from Nicolas Penneteau and Birmingham needed some superb defending from captain Philippe Christinval to make sure that the scores remained level. That though, wasn't the case as the half time whistle sounded as, much against the run of play, Didi Agathe cut in from the right flank and placed a calm shot past the outstretched arm of Thomas Myhre. Wolves threw everything at Birmingham in the first minutes of the second period, but in doing so left big gaps at the back, and it was one of these that O'Connor exploited to net his side's second and seal the points.

Four days later, Birmingham's F.A. Cup quarter final against Cardiff at St. Andrews was moved to an evening kick-off for T.V. coverage, and it got off to a horrible start as American striker Clint Mathis scored for the Welsh side after just four minutes. Thankfully, it wasn't too long before things were level again as Nick Montgomery slid in to flick an Agathe cross past Tony Warner, and, before the break, Birmingham were in front when O'Connor netted his tenth for his new club and his twenty-first overall in the season. David McNamee limped off early in the second period to deal Rob a blow, but a place in the last four was sealed eight minutes from time when David Clarkson raced clear of the Cardiff defence and lofted his shot over Warner. With Arsenal, Manchester United and Sunderland joining them in the draw for the semi finals, Rob was clear about who he wanted Birmingham to face, but he didn't get his wish of another simple tie as they were paired with Manchester United and a place in the final was kissed goodbye.

Two games remained in March and they did not go well for Birmingham, first able to do nothing more than draw 0-0 with Norwich at Carrow Road as, despite having numerous chances throughout, they found Robert Green in unbeatable form in the Norwich goal. Four days later they faced Leicester in a televised game at the Walkers Stadium, and Tommy Wright's solitary goal for the home side was enough to knock Rob's side off the top of the table.

retired_bbcarr

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | West Brom | | 39 | 25 | 5 | 9 | 74 | 39 | +35 | 80 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Birmingham | | 39 | 23 | 10 | 6 | 59 | 28 | +31 | 79 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Southampton | | 39 | 23 | 6 | 10 | 76 | 41 | +35 | 75 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Sunderland | | 39 | 21 | 9 | 9 | 63 | 32 | +31 | 72 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Derby | | 39 | 19 | 14 | 6 | 59 | 29 | +30 | 71 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Coventry | | 39 | 17 | 14 | 8 | 59 | 42 | +17 | 65 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Crystal Palace | | 39 | 18 | 11 | 10 | 66 | 56 | +10 | 65 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Leicester | | 39 | 17 | 12 | 10 | 53 | 44 | +9 | 63 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | Wolves | | 39 | 17 | 11 | 11 | 58 | 39 | +19 | 62 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | Hull | | 39 | 15 | 14 | 10 | 44 | 34 | +10 | 59 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | Ipswich | | 39 | 15 | 8 | 16 | 63 | 60 | +3 | 53 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | | Norwich | | 39 | 14 | 11 | 14 | 45 | 44 | +1 | 53 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 13th | | Burnley | | 39 | 14 | 9 | 16 | 57 | 57 | 0 | 51 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 14th | | Sheff Wed | | 39 | 13 | 11 | 15 | 50 | 57 | -7 | 50 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 15th | | Cardiff | | 39 | 11 | 16 | 12 | 45 | 49 | -4 | 49 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 16th | | Preston | | 39 | 14 | 6 | 19 | 61 | 69 | -8 | 48 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17th | | Stoke | | 39 | 11 | 12 | 16 | 39 | 50 | -11 | 45 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 18th | | Luton | | 39 | 11 | 12 | 16 | 40 | 60 | -20 | 45 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 19th | | Plymouth | | 39 | 11 | 9 | 19 | 32 | 55 | -23 | 42 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 20th | | Q.P.R. | | 39 | 9 | 13 | 17 | 48 | 61 | -13 | 40 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 21st | | Leeds | | 39 | 7 | 14 | 18 | 36 | 56 | -20 | 35 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 22nd | | Millwall | | 39 | 9 | 5 | 25 | 48 | 79 | -31 | 32 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 23rd | | Crewe | | 39 | 7 | 9 | 23 | 30 | 63 | -33 | 30 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 24th | | Brighton | | 39 | 2 | 9 | 28 | 29 | 90 | -61 | 15 | | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

retired_bbcarr

April/May 2005

The title run-in began with Birmingham facing lowly Crewe at St. Andrews, and having lost to them in the snow in November, Rob was hardly as confident as he had been heading into a match. And his trepidation was well placed, the five man midfield that the visitors employed proved impossible to break down, and coupled with Crewe's distinct lack of attacking ambition, it meant that nothing but a goalless draw was ever going to happen.

It was the most inoppotunce moment to have lost form, and that's certainly what two points from the last nine amounted to. It looked for long periods of the game at Deepdale that the record would be made three points from twelve and the winless streak increased to four, but Agathe struck two minutes into second half injury time to clinch the points against Preston. Agathe had initiall put The Alliance in front on just sixteen minutes, but it was a lead that lasted only one hundred and twenty seconds as Brian O'Neill levelled for the home side, but Didi'd late strike at least kept some pressure on West Brom.

What Agathe's winning goal against Preston had also meant was that Birmingham now needed just nine points from their remaining five games to clinch a spot in the Premiership for the following season, but they would have to wait to begin the hunt for those points as they faced Manchester United at the Millennium Stadium in the F.A. Cup Semi Final. The game, as expected, was dominated by the Premiership side, and they took the lead on twenty minutes through Louis Saha, and doubled it before half time when Paul Scholes netted from the penalty spot. The second period was better for Birmingham, however, and they twice could have pulled goals back early on, only to be thwarted by Edwin van der Sar, though their losing effort did eventually see them on the scoresheet thanks to Michael McIndoe's penalty thirteen minutes from time.

A trip to Turf Moor was the reward on their return to league action, and Burnley made life hugely difficult for them throughout, and, but for the heroics of Nicolas Penneteau, would probably have walked away with all three points. As it was, the fantastic Frenchman kept the home side at bay all day, and to rub salt into open wounds, Sinama-Pongolle, in his first game back from injury, broke upfield and scored the only goal of the match a minute into second half injury time to steal the spoils.

Hull were the next opponents for Rob's boys to overcome, and they really should have done given their dominance of the match, but with only Agathe's goal to show for their endeavours, they were always vulnerable to the quick Hull attack, and they fell foul of it with eighteen minutes left as Russell Fry ensured a share of the points. Birmingham remained on home turf for their next match, the visit of Cardiff, but could do no better in terms of points as Tony Warner made sure of a goalless draw and drew out the frustration in the loyal Alliance crowd.

The results of others, however, meant that only a single point was needed from their final two games for Birmingham to clinch that coveted promotion spot, and they had the chance to win that solitary point at Loftus Road as they were entertained by Q.P.R.. Having beaten them twice already, Rob was preparing the celebration party before they got on the bus down south, and was soon reminded not to count any chickens as a Gareth Ainsworth penalty and a stunning volley from Marc Nygaard gave the struggling side all three points.

With the final game now upon them, The Alliance led third placed Sunderland by three points, but the team from the North East had the superior goal difference. With them facing fellow play-off side Southampton at the Stadium of Light, and Birmingham taking on Sheffield Wednesday at St. Andrews, it was difficult to predict what would happen.

Some of the doubt looked to have been taken out of the matter with four minutes of proceedings gone, Birmingham had already led for three minutes thanks to Hartley, and Southampton's Marian Pahars had done his best for the Alliance cause with a successful penalty in Sunderland. By half time, the Mackems had equalised, but Birmingham still held the lead against Wednesday, and they even extended it early in the second period when Pongolle broke clear and slotted his shot past Scott Carson. Birmingham were given some shaky moments in the final moments, especially after Lee Peacock had halved their lead, but with Sunderland and Southampton still deadlocked come the final whistle, the first target had been achieved; The Alliance would make their march on the Premierhsip.