Source: FOOTYMAD
Birmingham Have Cancelled Xmas!
Newcastle's opponents on Saturday, Birmingham City, have cancelled Christmas in order to focus on their battle to avoid the drop. Blues players normally go to Dublin for their Christmas bash but with the team struggling towards the foot of the table the festive revelry has been put on ice. Former Mackem Kevin Phillips: "We haven't had a Christmas night out this year because we didn't feel it was appropriate with where we are in the league, which I thought was very good. "I've been at clubs where we have been scrapping around at the bottom and we've gone out for a Christmas do - but some people can take that in the wrong light. "They'd say, 'Why are they out enjoying themselves when they're in a relegation battle?' "So we haven't done anything like that this year." Phillips claims Birmingham's lack of fight was "out of character" as they slipped to a 1-0 derby defeat at Wolves. Phillips: "It was very unlike a Birmingham display, we battle and play a lot better than that. It was a bad day at the office. "Credit to Wolves, they were up against it with the injuries they`ve got. They were a lot better." BRUM RECENT RESULTS ... Wolves 1 Birmingham 0DECEMBER 12: Barclays Premier League at Molineux. Birmingham 1 Tottenham 1DECEMBER 4: Barclays Premier League at St Andrew's Birmingham 2 Aston Villa 1DECEMBER 1: Carling Cup quarter-final at St Andrew's. Fulham 1 Birmingham 1NOVEMBER 27: Barclays Premier League at Craven Cottage. Birmingham 1 Chelsea 0NOVEMBER 20: Barclays Premier League at St Andrews. Manchester City 0 Birmingham 0NOVEMBER 13: Barclays Premier League at the City of Manchester Stadium. BIRMINGHAM'S LAST FIXTURE ... WOLVES 1 BRUM 0 Foster, Carr, Johnson, Dann, Murphy, Larsson, Bowyer (Phillips 73), Ferguson, Fahey (Gardner 61), Jerome, Zigic (Beausejour 61). Subs Not Used: Taylor, Derbyshire, Michel, Parnaby. Wolves deservedly secured a derby triumph over Birmingham which could have been all the more comfortable if not for the heroics of Ben Foster. Stephen Hunt's near-post finish on the stroke of half-time was the only effort to beat the England international, who put in another sublime performance to keep the hosts at bay at Molineux. Wanderers triumphed with their first clean sheet since April, although that was much to do with Birmingham's inability to create anything of note. Wolves boss Mick McCarthy stoked the flames ahead of the derby by stressing the encounter was about more than just three points, and he will be a relieved man to see his side move within a point of safety with what was his first success over the blue half of Birmingham in seven league attempts. McCarthy was admittedly dealing with the most severe injury crisis he has had to contend with in almost two decades of management. With enough players sidelined to make an entire starting XI, he was forced to make four changes from the side who went down 3-0 at Blackburn last weekend - Kevin Doyle (dead leg), Matt Jarvis, Michael Mancienne (both knee) and Steven Mouyokolo (back) making way for Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Hunt, David Edwards and Richard Stearman. Birmingham counterpart Alex McLeish also made three changes, handing starts to Serbia striker Nikola Zigic, Sebastian Larsson and David Murphy. The opening stages were played at a typical bustling derby tempo, setting the trend for the afternoon. Foster's first save of the encounter came with 10 minutes on the clock, diving to his right to pluck Edwards' goalbound header out of the air. The former Manchester United stopper was at it again less than 60 seconds later, denying Hunt with a great point-blank block after the ball broke six yards out. Blues were losing possession far too easily in the final third, meaning they were struggling to create a worthwhile chance. Foster was made to work again just before the half-hour mark, getting down low to save Ebanks-Blake's shot on the turn from the edge of the area. Wolves, despite their injury crisis, were definitely looking the most likely to break the deadlock. Stephen Ward lobbed a speculative effort over the crossbar before Ebanks-Blake was again left cursing the form of Foster as he parried his drilled effort at the near post. Ward did find the net just before the interval but he was rightfully flagged offside. Yet there was nothing wrong with Hunt's 45th-minute breakthrough as he got in between Roger Johnson and Stephen Carr to connect with Ebanks-Blake's low cross, leaving Foster with no chance. The lively Edwards should have doubled Wolves' advantage within minutes of the restart, somehow planting his unmarked header inches wide from Ward's right-wing cross. The momentum from the first half had failed to shift and Foster was again called into action, getting his body behind Nenad Milijas' free-kick before collecting Ronald Zubar's tame shot. Christophe Berra headed over from Hunt's corner as McCarthy's side looked for a killer second. Birmingham were in desperate need of some fresh impetus and McLeish turned to Craig Gardner and Jean Beausejour from the bench. But it was Foster who continued to be the visitors' key performer as he produced his umpteenth save of the match to tip Milijas' header over the bar. Berra collided with a post as he tried to head home, but Wolves were unable to build on their one-goal advantage with 20 minutes remaining. Ward's dangerous cross was well held by Foster before McLeish threw his last roll of the dice, bringing on former West Brom man Kevin Phillips to boos from the Molineux faithful. Despite the home side's dominance they nearly threw the points away as the game entered the final 15 minutes but Cameron Jerome was unable to connect with Beausejour's left-wing cross when, if he had, he surely would have scored. Phillips, who has a wonderful record in derbies, had an even better chance in the 89th minute but got his angles all wrong and headed off target, much to the relief of the majority of the 25,150 present. OUR LAST VISIT TO ST ANDREWS ... 2007/8 BRUM 1 NEWCASTLE 1 BIRMINGHAM: Maik Taylor, Kelly, Jaidi, Ridgewell, Murphy, Larsson (Parnaby 46), Muamba, Johnson, McSheffrey, Forssell (Jerome 71), McFadden (Zarate 86). Subs Not Used: Doyle, Nafti. NEWCASTLE: Harper, Beye, Faye, Taylor, Jose Enrique, Barton, Geremi, Butt, Martins (N'Zogbia 80), Owen, Viduka. Subs Not Used: Forster, Cacapa, Smith, Carroll. Att: 25,777 Michael Owen eased some of the pressure on Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan by rescuing a precious 1-1 draw in a nervy Barclays Premier League relegation battle with Birmingham at St Andrews. England coach Fabio Capello watched Owen show his predatory instincts in front of goal as he levelled matters 10 minutes into the second half with his seventh goal of the campaign. James McFadden had given Birmingham a deserved half-time lead but it was a different story after the break when the Magpies looked the more menacing. Owen's strike earned Newcastle only their third point from the eight Premier League matches since Keegan returned to Tyneside and it was enough to keep them above Alex McLeish's side in the battle to stay in the top flight. Newcastle were disjointed and barely posed a threat in the opening 45 minutes despite Keegan playing Owen, Mark Viduka and Obafemi Martins together for the first time. Birmingham were well worth their interval lead with McFadden a constant menace after being restored to the starting line-up and Fabrice Muamba impressing in the centre of midfield. But the visitors were transformed after Keegan's half-time pep talk and they dominated proceedings and caused the home defence all kinds of problems. It needed home goalkeeper Maik Taylor to make some crucial saves to deny Newcastle their first league win since mid-December. McFadden quickly made his presence felt for the home side. The former Everton player unleashed a 20-yard drive which took a slight deflection off Habib Beye and flashed only a couple of feet wide of Steve Harper's goal. Muamba had scored his first Blues goal against Portsmouth in midweek but he showed a complete lack of composure when lofting his first time shot over the bar from 15 yards out after good play by Mikael Forssell and McFadden. The Magpies were unconvincing in defending a Gary McSheffrey corner and the ball bobbled about in the box before Forssell poked a low shot just wide. Another McSheffrey corner was met by Blues central defender Radhi Jaidi but he failed to make a proper contact with his header which flew wide. Newcastle midfielder Geremi became the first player to be yellow-carded after 20 minutes for a challenge on Sebastian Larsson. It was 24 minutes before Newcastle had a worthwhile effort on goal with Owen just too high from 20 yards out after being found in space by Martins. But after 32 minutes McFadden broke the deadlock with his ninth goal of the campaign - and his fourth for Blues since his £6million move from Goodison Park. There appeared little danger when left-back David Murphy lofted the ball into the Newcastle box but McFadden was able to turn Abdoulaye Faye before clipping the ball wide of Steve Harper into the corner of the net. Larsson was on the receiving end of another poor challenge, this time by Butt, but the midfielder was only given a stern talking to by referee Howard Webb. McFadden appealed for a penalty after being challenged by Faye but referee Howard Webb was well positioned and waved play on. McLeish was forced to make a half-time substitution with the limping Larsson replaced by Stuart Parnaby. Birmingham began where they left off and Harper denied Forssell from close range after good play by McFadden. After 50 minutes Owen - unmarked 10 yards out - tried to curl the ball past Taylor but the Birmingham goalkeeper made an excellent reflex save to deny him at the expense of a corner. However, Owen was not to be denied and after 56 minutes he grabbed an equaliser with his seventh goal of the campaign. Taylor again did well to parry away a low drive from Martins but Owen was the first to react to the rebound and clipped it into the corner of the net. Newcastle defender Steven Taylor was booked for bringing down McFadden before Maik Taylor pushed aside a stinging drive from Jose Enrique. The visitors finished the stronger and Maik Taylor had to be alert to keep out a shot on the turn from Martins, with Birmingham's only offering in the closing stages a long-range drive from substitute Mauro Zarate. TOON v BRUM ... THE HISTORY ... 2007/2008 Mon 17 Mar Birmingham C. 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Premier League Sat 08 Dec Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Birmingham C. Premier League 2006/2007 Wed 17 Jan Newcastle Utd. 1 - 5 Birmingham C. F.A. Cup Sat 06 Jan Birmingham C. 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup 2005/2006 Sat 29 Apr Birmingham C. 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership Sat 05 Nov Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Birmingham C. Premiership 2004/2005 Sat 01 Jan Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Birmingham C. Premiership Sun 03 Oct Birmingham C. 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Premiership 2003/2004 Sat 31 Jan Birmingham C. 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Premiership Sat 30 Aug Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Birmingham C. Premiership 2002/2003 Sat 03 May Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Birmingham C. Premiership Sat 28 Sep Birmingham C. 0 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Premiership 2000/2001 Wed 29 Nov Birmingham C. 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. League Cup 1999/2000 Tue 12 Oct Birmingham C. 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. League Cup 1992/1993 Sun 28 Mar Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Birmingham C. League Division One Wed 04 Nov Birmingham C. 2 - 3 Newcastle Utd. League Division One 1985/1986 Sat 12 Apr Newcastle Utd. 4 - 1 Birmingham C. First Division Sat 09 Nov Birmingham C. 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1979/1980 Wed 20 Feb Newcastle Utd. 0 - 0 Birmingham C. Second Division Sat 29 Sep Birmingham C. 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Second Division 1977/1978 Wed 15 Mar Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Birmingham C. First Division Sat 17 Sep Birmingham C. 3 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1976/1977 Sat 02 Apr Birmingham C. 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division Sat 23 Oct Newcastle Utd. 3 - 2 Birmingham C. First Division 1975/1976 Wed 07 Apr Newcastle Utd. 4 - 0 Birmingham C. First Division Tue 23 Sep Birmingham C. 3 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1974/1975 Sat 26 Apr Newcastle Utd. 1 - 2 Birmingham C. First Division Sat 19 Oct Birmingham C. 3 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1973/1974 Sat 20 Apr Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Birmingham C. First Division Sat 08 Dec Birmingham C. 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division Wed 07 Nov Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Birmingham C. League Cup Tue 30 Oct Birmingham C. 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. League Cup 1972/1973 Sat 11 Nov Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 Birmingham C. First Division Tue 15 Aug Birmingham C. 3 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1960/1961 Mon 26 Dec Birmingham C. 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division Sat 24 Dec Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Birmingham C. First Division 1959/1960 Wed 02 Sep Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Birmingham C. First Division Wed 26 Aug Birmingham C. 4 - 3 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1958/1959 Wed 29 Apr Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Birmingham C. First Division Sat 15 Nov Birmingham C. 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1957/1958 Sat 11 Jan Newcastle Utd. 1 - 2 Birmingham C. First Division Sat 07 Sep Birmingham C. 1 - 4 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1956/1957 Tue 01 Jan Newcastle Utd. 3 - 2 Birmingham C. First Division Wed 05 Sep Birmingham C. 6 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1955/1956 Wed 31 Aug Birmingham C. 3 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division Wed 24 Aug Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Birmingham C. First Division 1949/1950 Sat 01 Apr Birmingham C. 0 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division Sat 12 Nov Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Birmingham C. First Division 1948/1949 Mon 27 Dec Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Birmingham C. First Division Sat 25 Dec Birmingham C. 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1947/1948 Wed 17 Sep Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Birmingham C. Second Division Wed 10 Sep Birmingham C. 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Second Division 1946/1947 Mon 07 Apr Birmingham C. 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Second Division Fri 04 Apr Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Birmingham C. Second Division 1933/1934 Sat 03 Feb Birmingham 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division Sat 23 Sep Newcastle Utd. 0 - 0 Birmingham First Division 1932/1933 Tue 27 Dec Birmingham 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division Mon 26 Dec Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Birmingham First Division 1931/1932 Sat 07 May Newcastle Utd. 0 - 3 Birmingham First Division Wed 02 Sep Birmingham 4 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1930/1931 Wed 17 Sep Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Birmingham First Division Wed 10 Sep Birmingham 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1929/1930 Wed 02 Apr Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Birmingham First Division Sat 21 Sep Birmingham 5 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1928/1929 Sat 30 Mar Birmingham 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division Sat 17 Nov Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 Birmingham First Division 1927/1928 Tue 10 Apr Birmingham 0 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division Mon 02 Jan Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 Birmingham First Division 1926/1927 Sat 09 Apr Birmingham 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division Sat 20 Nov Newcastle Utd. 5 - 1 Birmingham First Division 1925/1926 Sat 13 Mar Birmingham 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division Sat 31 Oct Newcastle Utd. 1 - 3 Birmingham First Division 1924/1925 Sat 28 Mar Birmingham 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division Sat 22 Nov Newcastle Utd. 4 - 0 Birmingham First Division 1923/1924 Wed 09 Apr Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 Birmingham First Division Sat 05 Apr Birmingham 4 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1922/1923 Wed 06 Sep Newcastle Utd. 0 - 0 Birmingham First Division Mon 28 Aug Birmingham 0 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1921/1922 Wed 08 Feb Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Birmingham First Division Sat 21 Jan Birmingham 0 - 4 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1907/1908 Sat 21 Mar Birmingham 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division Sat 23 Nov Newcastle Utd. 8 - 0 Birmingham First Division 1906/1907 Sat 05 Jan Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Birmingham First Division Sat 08 Sep Birmingham 2 - 4 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1905/1906 Wed 14 Mar Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 Birmingham F.A. Cup Sat 10 Mar Birmingham 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup Sat 06 Jan Birmingham 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division Sat 09 Sep Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 Birmingham First Division 1904/1905 Sat 21 Jan Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 Small Heath First Division Sat 24 Sep Small Heath 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1903/1904 Sat 09 Jan Small Heath 3 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division Sat 12 Sep Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 Small Heath First Division 1901/1902 Sat 01 Feb Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 Small Heath First Division Sat 05 Oct Small Heath 3 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1897/1898 Tue 12 Apr Small Heath 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Second Division Sat 27 Nov Newcastle Utd. 4 - 0 Small Heath Second Division 1896/1897 Sat 12 Sep Newcastle Utd. 4 - 3 Small Heath Second Division Sat 05 Sep Small Heath 3 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Second Division 1893/1894 Sat 16 Dec Small Heath 1 - 4 Newcastle Utd. Second Division Sat 28 Oct Newcastle Utd. 0 - 2 Small Heath Second Division
