Home > Punter's Corner

Match 0309: Blackburn vs Birmingham ( Sunday EPL )

PJ_Quek
19 Nov 04, 21:24

League E PREMIER
Match BLACKBURN vs BIRMINGHAM
Match No. 0309
Sales Close ^ 21/11/04 9:00PM

1X2

Home <2.32>
Draw <3.05>
Away <2.70>

1/2 GOAL

Home BLACKBURN (-1Â½) <4.65>
Away BIRMINGHAM (+1Â½) <1.13>

TOTAL GOALS

No. of Goals

0 <6.50>
1 <3.80>
2 <3.50>
3 <4.00>
4 <6.20>
5 <10.00>
6 <20.00>
7 <38.00>
8 <85.00>
9+ <125.00>

HALF / FULL TIME DOUBLE

Selection

H-H <4.55>
H-D <12.00>
H-A <25.00>
D-H <5.30>
D-D <4.80>
D-A <5.50>
A-H <19.00>
A-D <10.00>
A-A <5.40>
PJ_Quek
20 Nov 04, 22:20

Preview

Blackburn boss Mark Hughes believes his super-fit squad are finally prepared to prise themselves out of the Barclays Premiership drop zone.
Hughes admitted fitness levels were a concern when he took over at Ewood Park two months ago.

But having successfully established a stronger training regime Hughes believes it is only a matter of time before the hard work begins to pay off.

Rovers meet Birmingham in a cruciual test at Ewood Park on Sunday without a win in six Premiership games.

Hughes said: ``I felt that given the demands of the Premiership fitness was an area in which we could do better.

``If you don't think you can get through the 90 minutes physically, then concentration levels go.

``It was something we needed to address and the players have shown a lot of application in their work.

``I think they feel faster and fitter now and soon they will begin to reap the rewards.''

Hughes' Premiership bow has been far from easy with Rovers facing the possible scenario of kicking off against Steve Bruce's Blues in bottom place.

He knows the five games between now and Christmas will play a major part in determining the success or otherwise of his first job in Premiership management.

``Improving our home form is a must for us and if we do that we will be okay,'' said Hughes, who insists on accentuating the positives of a largely dismal season so far.

``It's a home game and we need to get three points and hopefully we can capitalise on a bit of nervousness from Birmingham.

``It's important my players keep their belief in what they are doing. They are getting some reward for their efforts but not as much as they deserve.''

``We've had three draws in a row and we are being consistent which is the key. ``But too often we are giving ourselves a mountain to climb by going behind. When we start getting our noses in front we will be okay.''

Hughes could face a striking headache with Jonathan Stead requiring a late test on the ankle he injured in last week's draw with Manchester City.

Stead's natural replacement Jay Bothroyd is still suspended so Hughes finds himself short of options to partner Paul Dickov up front.

Craig Short also needs a test on the hamstring injury which sidelined him last week, while David Thompson is in line for his first start of the year.
PJ_Quek
20 Nov 04, 22:21

[size=large]Head to head[/SIZE]

2003/2004
English Premier Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Birmingham City 15-05-2004
English FA Cup Birmingham City 4-0 Blackburn Rovers 03-01-2004
English Premier Birmingham City 0-4 Blackburn Rovers 06-12-2003

2002/2003
English Premier Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Birmingham City 18-01-2003
English Premier Birmingham City 0-1 Blackburn Rovers 24-08-2002

2000/2001
Football League Championship Birmingham City 0-2 Blackburn Rovers 14-03-2001
Football League Championship Blackburn Rovers 2-1 Birmingham City 26-12-2000

1999/2000
Football League Championship Blackburn Rovers 1-0 Birmingham City 22-03-2000
Football League Championship Birmingham City 1-0 Blackburn Rovers 15-02-2000

1994/1995
English League Cup Birmingham City 1-1 Blackburn Rovers 04-10-1994
English League Cup Blackburn Rovers 2-0 Birmingham City 20-09-1994
PJ_Quek
20 Nov 04, 22:21

Preview

Blackburn boss Mark Hughes believes his super-fit squad are finally prepared to prise themselves out of the Barclays Premiership drop zone.
Hughes admitted fitness levels were a concern when he took over at Ewood Park two months ago.

But having successfully established a stronger training regime Hughes believes it is only a matter of time before the hard work begins to pay off.

Rovers meet Birmingham in a cruciual test at Ewood Park on Sunday without a win in six Premiership games.

Hughes said: ``I felt that given the demands of the Premiership fitness was an area in which we could do better.

``If you don't think you can get through the 90 minutes physically, then concentration levels go.

``It was something we needed to address and the players have shown a lot of application in their work.

``I think they feel faster and fitter now and soon they will begin to reap the rewards.''

Hughes' Premiership bow has been far from easy with Rovers facing the possible scenario of kicking off against Steve Bruce's Blues in bottom place.

He knows the five games between now and Christmas will play a major part in determining the success or otherwise of his first job in Premiership management.

``Improving our home form is a must for us and if we do that we will be okay,'' said Hughes, who insists on accentuating the positives of a largely dismal season so far.

``It's a home game and we need to get three points and hopefully we can capitalise on a bit of nervousness from Birmingham.

``It's important my players keep their belief in what they are doing. They are getting some reward for their efforts but not as much as they deserve.''

``We've had three draws in a row and we are being consistent which is the key. ``But too often we are giving ourselves a mountain to climb by going behind. When we start getting our noses in front we will be okay.''

Hughes could face a striking headache with Jonathan Stead requiring a late test on the ankle he injured in last week's draw with Manchester City.

Stead's natural replacement Jay Bothroyd is still suspended so Hughes finds himself short of options to partner Paul Dickov up front.

Craig Short also needs a test on the hamstring injury which sidelined him last week, while David Thompson is in line for his first start of the year.
PJ_Quek
20 Nov 04, 22:24

Blackburn vs Birmingham

Ewood Park
Sunday, 21 November
Kick-off: 0005 SGT

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

Team News

Blackburn will give Jonathan Stead a late fitness test on his injured ankle, while Jay Bothroyd is suspended.

Defender Craig Short needs a test on a hamstring injury, while David Thompson could start after appearing as a substitute at Manchester City.

Birmingham will be without Muzzy Izzet, who is serving a one-match suspension after being sent off against Everton.

David Dunn and Clinton Morrison return after injury, but Stan Lazaridis is ruled out with a hamstring injury.
PJ_Quek
20 Nov 04, 22:25

Probable Line Ups

Blackburn (from): Friedel, Enckelman, Gray, McEveley, Todd, Gresko, Short, Johansson, Jansen, Matteo, Neill, Tugay, Reid, Thompson, Ferguson, Flitcroft,
Emerton, Dickov, Stead, Douglas, Gallagher, Djorkaeff, Pedersen.

Birmingham (from): Maik Taylor, Melchiot, Upson, Cunningham, Gray, Johnson, Savage, Clemence, Anderton, Dunn, Morrison, Yorke, Heskey, Bennett, Martin Taylor, Tebily, Clapham.
PJ_Quek
20 Nov 04, 22:27

]BIG-MATCH FACTS

BLACKBURN ROVERS engage Birmingham City in a Sunday afternoon bottom six clash, and first meeting since the last day of last season. By kick off time Rovers, who've drawn their last three Premiership matches, could be back on the foot of the table.

The club from the Red Rose county have only won one of 14 League and Cup games this season - that being Mark Hughes' first in charge. They prepare to face the Brummies after two 1-1 draws at Norwich and Manchester City. Their goal from the game at the City of Manchester Stadium was a spot kick from Paul Dickov - their first penalty award in a Premiership game since the 2002/03 season.

These clubs met each other three times last season and there was little to separate them overall. Rovers won the League fixture at St Andrews 0-4, and then Birmingham returned the favour in a home FA Cup tie. This corresponding fixture ended 1-1 in May when a last minute header from substitute Stern John cancelled out Andy Cole's opener.

BIRMINGHAM CITY are only three points better off than Blackburn, and have completed just one victory in ten top tier engagements, as they embark on their 2,500th bona fide post war League game.

Steve Bruce's Blues go to Blackburn looking for back to back victories away from home, having picked up their first this season two weeks ago in a 0-1 triumph over Liverpool at Anfield when Darren Anderton netted the winner. Birmingham last managed successive victories on their top division travels on 30 August and 20 September last year when they came away from Newcastle and Leeds with maximum points.

The Brummies are yet to record their first victory over Blackburn in the Premiership (two draws, two defeats so far). Their only maximum in 23 League visits to Ewood Park over 50 years was 1-2 on 20 January 1668 in the original Second Division (36 years ago). Their last top flight maximum there was also 1-2 on 28 September 1935.
PJ_Quek
20 Nov 04, 22:30

SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM

BLACKBURN ROVERS

Going into the weekend: 19th 9 points

Drawn the last three - all Premiership.
Not won in eight in all competitions.
Since defeating Portsmouth 1-0 at Ewood Park on 18 September, Rovers have been beaten on penalties by Bournemouth in the Carling Cup, and lost four and drawn three Premiership games.
Won one of 13 Premiership games this season.
Lost six top tier games so far.
Scored only 11 goals in 13 League outings.
Conceded more Premiership goals than any other club (26), going into this weekend.
Conceded the opening goal in 11 Premiership matches - more than any other team.
Completed 54 Premiership matches without a goalless draw - the longest run such sequence in eth top division. Their most recent goalless stalemate was home to Bolton on 21 April 2003.
Scored first in only two of their 13 League games.
Yet to score in the first 15 minutes of a Premiership match this season.
Conceded 17 goals in the second half of top League matches.
Managed just one clean sheet in the highest echelon this term.
Failed to score in five top tier contests.
Players shown four red cards in Premiership games this season (either during or after the matches).
Need a draw to register exactly 600 points in their Premier League history.
The next top tier game lost at Ewood Park will be their 50th all-time Premiership defeat at home.
Own the worst disciplinary record in the top flight going into this round of matches (four red cards, 24 yellow).

Vying for a first home win in five in all competitions.
Won only one of six home Premiership games this season, drawing four of them.
Conceded eight goals in the last three home League encounters.

BIRMINGHAM CITY

Going into the weekend: 15th 12 points

Won 913, drawn 658 and lost 928 of their 2,499 regulation League matches since the war, scoring 5,885 goals and conceding 4,511.
Won one of the last eight in all competitions.
Completed two wins from the last 21 highest League outings.
12 points is Birmingham's lowest ever return from the first 13 matches of a Premiership season. In their only two previous Premiership seasons, 15 and 20 points were secured after 13 matches, and 16 and 20 points after the first 14 matches when finishing 13th and 10th in 2002/03 and 2003/04 respectively.
Won 38 and lost 38 League games and claimed 150 points (Premiership and Football League) under Steve Bruce.
Drawn six times in the top flight this season.
Only scored more than a single goal in the Premiership once this season (2-2 home to Newcastle on 3 October), and once in 16 League outings.
Premiership clean sheets have been kept at home to Manchester City and Manchester United, and away to Southampton and Liverpool.
Lowest scorers in the top flight with eight goals - all other clubs are into double figures.
Conceded just 11 times in the top echelon.
Failed to score six times in the League so far this season.
Scored just one goal in 483 minutes (eight hours three minutes) of Premiership football.
Holding the lowest aggregate in top tier soccer. Their 13 matches have accrued just 19 goals (eight for, 11 against).
Yet to concede in the last 15 minutes of a Premiership game.
Conceded the opening goal in eight top tier outings. Blackburn have allowed the opposition to score first 11 times.
Boast seven players to have figured in some part of every Premiership match this season.

Unbeaten in three away Premiership matches.
Drawn two and won one since losing 2-1 at Middlesbrough on 11 September.
Not conceded in two games on the road or 254 minutes (four hours 14 minutes) of top flight soccer away from St Andrews.
PJ_Quek
20 Nov 04, 22:32

KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES

BLACKBURN ROVERS

If he participates, Jonathan DOUGLAS will be playing on the eve of his 23rd birthday.
Should he keep goal as usual, Brad FRIEDEL will be making his 150th Premiership appearance for Blackburn.

BIRMINGHAM CITY

David DUNN, Damien JOHNSON and Martin TAYLOR all started their professional careers with Blackburn.
Dwight YORKE was transferred to Birmingham from Blackburn for Â£2 million in July 2002.
Muzzy IZZET is a brace short of 50 club career goals.
PJ_Quek
21 Nov 04, 17:39

League E PREMIER
Match BLACKBURN vs BIRMINGHAM
Match No. 0309
Sales Close ^ 21/11/04 9:00PM

1X2

Home 2.32 <2.32>
Draw 2.83 <3.05>
Away 2.90 <2.70>

1/2 GOAL

Home BLACKBURN (-1Â½) 5.00 <4.65>
Away BIRMINGHAM (+1Â½) 1.11 <1.13>

TOTAL GOALS

No. of Goals

0 5.00 <6.50>
1 3.80 <3.80>
2 3.60 <3.50>
3 4.20 <4.00>
4 6.70 <6.20>
5 12.00 <10.00>
6 20.00 <20.00>
7 35.00 <38.00>
8 85.00 <85.00>
9+ 120.00 <125.00>

HALF / FULL TIME DOUBLE

Selection

H-H 4.80 <4.55>
H-D 10.00 <12.00>
H-A 20.00 <25.00>
D-H 4.30 <5.30>
D-D 4.50 <4.80>
D-A 6.20 <5.50>
A-H 22.00 <19.00>
A-D 12.00 <10.00>
A-A 6.40 <5.40>