' Birmingham: Say Both sides were poor sides "

Birmingham City went down 2-0 to Cardiff City in another drab encounter.

By Daniel Ivery


Birmingham City lost to Cardiff City yesterday 2-0 to end a good sequence of four games unbeaten against a team picking up their first league home win in two months.



It was a disappointing day for Blues manager Gary Rowett who was sent to the stands for throwing a ball at the floor while arguing what he saw as a poor decision against his team.



Here are five things we learned from the game.

1) Without much to play for, Birmingham City's players have lost their intensity

Both sides were poor in the first half but Cardiff at least stepped up their game in the second, unlike the Blues who only managed one shot on target all game. Rowett only elected to make one change from the team which drew with Huddersfield, recalling Stephen Gleeson following his suspension at the expense of Andrew Shinnie as the team moved to a 4-1-4-1 formation. However, neither David Davis nor Robert Tesche could stamp their influence on the game with Davis coming off for Wes Thomas on 65 minutes.

2) A culture of complacency

With a dearth of quality outside of the first eleven it does seem that some players are coasting somewhat safe in the knowledge that they almost certainly won't be dropped. David Cotterill is a prime example of this; on form he is one of the best wingers in the division but without any competition for his berth on the right-hand side of midfield he has slackened off - particularly as there is little to play for, and as a consequence his standards have dropped. Cotterill manages at least one careless pass per game that plays in the opposition and he needs to cut that out if Rowett brings in any competition for him.

3) Time to bring in fresh blood

Reece Brown travelled with the squad today but failed to make the cut. The 20-year-old midfielder is probably the brightest prospect outside of the first eleven - something he has underlined with some good performances for the U21 team and on his day could definitely freshen up the side. Comfortable across the midfield line, he could prove to be the natural number ten that Gary Rowett needs in his 4-2-3-1 formation and if Brown can play for the full 90 minutes, unlike Andrew Shinnie, he could feasibly make that position his own.

4) Morrison to make his return

The other player to travel today and not play was Michael Morrison - understandably so as he hasn't played in six weeks and has just returned to fitness. However, Birmingham need him back in the heart of defence as Jonathan Spector once again has shown his maddening inconsistency which has troubled him throughout his St Andrew's career. Guilty of the mistake which cost a goal against Huddersfield, Spector gave away a penalty which confirmed the points today for Cardiff.

5) Rowett needs to experiment

Rowett himself is not immune from criticism. While it is understandable that he is still concerned Birmingham City don't fall into the relegation trap, it is incredibly unlikely now and his continued faith in players that aren't quite at the races is proving to be frustrating for fans. While many Birmingham City fans can accept that the position they are in is a good one and an achievement bearing in mind everything that has gone on off the pitch, there is an increasing feeling that with so many games to play that are effectively dead rubbers, Rowett really should be trying out new things to look at players and formations for the season ahead.

Misleading headline. It actually says both sides were poor in the 1st half but Cardiff stepped it up in the second.

both sides were piss poor first half.....

Misleading headline. It actually says both sides were poor in the 1st half but Cardiff stepped it up in the second.

True, my fault

both sides were piss poor first half.....

Kevin, they were first half, thankfully we stepped up a gear and deserved the win

both sides were piss poor first half.....

Kevin, they were first half, thankfully we stepped up a gear and deserved the win

agreed annis,did marshall actually have to make a save..??...

That's because a headline is not usually a sentence, its a..er...headline.

I thought we played ok in the first half with a lack of qualility.However very impressed with us second half and we didn't sit back after the first goal.Slade deserves credit for introducing matty kennedy and also bringing on doyle instead of another midfielder

Both sides cancelled each other out for most of the game, we are a poor side, Birmingham are a very poor side

I thought City took it to them right from the start thought we had some good chances in first half.when we got the first goal I thought the flood gates would happen took a while until the second came but over all deserved the three points

Both sides cancelled each other out for most of the game, we are a poor side, Birmingham are a very poor side

Correct! Too many getting carried away again!

That's because a headline is not usually a sentence, its a..er...headline.

But this headline was a sentence and it was misleading. So what are you on about?

Both sides cancelled each other out for most of the game, we are a poor side, Birmingham are a very poor side

Correct! Too many getting carried away again!

So our last 6 games the opposition was poor ? Because this is what people say when we win or draw ! We play a game called football where no two games are a like can win 7nil one week lose 3nil next game! people are obsessed with calling our opposition poor just because they think we are every game. just like people on here say no improvement despite recent results its just that we played a piss poor team thats why we got result, then its we will get hammered by good team if play like that! Brentford & bmouth are very good teams did we get hammered? Like fck we did, why not credit city with performance instead of constantly saying opposition was piss poor?

Both sides cancelled each other out for most of the game, we are a poor side, Birmingham are a very poor side

Correct! Too many getting carried away again!

So our last 6 games the opposition was poor ? Because this is what people say when we win or draw ! We play a game called football where no two games are a like can win 7nil one week lose 3nil next game! people are obsessed with calling our opposition poor just because they think we are every game. just like people on here say no improvement despite recent results its just that we played a piss poor team thats why we got result, then its we will get hammered by good team if play like that! Brentford & bmouth are very good teams did we get hammered? Like fck we did, why not credit city with performance instead of constantly saying opposition was piss poor?

Exactly we have now cut out the goals now and were now getting cleensheets and scoring goals because we are putting a shift in now and getting hard to beat! 7 points out 9 is brilliant so why can't just focus on the football rather the opposition!

Both sides cancelled each other out for most of the game, we are a poor side, Birmingham are a very poor side

Correct! Too many getting carried away again!

So our last 6 games the opposition was poor ? Because this is what people say when we win or draw ! We play a game called football where no two games are a like can win 7nil one week lose 3nil next game! people are obsessed with calling our opposition poor just because they think we are every game. just like people on here say no improvement despite recent results its just that we played a piss poor team thats why we got result, then its we will get hammered by good team if play like that! Brentford & bmouth are very good teams did we get hammered? Like fck we did, why not credit city with performance instead of constantly saying opposition was piss poor?

It's ridiculous to assess a performance without acknowledging the strengths of the opposition. We won the game deservedly but say what you like, Birmingham were awful.