Match summary
City gave their fans a fantastic early Christmas present, putting four goals past hapless Bormingham City. Sommeil started the festive fun in the very first minute, and Vassell & Sibierski’s goals before half time made it 3-0 at the break. Wright-Phillips scored a minute after coming on for Vassell, and only a Jarosik consolation goal took some of the gloss off the result. Nico Vaesen was sent off for the visitors in the dying moments.
City’s fans left to the sounds of Dean Martin singing ‘Let it snow’ - not even an Arctic blizzard would get them down after a display and a result like this!
The Match
City made the perfect start in the very first minute! Vassell forced a corner from a Sibierski knock-down, and from Sun’s cross the Frenchman rose to head to his partner again. Vassell tapped it back to David Sommeil, who slammed the ball home from six yards out!
Vassell nearly doubled the lead on four minutes, when a tentative defensive header fell into his path just outside the box. The striker flicked his right boot out and the ball looped just wide of Vaesen’s right post.
City were playing with the confidence that an early goal brings, but after eight minutes the goalscorer got into a mix up with James that saw the ball rebound off his face for a corner.
But two minutes later City again went so close to making it two. Sibierski rolled a shot across the face of the goal only to see it hit the post! Sinclair stuck a leg out to push the ball back goalwards but the beleaguered defence hacked it clear.
And on 13 there was more joy for the Sky Blues and woe for Birmingham. Vassell was hauled down by Vaesen in the box after being put in by a clever Sinclair pass. Joey Barton stepped up for the penalty, and he made no mistake, firmly placing it into the right hand corner while Vaesen went the other way.
The visitors had their keeper to thank for keeping the score at 2-0 after 18 minutes, Vaesen bending backwards in the air to tip a Sibierski header over.
Steve Bruce made a tactical substitution after 23 minutes, bringing on Forssell for Tebily.
Birmingham began to see more of the ball, but were totally incapable of making any inroads, a weak Dunn effort going straight at James.
Another replacement came after 35 when a surprised and angry Dunn made way for Jermaine Pennant.
Things got even better on 39 minutes for City when Antoine Sibierski made it three! Barton swung a free kick in from the left, and the big Frenchman was able to get in between Pandiani and Vaesen to nod home and send the home fans into righteous ecstasy!
Nedum Onuoha nearly got in on the act on 44, his header from a Barton corner going just over Vaesen’s bar.
The teams left to the strains of The Who and ‘I can’t explain’ - very apt!
Four minutes after the break, City went close again. Barton put in a teasing free kick, and Sinclair ghosted in to try to get a touch with his head, but the midfielder was just shy of the ball and Birmingham breathed again.
Vassell could and should have made it four on 55 minutes. A wicked Barton cross went all the way to the left of the six yard box, but the diving striker’s header seemed to slide off the side of his forehead and the ball went over the corner of the woodwork.
Birmingham had a slight chance when a Pennant free kick went just over on 63, but they were not maing any openings, and Clemence’s frustration boiled over a minute later, earning him a yellow card for dissent.
Wright-Phillips was brought on for Vassell, who’s typically whole-hearted and selfess display earned him a standing ovation.
And a minute later BWP had scored! Sinclair crossed to Sibierski, who once again nodded down into Wright-Phillips’ path for the striker to volley it home past Vaesen from 18 yards out!
Robbie Fowler replaced Reyna to a tumultuous welcome on 71 minutes.
Jarosik came on a substitute after 73, and three minutes later he was on the score sheet, curling the ball round James from 20 yards with his left foot.
Sinclair and Sun received City’s first cautions in quick succession just after the goal as proceedings became a bit tetchy.
Ireland replaced Sibierski, whose efforts also saw him recieve warm applause from the home faithful.
And right on 90 minutes, there was more drama as Vaesen was sent off for his second yellow card. The keeper fumbled on the edge of his area and stepped outside the box while still carrying the ball, to complete a miserable afternoon for him. City, however, could make nothing from the free kick.
