Often Partisan

GAMEDAY: Forest Away

Birmingham City take on Nottingham Forest tonight hoping to extend their unbeaten streak and potentially go second in the division.

Forest

Forest lie in 18th position, 12 places and eight points behind Blues having taken twelve points from their opening eleven games. The Tricky Trees are without a win in the league since August and haven’t kept a clean sheet in 17 games in all competitions stretching back to last April.

Britt Assombalonga is back in training but isn’t fit to play meaning former Blues player Nicklas Bendtner could continue up front for Forest. Their manager Philippe Montanier serves the first match of a two match ban from the dugout tonight.

Blues

Blues are sweating a little bit on the fitness of Robert Tesche and Clayton Donaldson and both might be left out with Tuesday in mind. Adam Legzdins could also continue in goal despite Tomasz Kuszczak returning to fitness.

I think the question will be if Gary Rowett decides on playing two up front or going for a more counter-attacking 4-2-3-1 with a number 10. Jacques Maghoma was only back out training on Wednesday with the players and I wonder if that will play on Rowett’s mind – potentially giving a start to Greg Stewart wide.

Ref

Jeremy Simpson is in the middle for this one barring late changes. He’s taken charge of 11 games so far this season, showing 56 yellows and one red. His last Blues game was the 1-1 draw away to Wigan in August when he cautioned six players including Jonathan Grounds, David Davis and Clayton Donaldson.

Suspension Watch

One Red Card: Jack Storer (three match ban served)

Four bookings: David Davis
Three bookings: Jonathan Grounds
Two bookings: Clayton Donaldson, Maikel Kieftenbeld and Stephen Gleeson
One booking: Michael Morrison, Jonathan Spector, Jacques Maghoma, Ryan Shotton and Jack Storer

The cutoff date for a player receiving a ban for five bookings is November 30, 2016
The cutoff date for a player receiving a ban for ten bookings is March 11, 2017

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31 Responses to “GAMEDAY: Forest Away”

  • Bluey says:

    Make no mistake this is going to be a tough game tonight. Personally i`d take a point as long as it`s backed up with a win on Tuesday against Rotherham.

  • Dave Mann says:

    With maybe Tesche, Donaldson and Maghoma missing tonight then yes I would take a draw also with a win on Tuesday night a must , agreed . KRO

    • Mitchell says:

      Worrying to hear Tesche is yet again injured. This now a similar pattern to last season when he was at Forest. Donaldson may be a concern also as his previous ‘minor’ injuries have also dragged on. However, Jukey,Adams and Cotterill can do us proud with Shotton and Morrison ensuring we come away with a point.

  • Kazakblue says:

    6.18pm here is a cold Astana, 5 hours in front you guys in Birmingham, but I will go for a 0-1 win for the Blues, KRO and a safe trip to all Bluenoses going to the match tonight.

  • Texas Pete says:

    This is one for the classic away game formula with one up front. 0-2 for a counterattacking win. Rest for Donaldson and Tesche.

  • kirkus says:

    Afternoon all,thank god club football is back,that must be the most boring international break of all time,total waste of time

  • Rich R says:

    I think its going to be a tough game and one we should be winning if we want to push for the playoffs we want good results leading into the Villa Game

  • WayCoolBlue says:

    I’m going to be watching the game at Bar 8 tonight. Hopefully a 0-2 win for Blues.

  • Dave Mann says:

    Got your ticket mate ? Sold out ! .. Yes 2-0 will do nicely and put us second in the league if Bristol city don’t win at Cardiff , enjoy . KRO

  • ..HT…; not eneogh shots on target again COME ON

  • Mitchell says:

    Just what we feared-total failure to put a damp squib on Brucies Spotlight. Typical blues. Shotton at right back and Robbo.at CH. GR showing naivety. Waiting for Dave Mann to sum it all up for me-you get it straight with him.

  • Murph says:

    Why take apart a centre half pairing instead of playing Davis at right back ? Mind boggling rowett

    • Mitchell says:

      Totally right Murph. This is what separates him from the winners who push on. How on earth do you split the pairing up and put Robbo in there. Every season it is the same,we get into a great league position only to balls it up against very mediocre opposition. Pressure now on game against Rotherham. Any more cock ups at the back and victory not assured.GR needs to wise up and not slip into that 9/10 slot that obviously he feels at home with. Defensive calamitous selection cost us tonight.

  • Richard Granfield says:

    I was at the game at Forest. The first half was low on quality partly due to our full backs or two centre backs playing out of position. When will It dawn on Gary that Grounds is Not a full back and neither is Shotton.
    Davis for all his industry in playing without the ball he is not up to standard with the ball.
    Julkie has no pace and lacks mobility when playing up on his own.
    Gary try the talented players on the bench tonight by starting them on Tuesday…Please!
    Gary wants more fans at St Andrews and says his side can entertain. Well play the entertaining players then.
    Tonight the only tactics until Fabbrini and Donaldson came on were Cotterill’s dead ball kicks and booting the ball in the general direction of Jukie.

    • Mitchell says:

      Thank you for that report Richard.Very informative. I understand GR doesn’t feel the selection cock up at the back was to blame.Well,I would rather take your report on the mis-match of our defence tonight any day over GR. What sensible,informed Manager in the Championship would play Robbo.in such a vital position with the availability of Cogley or even Davis to slot into right back.Preston game was iffy,Blackburn not much better and now this poor performance is beginning to take a nasty pattern.

  • Bromsgrove Blue says:

    Not at the game but judging from the highlights on Sky we looked well beaten tonight Our deficiencies at the back came back to bite us. As from previous comments can’t understand Rowett’s thinking in splitting the Morrison/ Shotton partnership. Hope we don’t start falling away especially with the big Derby imminent. Kro

    • Mitchell says:

      He has the players Bromsgrove Blue but not the vision as to how to use them. Good managers who get into great positions tend to push on-and take every advantage. Tonight was such a night and highlighted why we tremble at the thought of possibly going second.Doubtful we will get into a better position in the near future.

      • Hillfield Blues says:

        Spector was injured so he had no choice but to reshuffle at the back.Thats our first loss in seven games and our first loss away this season.Try to get a better perspective instead of being so disasterist if we have a bad day at the office.Its football,it happens.

        • jonno11blue says:

          No he had to replace Spector like for like. There was no need to reshuffle. Shotton showed last season he’s not a right back so GR at fault for moving him. Also whilst a great servant and very experienced Robb not longer capable of 90 mins of championship football, his legs won’t take it and this showed in the second half. Either Jose Cogley should have played. As for Gleeson and Maghoma they should have stayed in Brum

          • Hillfield Blues says:

            Replace Spector like for like?,with who?.Our other right back Caddis is injured.Although Shotton isn’t a natural right back he should be able to do a job in the circumstances.I don’t think it was the root of all our problems by the sound of it. Gleeson is far too hot and cold so back to Tesche and Kieftenbild in the middle Tuesday.

  • Dave Mann says:

    Agreed Hillfield , bad day at the office for Rowett and the team didn’t perform like they have away this season but it’s a blip and a defeat that can be rectified with what I think are two must win games coming up against Rotherham and at Burton before the big game against the vile , keep your chin up Mitchell because we will improve on this and another unbeaten run to go on starting Tuesday . KRO

  • StaffsBlue says:

    Total cock-up playing Shotton out of position. It didn’t work last time, so what made Rowett think it would this time is beyond me. Should have been Kieftenbeld at right back, as he’s played there before. But saying that, we were below par all over the pitch. We desperately need Tesche and Kief back in midfield. We miss the drive with Gleeson in there. As for Jutkiewicz, I don’t think you can argue with 3 goals in 5 starts tbf.

    It was a bad day at the office. We’re going to have a few more between now and May. It’s how we respond that matters. On to Rotherham.

  • Bluestaines says:

    I listened to the game on WM and according to them moving Shotton to right back was a big factor. Also they seemed to suggest his confidence might have suffered as a result. He has been solid at centre back and I hope that doesn’t affect him from now on. Also they thought Maghoma had a poor game possibly because he was still suffering from his international duties and maybe should have been rested ahead of Tuesday.

  • mark says:

    nicklas Bendtner i personally don’t like seeing players get injured i wish him a speedy recovery…..
    we were a little too predicable GR said, well if don’t get you defense sorted out you are going to concede goals it not rocket bloody science, we failed earlier against PNE. Whether it was tactical or not with shotton these finally cost you points or games…..

  • mark says:

    blues are not good enough simply punching above their weight….

  • Richard Granfield says:

    Rhoys Wiggins Must make his first start on Tuesday. I wonder what he must have thought sitting on the the bench, he a natural full back, watching Shotton and Grounds clumsily pretending to be full backs.
    Fabbrini was a breath of fresh air when he came on, he seems to have toughened up and together with his undoubted class is another must for Tuesday.
    Maghoma’s problem is his inconsistency. Last night was a case in point. He gave the impression he was just going through the motions. He needs a rest with either Stewart (a natural left footer) or Brown replacing him.
    Staffs suggested Kieftenbeld playing at right back….Good call.

  • Andrew says:

    Where’s caddis if specs is out? Can’t understand why try Shotton at right back again. This is a flaw with rowett, once he finds his best team were generally solid but If someone’s out he don’t have a plan b and it all goes to pot.

  • BhamCityJulian says:

    Shotton to right back was clearly a foolish decision

    Passing was atrocious last night. Our best passer in the starting XI was Gleeson who was playing too deep to be effective. Brown comes on eventually and almost his first touch is a sublime 60 yarder to Donaldson’s feet

    Davis doesn’t have the ability to read Adams run so the latter is wasted. Why Kieftenbeld is regarded as second fiddle to Davis is beyond me

    Herrera showed what can be done when you run with pace and we had no one doing that until Fab came in

    The artistry of Stewart playing second fiddle to work rate of Maghoma? Jesus

    Gary’s tactics seem to be ‘get to 60 mins without conceding’

    For me I’d be weaning Grounds, Davis and Maghoma out of the starting XI and only have Gleeson there in a three with Tesche and Kieftenbeld


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