There were a few Sheffield Wednesday fans milling around on the platform, who were heading over to Notts County.
It is well known that the Owls are the second best supported team in Chesterfield, but they are some way behind their city neighbours Sheffield United, AKA the Blades, numerically on that score.
It is said, that the Crooked Spire, that sits on top of the Parish Church of St. Mary and All Saints that is clearly visible from the train station, will untwist and straighten up if a groom ever weds there who doesn't have previous carnal knowledge of one or more sheep.The spire has been that way since the 14th century and obviously Chesterfield hasn't produced a man who fits that criteria yet.
Via an eventful journey on an overcrowded train, which I'm keeping schtum about, because telling tales and grassing people up isn't the way I operate, we walked the short distance from Birmingham New Street to 'The Wellington' and made it our base camp for the next few hours.For the Record - Moorhouse's Pendle Porter, 5% abv, 10 out of 10 & Oakham Ales Citra 4.2% abv, 9 out of 10.
We spent much longer there than we had intended taking on board a proper skinful, that caused us to miss a scheduled stop at the nearby Post Office Vaults, so it was decided that the next leg of the journey would be by taxi to the Cricketers...
... which is very close to the football ground and just around from a very misleading road sign.
For the record - Tetley's in a plastic pint pot, 3 out of 10 (a very generous rating, I'm in a good mood), we definitely should've stayed where we were for a while longer.
Saturday 17th March 2012, at St. Andrews Stadiumnpower Championship
Birmingham City (1) 3
Nikola Zigic 11, Marlon King 57, Keith Fahey 60
Middlesbrough (0) 0
Admission £9.50 for two (promotional offer),
Programme £3
Attendance: 19,927 (inc. 1.085 away fans)
Birmingham City:
Boaz Myhill, Peter Ramage (Pablo Ibanez, 54), Curtis Davies, Steven Caldwell, David Murphy, Chris Burke, Guirane N'Daw, Keith Fahey, Andros Townsend (Wade Elliott, 79), Nikola Zigic, Marlon King (Erik Huseklepp, 75).
Unused Subs - Morgaro Gomis, Nathan Redmond.
Middlesbrough:
Jason Steele, Justin Hoyte (Curtis Main, 72), Joe Bennett, Matthew Bates, Kevin Thomson, Nicky Bailey, Adam Hammill (Malaury Martin, 72), Seb Hines, Julio Arca Richard Smallwood, 72), Tony McMahon, Lukas Jutkiewicz.
Unused Subs - Marvin Emnes, Bart Ogbeche
Marlon King unnerves Boro by showing off his levitation skills prior to kick off
As the scoreline suggests, this afternoon saw a comfortable home win for Birmingham City.
There wasn't much in it before the break, apart from Nikola Zigic's opening goal, when the big Serbian striker stooped to conquer and head home 'man of the match' Chris Burke's cross from out on the right wing, a position he terrorised Boro's defence from all afternoon.
The BBC's match statistics say that the overall possession quota, fell narrowly in City's favour by 53% against Middlesbrough's 47%, over the duration of the 90(+6) minutes.
Though to be honest I thought that percentage differential, was maybe a bit generous to the visitors and doesn't give Chris Hughton's team anything like enough credit, especially for the way they took the game by the scruff of the neck after the half time interval and completely bossed it.
Referee Graham Scott, with the 'photogenic' Middlesbrough
One side show I found amusing, was the duel that lasted throughout the game, between Nikola Zigic and Middlesbrough's Nicky Bailey.
The two of them competed toe to toe and had plenty to say to each other all afternoon.
Ultimately Zigic won that personal head to head clash methinks.
The visitors thought they had pulled level on 55 minutes, but Joe Bennett's effort was chalked off for being offside.
Then the wheels really came off altogether for Middlesbrough shortly afterwards, when Marlon King fired home another Chris Burke right wing cross from 12 yards out.
The game was as good as over on the hour, when Keith Fahey ran all the way from the Birmingham half of the pitch, dummied Jason Steele, the Boro keeper, with a shimmy of his hips and slotted home Blues third and final goal.
That was the cue for a whole load of Boro fans to nip of into the city centre to join in with the lively St. Patrick's Day celebrations.
"You should've gone before we started"
A lot of people of Irish origin live in cosmopolitan Birmingham, the pubs we passed on the way back to New Street Station after the game were packed and the partying was in full swing.
The final whistle sounded, ELO's 'Mister Blue Sky' boomed out over the St. Andrew's PA system and this afternoon's result meant Middlesbrough had been leapfrogged by Blues in the table.
Note, despite the spell-checker on my PC saying otherwise, there are two letter s's in the middle of the word Teesside.
A brisk walk back into the city centre... well, the gradient is downhill that way, so us old 'uns didn't need a cab ride in both directions... took about 20 minutes or so and led us straight into the middle of the high jinx that was unfolding in the name of the Patron Saint of Ireland, where we spent the next couple of hours. I'm English and have no connection whatsoever to Eire, but each to their own, there's room for everyone. There are going to be some very messed up and hungover people in Brum tomorrow morning, the place was bouncing.
Unfortunately, I had to indulge in moderation only, I'm up at 4.30AM for a Sunday shift at work in the morning... Ouch!
A well earned Blues victory.
They were infinitely better than the BBC/OPTA stats-man seemed to think.
And a thoroughly deserved defeat for Boro too, who were nowhere near as good as the lies, damn lies and statistics made out.
An entertaining game, some choice beers and good company... everything went according to plan.
We're already planning our next trip to St. Andrews ASAP, though the runt of our litter who suggested Villa Park might be an option in the near future instead, isn't invited.
Boaz Myhill, Peter Ramage (Pablo Ibanez, 54), Curtis Davies, Steven Caldwell, David Murphy, Chris Burke, Guirane N'Daw, Keith Fahey, Andros Townsend (Wade Elliott, 79), Nikola Zigic, Marlon King (Erik Huseklepp, 75).
Unused Subs - Morgaro Gomis, Nathan Redmond.
Middlesbrough:Jason Steele, Justin Hoyte (Curtis Main, 72), Joe Bennett, Matthew Bates, Kevin Thomson, Nicky Bailey, Adam Hammill (Malaury Martin, 72), Seb Hines, Julio Arca Richard Smallwood, 72), Tony McMahon, Lukas Jutkiewicz.
Unused Subs - Marvin Emnes, Bart Ogbeche
Marlon King unnerves Boro by showing off his levitation skills prior to kick offThere wasn't much in it before the break, apart from Nikola Zigic's opening goal, when the big Serbian striker stooped to conquer and head home 'man of the match' Chris Burke's cross from out on the right wing, a position he terrorised Boro's defence from all afternoon.
The BBC's match statistics say that the overall possession quota, fell narrowly in City's favour by 53% against Middlesbrough's 47%, over the duration of the 90(+6) minutes.
Though to be honest I thought that percentage differential, was maybe a bit generous to the visitors and doesn't give Chris Hughton's team anything like enough credit, especially for the way they took the game by the scruff of the neck after the half time interval and completely bossed it.
Referee Graham Scott, with the 'photogenic' Middlesbrough
manager Tony Mowbray in the background.
In the second half 'Boro' caved in and were well beaten by an attack minded Blues side, who took their chances well when it mattered and always looked more dangerous than the Teessiders on the break.One side show I found amusing, was the duel that lasted throughout the game, between Nikola Zigic and Middlesbrough's Nicky Bailey.
The two of them competed toe to toe and had plenty to say to each other all afternoon.
Ultimately Zigic won that personal head to head clash methinks.
The visitors thought they had pulled level on 55 minutes, but Joe Bennett's effort was chalked off for being offside.Then the wheels really came off altogether for Middlesbrough shortly afterwards, when Marlon King fired home another Chris Burke right wing cross from 12 yards out.
The game was as good as over on the hour, when Keith Fahey ran all the way from the Birmingham half of the pitch, dummied Jason Steele, the Boro keeper, with a shimmy of his hips and slotted home Blues third and final goal.
That was the cue for a whole load of Boro fans to nip of into the city centre to join in with the lively St. Patrick's Day celebrations.
"You should've gone before we started"
Seb Hines nearly reduced the arrears in the last five minutes for the visitors, but Boaz Myhill pulled off a stunning save from close range.
Blues were unlucky not to get a fourth goal in the final minute, when Wade Elliot's effort was deflected narrowly wide of the goal.
"I never touched him Ref!"
Blues were unlucky not to get a fourth goal in the final minute, when Wade Elliot's effort was deflected narrowly wide of the goal.
"I never touched him Ref!"Note, despite the spell-checker on my PC saying otherwise, there are two letter s's in the middle of the word Teesside.
A brisk walk back into the city centre... well, the gradient is downhill that way, so us old 'uns didn't need a cab ride in both directions... took about 20 minutes or so and led us straight into the middle of the high jinx that was unfolding in the name of the Patron Saint of Ireland, where we spent the next couple of hours. I'm English and have no connection whatsoever to Eire, but each to their own, there's room for everyone. There are going to be some very messed up and hungover people in Brum tomorrow morning, the place was bouncing.Unfortunately, I had to indulge in moderation only, I'm up at 4.30AM for a Sunday shift at work in the morning... Ouch!
A well earned Blues victory.They were infinitely better than the BBC/OPTA stats-man seemed to think.
And a thoroughly deserved defeat for Boro too, who were nowhere near as good as the lies, damn lies and statistics made out.
An entertaining game, some choice beers and good company... everything went according to plan.
We're already planning our next trip to St. Andrews ASAP, though the runt of our litter who suggested Villa Park might be an option in the near future instead, isn't invited.
