SkyBet EFL Championship
Birmingham City (0) 0
Queens Park Rangers (0) 0
Attendance 21,155
Today's game was the stalemate to end all stalemates, in the most stalemating of ways, since the words: phuck, me, what, a, dour, and stalemate, were invented.
QPR have made an awful start to their 2018-19 campaign... and two weeks ago, they were turned over 7-1 by Blues next opponents at St. Andrew's: West Bromwich Albion. Whereas Birmingham have played well at times thus far, without getting the rub of the green and are still at the 'work in progress' stage after their pre-season was disrupted by the 'small matter' of a transfer embargo... and the usual kind of behind the scenes circus of uncertainty that has become commonplace at the club over the years.
Steve McClaren's side set out their stall early on... and regardless of what he might be claiming in the aftermath of this uninspiring contest, Rangers played for a goalless draw, or if I'm being generous, had a keep it tight for the majority of the game and then try to nick it with a late goal strategy.
His comments in the build up to the game about Birmingham being a physical and direct team, were rendered laughable by Toni Leistner's manhandling of Lukas Jutkiewicz for almost the entire eighty six minutes, that he was on the pitch.
The R's frustrated their hosts and closed down Blues usual supply lines, in the main Jota and Jacques Maghoma, effectively, on a frustrating afternoon for the St. Andrew's faithful, who saw their side restricted to just one shot on target for the whole duration of the game, while the visitors nearly nicked the points right at the end, when Matt Smith hit the post.
Lee Camp, in the City goal, had to make three good saves in the second half, twice thwarting Tomer whilst also denying Luke Freeman.
McClaren's side really need to get some studs in their boots before their next game (Bolton Wanderers away, on Saturday 15th September), because they spent so much time going to ground and falling over, every time a Blues player got anywhere near any of them them, that it was quite embarrassing to watch at times.
And the match referee, Jeremy Simpson, who'd done a decent job of officiating at the game that I had watched in midweek, at the City Ground, Nottingham, struggled to keep their antics in check.
But all of the above (plus more) aside; the West London teams tactics, a typical 'away performance' to grind out a draw, which, under the circumstances was probably understandable, given their desperate need for points... and the occasional lapse in concentration from a match official, aren't the main reasons that Garry Monk's side didn't win at home today. That was down to their lack of impetus, momentum and penetration in front of the visitors goal and inability to break down the opposition defence, that was ultimately their undoing, as they drew their third consecutive home game of the season, the last two of which have been goalless.
There have been a few promising signs in several of Birmingham's recent performances this season, that although they are still win-less, with a bit of fine tuning, once they get a few results going their way, it genuinely appears that they'll finish the season higher up the table, than the level they're currently struggling along at, which after the last two seasons would actually be seen as progress. And for the most part. more than acceptable.
But today there wasn't even the slightest glimmer of any of that sort of stuff.
I believe it's still too early for Blues fans to consider hitting the panic button just yet, nobody ever won (or lost) anything in the first week in September, but the next game at home to the Baggies will be a tricky obstacle, then back to back visits to Yorkshire, to face early season pacesetters Sheffield United and Leeds United are going to be a serious test of Monk's team's mettle, but this here Championship division's unpredictability is one of it's more endearing qualities.
And the match referee, Jeremy Simpson, who'd done a decent job of officiating at the game that I had watched in midweek, at the City Ground, Nottingham, struggled to keep their antics in check.
But today there wasn't even the slightest glimmer of any of that sort of stuff.
FT: Birmingham City 0 v Queens Park Rangers 0
So, did the earth move for you? No, me neither!
