06.10.2018… Rotherham (h)…

Birmingham City 3 Rotherham United 1

St. Andrew’s… Saturday October 5th… 3pm

Attendance: 19,795

Ticket: £25 – Programme: £3

After five successive home draws, a first home win of the season courtesy of a Lukas Jutkiewicz hat-trick…

That was the good bit, but then came the bad bit. Newcastle were winning 2-0 at Old Trafford when I got off the train home, unexpected but welcome. By the time I got back to my flat, we’d lost 3-2. Lessons? Their bench is slightly stronger than ours, and we don’t get penalties…

Pre-Match: Birmingham Warm Up…

First Half: Birmingham Take the Lead..

Birmingham City; Camp, Colin Morrison (Roberts 74), Dean, Pedersen, Jota, Kieftenbeld, Gardner, Maghoma (Mahoney 73), Jutkiewicz, Adams (Lubala 90)

Not Used; Solomon-Otabor, Trueman, Lakin, Harding

Goals; Jutkiewicz (20, 23, 68)

Rotherham United; Rodák, Jones, Ayaji, Vaulks, Mattock (YC), Taylor, Palmer (Vyner 88), Manning (Wiles 63), Newell (Vassell 55), Williams, Smith

Not Used; Forde, Price, Onariase, Lewthwaite

Goals; Taylor (77)

As usual, more pictures to follow on flickr…

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29.09.2018… Leicester (h)…

Newcastle United 0 Leicester City 2

St. James’ Park… Saturday September 29th… 3pm

Attendance: 51,523

Ticket: £33 – Programme: £3

Four home games, four defeats. Leicester didn’t even have to play particularly well. Two set piece goals (one penalty, one corner), all they had to do was turn up…

This is exactly what happens when you don’t give your manager a transfer budget, when you sell players but you don’t allow him to replace them. We have no margin for error, everyone has to be at 100%, no mistakes, no injuries. It’s not sustainable…

I’m sure I say this every year, but it’s going to be a long winter. And it really shouldn’t be like this…

A Different View… The Leazes End…

The Second Half… The Match Draws Towards Its Inevitable Conclusion…

Newcastle United; Dubravka, Yedlin (Manquillo 80), Lascelles, Clark, Kenedy, Ritchie (Murphy 65), Shelvey, Diame, Atsu, Joselu, Perez (Muto 69)

Not Used; Darlow, Schar, Hayden, Longstaff

Goals; None

Leicester City; Schmeichel, Amartey, Morgan, Maguire, Chilwell, Mendy, Ndidi, Ricardo Pereira, Iheanacho, Maddison (Iborra 85), Vardy (Albrighton 74)

Not Used; Ward, Evans, Fuchs, Ghezzal, Okazaki

Goals; Vardy (30 pen), Maguire (73)

As usual, more pictures to follow on flickr…

22.09.2018… Sund v Rochdale…

Sunderland 4 Rochdale 1

Stadium of Light…Sept 22nd… 3pm

Attendance: 28,764

Ticket: £20 – Programme: £3

I could have delayed travelling home buy a day, and spent another £100 travelling to South London, as an idea, neither practical nor sensible. Gateshead were away, as were Carlisle, so where to go?

The Stadium of Light was the easiest option. I wasn’t there to gloat, this could so easily be us, but I must admit to being intrigued…

In the event, after a slow start it quickly became a straightforward win for Sunderland. Although at this level, they should all be…

Jon McLaughlin Takes a Goal Kick..

The Closing Stages: Sunderland 4 Rochdale 1…

Sunderland; McLaughlin, Flanagan, Loovens (YC), Baldwin, Hume, Cattermole, McGeouch, Gooch (Oviedo 86), Honeyman, Maguire (McGeady 73), Maja (Sinclair 69)

Not Used; Matthews, O’Nien, James, Ruiter

Goals; Maja (37,45), Gooch (41 pen, 66)

Rochdale; Lillis, Rafferty, McGahey, Delaney, Hart, Camps, Rathbone (Adshead 63), Henderson, Andrew, Wilbraham (Done 63), Gillam (Williams 54)

Not Used; McNulty, Perkins, Moore, Matheson

Goals; Done (71)

As usual, more pictures to follow on flickr…