The honeymoon isn't quite over but thoughts are certainly turning to the pile of bills awaiting the newlyweds upon their return. Having won everything in sight since Souness's arrival we failed to defeat a Birmingham side we really should be looking to beat. After just three minutes things looked to be going fine, Jenas calmly slotting home the parry from Kluivert's shot. We could have wrapped it up in the opening 15-20 minutes. But we didn't and as the game progressed we began to look more and more like a team who had been to Israel and back during the week, our play becoming increasingly sloppy and frustrating.
Pegged back to level terms at half time Bellamy found himself in a prefered role alongside Shearer during the second half, but the supply was still lacking and it was the opposition who capitilised. Having falling behind, and still not looking likely to do anything about it, some credit must certainly go to the manager. His predicessor was oft criticised for having few tactical options, and the number of triple substitutions made with fifteen minutes left did at times smell of desperation. Souness saw what was needed and changed things to a more attacking formation, with three across the back and Robert on. Things soon improved, though it must be said this seemed partly because pretty much every player was now playing roughly where they are supposed to rather than the wrong side of the pitch or completly out of postition. Butt struck a fine shot to equalise with a goal which had been coming.
The last twenty or so minutes were frantic, either side could easily have won. The problem with the nice attacking formation became quickly apparent. With four at the back we struggle to cope so with three we were at times in danger of being truely overwhelmed. Back to the four then, in a tinkering move it is hard to contemplate Bobby ever having made (he would have had no subs left by now). In the end that settled us for a draw, which is probably a fair result. There in itself is a problem. As mentioned at the start of this post, Birmingham are a side we must look to beat, not cling on to a draw earned by some risky gung-ho play. There's time off for internationals now. And time to work some sense into the weaker part of the game (the defence). Hopefully we can improve more in time for the TV watching us at Charlton.
(@12:10)
