Sliding Doors- Birmingham Away

Geddit?

How different it could have all been. But for an 81^st minute goal originating from a ball up to a big man to knock on for the forward thinking midfielder (sound familiar?), we could be talking about our new, improved resilience away from home. The ability to go away to a notoriously point-stingy ground like St Drews and grind out a one-niler. Score, keep it tight and walk away with 3 points and a clean sheet.

But we didn’t, so we can’t.

Such is the nature of the micro-analysis the Totters are subjected to these days, we are obliged to blame Defoe for not closing down and preventing the original ball, Gallas for not beating the Crouch-dwarfer (not quite, but you know what I mean) in the air, and A.N.Other player for not picking up the runner. It never would have happened if Thudd/Kaboul/King/Sinton were on the pitch. To be honest, I find such reasoning tiresome. A fool’s lament. It’s the kind of goal we see every week, and God knows we’ve scored plenty similar. Had we won, would we be mentally tougher than a Vietnamese P.O.W.? We conceded the equaliser, so does that mean we fall apart like a sodden digestive? The truth, my friends, lies somewhere in between.

Brum had won 3, drawn 3 and lost 1 of their home games this season before Saturday. Disappointing, for the second season in a row up there, to once again get so close, dominate the larger part of the game and be unable to find the second goal, which would have almost certainly have led to a big 3 points and left us just 4 off the summit. To quote Harry:

‘’When we came in at half-time, I couldn’t see any other result but three points for us’’

Better sides have, and will, go there and get nothing, so lets look on the bright side. Playing like that will lead to more success than failure, so it’s big picture time. We’ve not lost in a month, 6 games, and that is the form of a good, and continually improving side. A wobbling Chelski up next in the PL, who we haven’t lost to at home in the league for 5 seasons by my count. 3 wins, 1 draw since our last home reverse against these bottom feeders, so let’s keep it going and blow their house right down.

Up tomorrow is Tchventay. Some pre-match thoughts beforehand I shouldn’t wonder.