Joy one week, despair the next week, that's what life has been like for all Birmingham City fans this season. Consistency is the one thing that Lee Clark's men have lacked all year. Three wins in a row is the longest run of conistent results this season, two wins, two draws or two defeats in a row is about as good as it gets in terms of consistency, but now the Blues seem to be showing their true colours.On the other hand, Crystal Palace will be looking to re-group after a dismall display infront of another big home crowd, who's expectations have risen with the clubs stature. No Zaha and Palace struggled to find anything creative. Bolasie seemed the only Palace player who showed any flare, and a one man army wasn't enough. Saying they were abysmal may be slightly too harsh, but I'm sure that is no where near as harsh as Ian Hollaway's team talk after the game.
For the opening 20 minutes, Palace has the lion's share of possession, but all the ball hogging meant very little on 23 minutes when a mazy run by Nathan Redmond ended in a low left footed drive into the bottom corner. The goal boosted the Blues confidence and Ravel Morrison and Nathan Redmond led the team, running towards the Palace defence at pace, at every opportunity. Then Birmingham's pressure finally paid off. Firstly Morrison was denied magnificently by Speroni at point blank range, but from the resulting corner, slack marking was punished as Zigic found enough space to plant his header into the back of the net, albeit coming off Delaney's head last.
Palace tried to get a foot hold in the game before the half time whistle, but failed to create any meanigful opportunities, despite plenty of possession in Birmingham territory.
Then early in the second half came a quick but brief Palace onslaught. Firstly Dobbie's shot from just outside the area was tipped wide by Jack Butland before Kevin Phillips was found right at the far post where he tipped the ball across goal but the ball rolled agonizingly wide. Despite the continued control of possession for Palace it was Birmingham that found the crucial third goal of the game. It came when Ferguson did brilliantly to cross the ball back to the edge of the area where Morrison came sprinting in to slide the ball under Speroni, for a well deserved goal.
Then on 68 minutes came the goal of the night, as Shane Ferguson curled home a freekick from the edge of the area into the top left hand corner. It was a quite magnificent goal, and one that will have Newscastle licking their lips when he returns to the North East side.
Several chances then went begging for Palace, Moritz the culprit more than once, as the game fizzled out.
As magnificent as this was for Birmingham, they have to now use this momentum to strive towards a top half finish. With the quality of their side they ARE capable of contend for promotion. So the question remains, who are the real Birmingham City?
Man of the Match: Nathan Redmond wins this in most people's books but I'm going with a man that contributed just as much on the offensive end, Ravel Morrison. Ravel drove at the Palace defence and got the goal his team performance deserved. A big mention should also go to Paul Robinson who would no doubt have won man of the match had their not been such a great offensive showing by Birmingham.
