Friday night finds us in a box at The Hawthorns watching West Bromwich Albion take on Birmingham City. It's the first part of the special birthday celebrations for a very special lady. Edna, a dear friend from church has just turned ninety and she's determined to mark the event in style.
The
hospitality and the food are first-rate. Two former WBA players
visit bearing a bouquet of beautiful flowers and a box containing a blue and white
iced birthday-cake. Pictures are taken then it's out into the seats.
Sadly, WBA fall behind to an early headed goal by Gary Gardiner. Pushed back constantly by Birmingham they are fortunate to go in at half-time just a goal down. The second-half, however, starts in a very different fashion. A lovely free-kick from WBA skipper Chris Brunt is met by Dwight Gayle who heads home for the equaliser. It's game on!
Once more WBA fall behind as Luke Jutkiewicz out-jumps Jay Rodriguez to head home a Birmingham City corner. The advantage is neutralised again just nine minutes later following a controversial penalty award. Rodriguez puts away the goal, his seventh successive penalty conversion of the season.
The icing on the cake comes in the seventy third minute when Jake Livermore slots in a beautifully hit shot. The crowd is jubilant and goes out singing into the night.
We stay behind to let the traffic disperse and are given a short pitch-side tour of the now emptied stadium. What a night and what a marvelous way for Edna to mark her special birthday!!
And so to the match itself, and what a match it proves to be!
Birmingham have us on the back foot for most of the first half and look by far the most likely to score. It therefore comes as little surprise when Lukas Jutkiewicz heads their opening goal half an hour in.
Things almost go from bad to worse as a shot from Che Adams hits the post with Orjan Nyland left stranded and motionless. It proves to be the trigger that stirs Villa into life. Two fantastic crosses from man of the match, Albert Adomah, are met first by Jonathan Kodjia then by Jack Grealish. The crowd erupts and Villa head in for the break two-one up.
The second half starts in similar style. With just five minutes gone Tammy Abraham is fouled in the box by Michael Morrison. He takes the penalty himself and calmly slots it into the back of the net.
Two goals up and you would have thought it was all plain sailing from here on in. However, Birmingham have different ideas. They've fought with dogged determination and resolute spirit throughout the match and a goal from Kristian Pedersen on the hour mark pulls them back into the game.
Villa are not to be denied, though. Alan Hutton scores a sublime solo goal, taking the ball all the way from ten yards inside his own half to the other end of the pitch before taking aim and firing. The two goal lead is restored and Villa see out the reminder of the game safely to the rapturous applause of the home crowd.
What a derby! All credit to Birmingham who came here looking for a result. They look impressive under manager, Garry Monk, and it won't be long until they bounce back.
