v Birmingham City (h) - 16/8/25

[Staffordshire Rover]

Harshly done there today, I personally think a draw was fair but to lose the game like that so late on is heartbreaking. 
I’m not having that was a pen, both legs collapsed at the same time, they were tied together! But that ref always has that in him.
Axel has to commit more of a foul when they break to score the winner!
Fuck Pasha and Venky’s we go again

[RevidgeBlue]

8 minutes ago, Miller11 said:

That’s exactly what happens when you are a club in crisis. Things don’t go your way, often in the cruelest manner. 

The big concern for me is that I don’t think that group of players could’ve done much more today. They played to pretty much the best of their collective ability. Anyone denying we have significantly downgraded over the summer is deluded. The result of managed decline was on display today.

I think today will be a pretty good indicator of what is to come all season. Lots of huffing and puffing. Not much quality. Plenty of disappointment.

The way we imploded today was extremely reminiscent of the way we were unable to hold onto a lead for neither love nor money towards the end of a game under Owen Coyle.

Think I remember us losing one game 3-2 when we were 2-0 up on 85 mins.

[joey_big_nose]

2 minutes ago, RutlandRover said:

Optimistic point of view: VI's first half dozen games were absolutely appalling then they seem to get their shit together. Maybe it's the same sort of situation with a lot of new players in the squad?

Yes - straws, clutching and all that.

We're playing, well at least defending, a lot better than his first few games with us. 

TBH feels like defensively we are in a pretty good place, but we need to figure out what we are doing offensively. Cantwell looks improved, and Ohashi is irrepressible as always, but beyond that we dont seem to have many ideas. I think id be looking to sign two proven attacking players in the next two weeks.

[chaddyrovers]

Undeserved loss. We deserved alot more at least a point if not the win. 

First half compact and solid. No early goal conceded. Big plus me. Didn't created as much as we should have done with better passes. 

Second half, much better. Cantwell great strike. Kargbo unlucky not to score. Ball just drifted wrong side of the post. 

Don't know if it penalty. Too far away for a proper view. Even then Gueye always got the winner. 

On the winner, we were too attacking trying to win. At that stage I would have took a point. Keep 1 back and 2 on the edge..we didnt and cost us a point and all 3. 

Gutted tonight.

Players put a proper shift in. Fans fantastic and great talking to people you haven't spoken too for ages. 

Deserved much more than we got. 

COYB🔵⚪️!!!

[USABlue]

5 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Lol. I know you're disappointed with the result but when you're in a hole stop digging.

It's exactly as roverandout said you're a really good poster most of the time but when it comes to referees you lose any and all perspective.

You mean he does not support the refs with their shit decisions or he does, I missed it.  I am jn the conspiracy theory camp.  Just happens too consistently.  Surely if the refs were just crap it would be going both ways but no it does not.  OK imma off that soap box for this week 

[yankfan]

34 minutes ago, booth said:

De Neve looks horrible. I hope we never ever bring him on again when we're trying to hold onto a lead.

Miles off it. Worse yet he came on and should have been fresh compared to others. Did nothing going forward and squarely responsible for their first goal. 

[MarkBRFC]

Played fine until it mattered, and were worth the win as we entered the 90th minute.

Unfortunately you have to see games out.

Loser mentality from a loser club, there will be many more days like this, this season.

[alcd]

23 minutes ago, riverholmes said:

Buckley’s been a major disappointment but unless there’s an injury can see no justification having Montgomery on the bench over him.

The persistence with Montgomery is delusional. He shouldn't be anywhere near the matchday squad .

[...]

23 minutes ago, AvRover said:

There's a lot of dross in this division and crisis ridden clubs - that's our saving grace. Even at this stage of the season, Hull next week is a big "do not lose, should be winning" fixture.

That's we'll  lose but go on to beat sheff united 😑

[MarkBRFC71]

27 minutes ago, Andy said:

Just got home, thought it was 2 poor sides today - but we should have won that.

Couple of good chances after Cantwell's very well taken goal.
Thought we defended well enough to restrict them to long shots, until we made the changes.

Couldn't say we missed Travis at all today, Tavares offers at least what LT did in terms of ability.
Toth is levels above Pears and I thought Hyam had a good game. It was even one of Hedges' better games for us also.

But we absolutely need reinforcements at the top end, it goes without saying.
If not, it's going to be a long season.

Edit: just to add on B'ham. For the numbers they brought, their fans were pretty shit.
And I'm sure the irony of Birmingham City chanting 'who the fucking hell are you' to Blackburn Rovers was lost on them.

Wasn’t overly impressed with Tavares today tbh.  Bit too casual, and 90% of his passing was 5 yards too short or long.  And the corner - one of the worst I’ve ever seen.

 

[Tomphil2]

Way better than expected, should have had something but my piss is boiling at the needless get them some mins subs at the end of normal time, or near it.

Seen that happen way too many times here no matter who is boss it's a recurring flaw, subs, conceded, fall apart at the end.

Pig sick !

[Neal]

Well, after a poor first half from both teams I didn't think it was a game we deserved to lose. That said, it just feels like there's bad ju ju around the place at the moment that this manager is simply not good enough to mask like the other managers we've had. I thought Birmingham were poor and our midfield let us down and handed them the game. I feel sorry for Kargbo and a few others who grafted and didn't get anything out of the game. I thought AK had a great game. Tavares was really poor, he looks tidy and a capable player but he let us down today. 

 

I can see this being a long season with a lot of performances and results like that. 

 

Took my 8 year old son for first time in a while, didn't help getting him to support Rovers much as he's saying he's not keen on going back... I don't blame him, neither am I.  

 

 

[bluebruce]

9 minutes ago, Staffordshire Rover said:

Axel has to commit more of a foul when they break to score the winner!

He committed enough of a foul, the ref gestured play on. Which means he thought it was a foul but was playing advantage.

[LDRover]

We're in bother aren't we? Everything points to it, bad luck, questionable referee decisions, further reduction in investment, dwindling crowds and shithouses running the show.

Need to pop a cork in it on the pitch with something from the Hull game or this will unravel very very quickly.

[StHelensRover]

All these people who are talking about how well we played, did we watch the same match?

We've had 3 shots on target in 2 matches. We weren't playing PSG or Liverpool. 

I have no idea whether it was a pen or not as didn't get good view from BBE. Sadly it has cost us and also sadly it is giving people an excuse to say we were hard done by.

I thought Birmingham were dreadful, completely different to how they played against Ipswich, no intensity and created very little. Yet we managed two shots against them in 100 minutes. They were rubbish today and so were we.

Edited August 16 by StHelensRover

[Staffordshire Rover]

3 minutes ago, bluebruce said:

He committed enough of a foul, the ref gestured play on. Which means he thought it was a foul but was playing advantage.

Take him out properly and the game stops, do a soft clip and the ref waves play on

[alex l]

Jackson has said VI said no comment to all Travis questions - but he apologised for doing so. This has got JDT repeat all over it. 

[OllieNO]

This is exactly the kind of performance that will gets us relegated. 

[aletheia]

3 hours ago, Paul Mellelieu said:

King JE on a roll.

Sad comment.

They could beat WBA though.

[London blue]

Well, now even if we're winning going into the final 5 mins teams will believe there's a way back, and we'll be fearful of losing.

This is going to be a fucker of a season.

[Cherry Blue]

Threw it away. We played a better side and credit to Cantwell scored a cracking goal. Penalty was fault of a few but mainly DeNeve. Put your through it lad instead of standing still like an idiot. Instructions were to high press with Toth taking a free kick well in their area. Fool football from our manager but he'll be either sacked or will walk by November.  

This is an exciting summer!

[Paul Mani]

Wow, that was a kick in the bolloxks.

Solid performance, completely nullified Birmingham and never ever looked like losing the game. A day of 7’s across the board and we defended well.

Tavares tired in the second half and the tackle for the penalty, though harsh, looked a tired one. The second goal was scandalous. Whoever agreed to put every player in their box with zero defensive cover needs shooting.

Overriding - we’re a decent championship side, but we have next to zero in the final third and the subs are even worse. We will be relegation fodder unless we sort it. I’m fuckin wounded I decided to part with £500 to punish myself like this until next May!

[Ianrally]

30 minutes ago, Proudtobeblue&white said:

Three words...FUCK OFF VENKYS.

Let’s get the ‘what3words’ app owners to make that the location of Ewood Park.

[Exiled in Toronto Mk2]

A last ten minutes to forget for Tavares: left a leg dangling for the pen, tired corner, let the cross come in, but he must’ve been out on his feet.

We can’t keep going with swapping between Ohashi and Papi, they demand completely different styles of play. If I were VI, I’d go 5 at the back with Miller on the right of the three CBs - a team who create so few chances can’t not have his throw (I’d also narrow the pitch a yard on either side), and have both Papi/Yuki as the front two.

[Tomphil2]

6 minutes ago, alex l said:

Jackson has said VI said no comment to all Travis questions - but he apologised for doing so. This has got JDT repeat all over it. 

Won't be long before he's saying 'ask my Directors' just as JDT did before him and even the ultra toeing the line Tony did by the end.

The press should be demanding these clowns front up and let the coach get on with coaching.