BIRMINGHAM HIT NEW LOWE AFTER DERBY
ALAN PARDEW demanded a response after being let down by West Brom’s stars in Spain. But, if this was it, then the Premier League’s bottom club are doomed.
The Baggies famously beat the drop in 2005 when bottom at Christmas in their so-called own “Great Escape”. But this season currently resembles the plot of an X-rated horror movie.
This latest FA Cup defeat hasn’t cost Albion any precious league points, but a quarter-final spot would have helped restore some pride and confidence at the troubled Midlands club after a shambolic week.
Yet victory never looked likely after a flat, subdued first half against Southampton, who won at The Hawthorns for the second time this month.
Pardew’s men trailed 1-0 inside 11 minutes after leaving Wesley Hoedt unmarked six yards out at a corner. The body language as Albion’s men trudged back to the centre circle, heads down, was abysmal.
New captain Gareth Mcauley, who got the armband from shamed Jonny Evans after the “Taxi-gate” police probe (Saturday’s back page, above), briefly tried to cajole team-mates.
But it had little effect as Saints nearly scored again from another corner moments later, before defender Craig Dawson intervened on the line.
It was inept, schoolboy stuff, which was inexcusable.
Fellow curfew-breaker Gareth Barry didn’t get out of first gear and was subbed. Pardew described his performance as “OK” but, for a player who has been Albion’s most consistent performer this term, this blatantly wasn’t up to his usual standards.
Injured Jake
Livermore and No.2 keeper Boaz Myhill, who completed the
Albion quartet who stayed out until 6am on Thursday morning in Barcelona, did not feature.
Pardew afterwards vowed: “Trust me, I will be there Monday morning bright and early to try and get ourselves ready for Huddersfield (on Saturday).
“The way forward for them is to show us that West Brom is at their heart and deliver us performances when they can.
“We’ve got to try to get a win against Huddersfield and take that momentum into the next few games. “Three wins in this division, as Swansea have proven, changes your position massively, and that’s what we need to do.
“I’ve experienced this situation before. Once I have been relegated, at Charlton, but I’ve got out of this situation before at Newcastle and Crystal Palace, and I’m determined to get out of this one as well.”
But Tony Pulis’ successor will need a massive, urgent improvement with the club seven points from safety after just one win in 25 league games.
Another sorry showing and the club’s Chinese owners may perhaps consider a new P45.
Pardew has already admitted he is vulnerable after Far East owner Guochuan Lai last week axed John Williams and Martin Goodman as chairman and chief executive respectively.
Replacement Mark Jenkins has returned to Albion after leaving in 2016 after 14 years. He has experience of the club bouncing straight back from the Championship, which will be called upon at this rate.
The hosts need injured Liverpool loanee Daniel Sturridge back for the Terriers’ visit to improve their attack.
Salomon Rondon’s spectacular volley, for his seventh this term, quickly halved the deficit after Dusan Tadic made it 2-0 in the 56th minute.
Albion could even have earned a replay as Ahmed Hegazi hit the bar and Rondon’s shot was headed off the line by Ryan Bertrand, as keeper Alex Mccarthy had a blinder.
But even a spirited late fightback, and improved second-half showing, did not disguise the huge problems.
BIRMINGHAM MILLWALL
Onyedinma 77 JASON LOWE wants Birmingham’s players to block out the pain they suffered at Aston Villa last week after they endured a hangover here.
The Blues were pulling away from relegation danger before losing to their local rivals.
With Birmingham looking to recover instantly in front of their deflated fans, Lowe (above) returned to their starting line-up.
Signed by Harry Redknapp last summer, he had not started a league game since Steve Cotterill took over in September.
But he was subbed off at half-time – sacrificed in a formation change. Lowe said: “It’s a disappointing one.
“The Villa game is a massive event for the city, especially the fans. As players, you’ve got to put that to the back of your minds.
“It would have been brilliant to give the fans bragging rights, but that’s been and gone now. Going forward, you’ve got to go out and fight for the three points.
“You shouldn’t be more up for Aston Villa than you would against anybody around us. Every game, you need to be ready.”
Birmingham lacked intensity and Millwall punished them when Fred Onyedinma struck 10 minutes after coming on.
He enjoyed celebrating his first Championship goal, but did not know where the away fans were.
Onyedinma, 21, said: “I was running off towards the other end – then realised our fans were sitting at that end.
“It’s nice to go to nice stadiums and play big teams and get a result. It’s better than League One, I can tell you that.”