Ad-a-go hero lifts Cotterill’s strugglers
CHE ADAMS’ early strike lifted Birmingham out of the bottom three as Steve Cotterill’s strugglers saw off Nottingham Forest at St Andrew’s.
The visitors had won four of their previous six games to close in on the play-off pack.
But Birmingham, without a win in four going into the game, made a blistering start.
They stormed into an early lead thanks to a superb fifth-minute goal from Adams.
Sam Gallagher’s pass put the former Sheffield United striker in the clear and he calmly pulled the ball back and fired a low, angled shot into the far corner.
Birmingham assistant manager Lee Carsley said: “It was a massive win and much-needed.
“We were hanging on at times during the second half but we would have taken any kind of win.
“When you start a run of winning games, the first one is generally a little bit ugly and that was the case.”
The Blues should have increased their lead after the early opener but Adams failed to take advantage of a low cross from Gallagher.
Ben Brereton fired in a shot which was deflected just over as Forest looked for the equaliser and a powerful low drive from Tyler Walker was well saved by Blues keeper Tomasz Kuszczak.
Adams was proving a real handful and the goalscorer set up Maikel Kieftenbeld but he could not take the chance.
Forest, though, were starting to build some promising attacks and Ben Osborn almost equalised.
At the other end Jota and Marc Roberts both went close to adding a second for Blues before half-time.
Forest pushed hard for the equaliser after the break and Barrie McKay, Jason Cummings and Zach Clough all had chances.
But Birmingham’s defence held out for a much-needed win to climb out of the relegation zone.
Forest boss Mark Warburton said: “It was frustrating. We gave a soft goal away and in the second half there was one team in it but we lacked a bit of finesse on the final pass today.”
JOSE MOURINHO took out his frustration over ‘injectiongate’ by sticking the needle into old rival Rafa Benitez.
The Manchester United manager was upset when defender Phil Jones was ruled out after being given six injections by England while on international duty.
But Mourinho was happier last night as his side hit back to win against Benitez’s Newcastle, who have now lost three matches in succession.
United made it a club record 38 home matches without defeat, on a night when Paul Pogba made a powerful return.
Mourinho said: “I am pleased for the three points, the quality of our performance after Newcastle’s goal, that mentality to react without panic and in a positive way – and obviously the return of injured players is nice, especially in Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s case.
“His was such a dramatic injury. To see him back is a great emotion.
“Paul Pogba is different class. It was a great performance from him.”
After Dwight Gayle had given the Geordies the lead, United responded through Anthony Martial, Chris Smalling, a comeback goal by Pogba and Romelu Lukaku.
It also meant another landmark as United set a post-war record by winning their first nine home matches of the season in all competitions.
Benitez was aiming to become the first visiting manager to win at Old Trafford with three different clubs, having done so with Liverpool and Chelsea.
And the Toon boss certainly adopted a bold approach.
Benitez went into battle with a 4-4-2 formation, although Isaac Hayden was sitting deep in midfield, just in front of the back four.
Hayden soon made his mark – on Juan Mata. His foul from behind was punished with a yellow card.
And Benitez made his, too, as his attacking plan was rewarded with a 14th-minute goal by Gayle – his first of the season.
United centre-back Victor Lindelof slipped when DeAndre Yedlin crossed low from the right and Gayle’s right-foot shot went in off the post.
It was the first league goal conceded by United at Old Trafford this season.
Jacob Murphy then shot across the face of the goal and just wide as United looked uncomfortable at the back.
Earlier, Lukaku swept an Antonio Valencia cross over the top and the United striker also headed too high from Lindelof ’s delivery.
But the Red Devils equalised in the 37th minute with a goal brilliantly created by Pogba on his return after a 12-game absence with a hamstring injury. The Frenchman beat Hayden before crossing for Martial to head down and in.
Ciaran Clark almost headed into his own net before United appealed for a penalty. He appeared to pull Lukaku’s shirt but referee Craig Pawson took the view that it was six of one and half-a-dozen of the other.
But United took the lead in first-half added time. Ashley Young crossed from the left for Smalling to head home at the far post.
Newcastle, however, almost levelled the scores immediately. David de Gea kept out Hayden’s weak effort and when the ball broke to Matt Ritchie, his shot hit Gayle and flew just wide.
Martial had a chance at the beginning of the second half but he lost his footing after Lukaku had crossed.
United did increase their lead in the 54th minute, though, through man of the match Pogba.
Mata sent Lukaku clear on the right and his cross found the hard-running Marcus Rashford, who headed across the face of the goal for Pogba to apply the finishing touch.
Newcastle, though, continued to be a threat and De Gea made a fine save from a curling effort by Murphy.
But 20 minutes from time, Lukaku powered his way through the Magpies’ defence and drilled a left-foot shot into the roof of the net.
That strike ended the big Belgian’s seven-game scoring drought.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic also made his return as a substitute after cruciate knee-ligament surgery and almost scored with a volley.
The Swede, whose every touch was greeted with a cheer, said: “This feels special. Different day, same quality. I’m not worried at all. I train hard, sacrifice a lot. I play in my head, my knee just needs to follow.
“Was I worried about returning? No. Lions don’t recover like humans.”
Newcastle boss Benitez said: “There has been a massive difference in the money spent by the two clubs and you could see that.
“When you spend so much you get quality.
“After taking the lead it was important to get to half-time in front, but we couldn’t do that.”