Blues’ fans not soothed 1
Hernandez 34,
87
PROTESTING Birmingham supporters surrounded the St Andrew’s directors’ box as their team rediscovered how to win.
There was a standing ovation for Lee Bowyer and the players – but fans were in uncompromising mood having earlier marched to the ground with a message for the owners.
They are angry about a lack of investment and the failure to address the structural faults in a stadium which now has large sections cordoned off for safety reasons. A significant number gathered halfway through the second half to make their views known to director Edward Zheng.
However, there is nothing like a decent performance and three points to swing the moodometer, especially after failing to win the six previous league games.
Boss Bowyer, given a stirring endorsement from the 15,000-or-so crowd, admitted: “They were singing my name a lot which I am always grateful for because it’s tough. I like noise! When they were singing, I think it helped.
“When this stadium is full it’s rocking.”
Cuban star Onel Hernandez provided his first goal for Birmingham, having just joined on loan for Norwich.
The winger, who has spent most of this season at Middlesbrough, was played in by captain Lukas Jutkiewicz and showed composure to beat keeper Bradley Collins.
The lead was doubled by alert Scott Hogan, who scored from the rebound after Teden Mengi’s header from a Ryan Woods corner was blocked.
The Blues’ gain was Barnsley’s pain. The Yorkshire club have not won away at all this season and are sliding rapidly into League One, but they could easily have been ahead were it not for keeper Neil Etheridge, who made three fantastic stops to deny Callum Styles, Victor Adeboyejo and Carlton Morris.
Adeboyejo scored late on to set up a nervy finale.
Barnsley manager Poya Asbaghi, who inherited a nightmare in November, said: “We are not far away. These are the margins you have with you.
“We have to keep going. We have to keep believing.”
Asbaghi also revealed if they have any more Covid cases, Barnsley could ask for Tuesday’s match against Nottingham Forest to be postponed.
BIRMINGHAM: Etheridge 8; Colin 7, Roberts 7, Mengi 7, Pedersen 7; Gardner 6 (Friend, 90), Woods 7, James 7 (Sunjic 68, 5), Hernandez 7 (Bela 83); Jutkiewicz 7, Hogan 6
Subs not used: Trueman, Graham, Bellingham, Campbell
BARNSLEY: Collins 6; Williams 6, Helik 7, Andersen 6, Kitching 6; Gomes 6, Palmer 6 (Moon, 75); Adeboyejo 7, Styles 7 (Thompson 87), Morris 6; Iseka 6 (Cole 63, 5).
Walton, Hondermarck, Sraha, Marsh.
Neil Etheridge. Eithout his first-half saves, Birmingham could have been staring down both barrels.
Tony Harrington 7