Bela rings for Blues
AT LAST! Their fans weren’t there to witness it and probably can’t believe it, but Blues have won a game.
Jeremie Bela’s first-half header gave Birmingham their first victory since February.
That dismal 16-game run saw Blues slump close to relegation and did for manager Pep Clotet.
His successor Aitor Karanka, said: “I am very pleased for the fans, even though they weren’t here today.
“There were bad times for seven months. At least they can enjoy it now. And have one pint... at least!”
But Birmingham were lucky. They needed 19-year-old keeper Zach Jeacock to make a double save to preserve the lead.
Jeacock was a shock choice to make his debut after Neil Etheridge had signed for £2million from Cardiff.
Etheridge sat on the bench though, and Karanka revealed he had told Jeacock on Tuesday that he was playing.
“Jeacock was calm and he took that confidence and calm onto the pitch,” said Karanka. “If he was nervous he didn’t show it. Etheridge only joined us on Friday and didn’t know the players.
“I told our goalkeeping coach on Tuesday that Jeacock would be playing and to get him ready.”
Jeacock, 6ft 3in, Birmingham-born and a Blues fan, only became a keeper five years ago.
And yet here he was saving a low, close-range header from Brentford sub Emiliano Marcondes, and his follow-up shot, in the 62nd minute.
Bela’s goal was excellent. New winger Ivan Sanchez struck a superb corner and Bela, running to the near post connected well with his head.
Brentford might have strolled this one – except that Bryan Mbeumo missed a hat-trick.
He had one shot blocked, skied a gift into the empty seats, and blew another decent chance.
Josh Dasilva thundered a shot against the post and a Sergi Canos overhead kick hit the bar too.
Birmingham also beat Brentford 1-0 in the opening game of last season despite being dominated.
Bees boss Thomas Frank sighed: “We had seven chances to Birmingham’s two. We definitely should have got the equaliser. We deserved to win.
“Back last season Birmingham had only one chance against us, so they improved on that.
“On another day we could have won by three or four. We did more than enough to win.”
Jeacock 8, Colin 7, Dean 6, Friend 7, Pedersen 7, Sunjic 7, Clayton 6, Sanchez 7 (George 74, 5), Toral 6 (Crowley 67, 6), Bela 9, Jutkiewicz 7 (Gardner 90).
Etheridge, Roberts, Kieftenbeld, Dacres-cogley.
Daniels 6, Dalsgaard 6, Jansson 7, Pinnock 7, Henry 7, Jensen 4 (Marcondes 8, 6; Fosu 77), Norgaard 7, Dasilva 7, Canos 6 (Forss 72, 5), Toney 6, Mbeumo 5
Balcombe, Thompson, Goode, Zamburek
Jeremie Bela. Small man who got a big winner for Blues.
Tony Harrington 7