ANNIVERSARY BLUES FOR DITCHED LEE
HOW Lee Clark must hate February 15. Two years ago he was given the sack by Huddersfield on that date and yesterday suffered misery as his Birmingham side were easily beaten by his former club.
A first-half strike by Oliver Norwood and Adam Clayton’s second-half screamer gave the Terriers a comfortable three points as the Blues home woes continued.
They have just two wins at St Andrew’s all season in the Championship and none since October.
And Clark could not contain his rage afterwards as he furiously attacked his side before storming out of the post-match press conference after taking exception to a question on his future.
“That was probably our worst performance of the season,” he said.
“Our pressing game was absolutely awful. It looks like we have people who fear playing in front of their own supporters which is outrageous. They have not turned on us.
“Their goalkeeper probably had his easiest day in football.We try to convince ourselves about total football but that’s not the British way.
“I put the big man Nikola Zigic on and we still didn’t put balls in! Their defence and keeper must not have been able to believe their luck!
“No-one can be happy putting money into that performance. I want to be in football for my family but they won't be proud of me after that performance.
“It was powder puff. But it’s difficult to put players under pressure when you are passing back to your own goalkeeper. When I played it was important to get the ball in the other goal.
“It was never a onegoal deficit, they were far superior to us.
“But I think I’m doing an unbelievable job under my circumstances.”
Birmingham have not had a good season with the distraction of off the field problems where fans continued to shout for the exit of owner Carson Yeung and acting chairman Peter Pannu.
Huddersfield were in control from the first whistle although Anthony Gerrard missed an early sitter from Paul Dixon’s excellent corner.
But they were ahead on ten minutes as Norwood fired in on the half-volley following a delightful pass by Danny Ward.
Birmingham struggled for any way back after that as they struggled to force any decent chances and Huddersfield with Clayton, Norwood and Ward all having fine games controlled the game.
And the visitors wrapped up the points on the hour with a beauty, Clayton firing in from 25yards.
Birmingham did get an undeserved goal deep into stoppage time as Olly Lee converted from Zigic’s knockdown but it was too late to mount any comeback.
“I thought we controlled the game for long parts and deserved it,” said Terriers boss Mark Robins. “But it would have been great to have the clean sheet.
“They’re great lads, I really enjoy working with the group. Adam Clayton was outstanding and I won’t have a go at him for trying worldies!
“Ward linked the play brilliantly, his overall game was outstanding. We’d like to be challenging for promotion. Are we there yet? No, not at all.
“We will try and get some run of games and wins against teams around us. They are all tough matches coming up, mid-table or not we want to catch the team above us.
“I think the supporters here are brilliant and behind Lee. But they are young all the way through the team.”