No Blues for Cotterill after Adams winner
FOR his first trick, Steve Cotterill turned a team who looked flimsy enough to fall over in the wind into one of sufficient strength to stand up to Neil Warnock’s Cardiff.
For his second, the Birmingham manager aims to lift the club out of the mess he inherited.
Cotterill’s first game in charge since replacing previous permanent manager Harry Redknapp could not have gone better. Three points were won by a wonderful first- half goal from Che Adams and a sturdy defensive rearguard led by skipper Michael Morrison. That it came against Cardiff, top of the table and beaten only once this season, underlines matters. This was a costly loss for Warnock, whose side can be overtaken by Wolves if they beat Aston Villa today.
The breakthrough game in the 19th minute when Neil Etheridge tried to be too clever with a back-pass and looped his clearance only to halfway.
Adams was quick to react, chesting the ball over Lee Peltier an driving towards goal.
Warnock will not be pleased that Adams was allowed to dribble 40 yards without a Cardiff defender making a tackle but the Birmingham striker was in the zone. He checked inside and struck a firm shot into the bottom corner.
Cardiff finally roused into life on the hour when Kenneth Zohore broke and crossed but Morrison again was in the right place to stop a certain goal by Junior Hoilett.