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| Charlie Nicholas; Match Prediction | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Dec 4 2005, 10:25 PM (155 Views) | |
| k-bek | Dec 4 2005, 10:25 PM Post #1 |
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Mikael Forssell
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Posted Image It might only have been Sunderland and a penalty shoot-out win over Millwall, but the last week could be huge for Birmingham City. They might have stumbled through at the Stadium of Light, but the important thing was to stay in touch with the pack and not get left behind with the poor old Black Cats. And being in the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup should give the whole club a boost. It will have given the players that little bit of confidence and it will give the crowd a lift. The key now for Birmingham is to carry on against West Ham. They have had terrible trouble with injuries and they could be without Emile Heskey for this, but I do think they can build on the past few days. Yes they were getting beat, but if you look back at their results, they were all by the odd goal. Some of them were also down to individual errors at the back, but no-one has really turned them over since Middlesbrough back in August, so they have never been a million miles away. The only real problem was they were not creating chances. I know Stevie Bruce quite well and I know he likes his sides to play a basic 4-4-2, geared towards the front two. They are the ones he relies on, but although they have to create chances themselves, they do depend on good service. That has been missing, but with two wins in a week under their belt, the likes of Jermaine Pennant should now have that extra belief to go out there and attack sides - particularly at home. With the crowd behind them I would expect them to come flying at West Ham, but the one thing that will stand the Hammers in good stead will be the shape and organisation they seem to have added to their game since coming up. We all thought they would struggle defensively, but that has not been the case. I am a huge admirer of Anton Ferdinand and he has been typical of the way they have defended this season. They work hard, they close people down and Roy Carroll has been an inspired signing. West Ham have always been tailored to going forward, but Alan Pardew and my good mate Peter Grant seem to have found a nice balance. They might not be quite the same West Ham we all know and love, but they still play great football and they still pose a threat going forward. Teddy Sheringham is proving that link-up players are like gold-dust and Marlon Harewood has got some goals this season, when I thought he might struggle. They are missing Nigel Reo-Coker's energy and although he doesn't score many, Kevin Nolan at Bolton has proved just what a difference six or seven goals from midfield can make. I have to say I don't think Roy Keane will be joining them either, in a nutshell. But I think they might like someone with his physical presence on Monday, because Birmingham will be fully committed to making it three wins from three. CHARLIE SAYS Home win - Believe it nor not, I can see there being plenty of goals in this. Birmingham may well be back in trouble after the weekend results, but by the same token, they will know that they need a win to stay in touch with the pack. The crowd at St Andrew's will be pumped up and if they can get the first goal, I can really see them kicking on and getting a big win. The one thing West Ham have to be prepared for is the aggression Birmingham will bring to the game - that is when they are at their best. The Hammers are well suited to catching teams on the break and they do have a goal in them, so I am going to go for 3-1. Does Nicholas know? Birmingam to win 3-1 is 16/1 with Sky Bet. Click here for full odds! CHARLIE'S CHOICE Jermaine Pennant (Birmingham) - He has been on the fringe of things of late, but there is also the feeling that he is on the verge of big things for Birmingham. We all know he has loads of ability and he keeps telling us how keen he is to repay Steve Bruce's faith in him and I just think this might be the game, under the lights, in front of the Monday Night Football cameras, where he does that. He may not score, but I certainly expect him to be involved in Birmingham's goals. Does Nicholas know? Pennant to score is 10/3 with with Sky Bet Click here for full odds! |
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8:21 AM Jul 11