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Match Report: Ipswich 0-1 Birmingham | Help spread the word: Share on Facebook 
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Birmingham City got the win they needed after their defeat to Reading thanks to Moritz Volz’s handball. Paul Bloomfield reports.Ipswich were the team on top in the opening exchanges but failed to make their superiority count, before being dealt a blow on 28 minutes when Danny Haynes’ was forced to come off through injury, with Jon Walters coming on as his replacement. The key moment in the match came after 38 minutes when Volz handled from Kemy Augustien’s cross. Volz seemingly misjudged his header and the ball dropped onto his outstretched arm. The referee pointed to the spot and James McFadden made no mistake and gave Birmingham the lead against the run of play. The closest Town came to getting back on terms in the second half were efforts on goal from free-kicks from Darren Ambrose and Ivan Campo, but the 3 points headed to the West Midlands. The visitors did very little throughout the game, but crucially; they were not troubled anywhere near enough in the second half. Town’s good play effectively ended when Haynes’ left the field through injury, and certainly from Birmingham’s penalty onwards; the Blues did little to threaten the Birmingham goal. Ivan Campo was one of the few plus points to come out of the game, with the Spaniard putting in an assured performance in the centre of the Town defence. It appears that he could be a better option than Richard Naylor who has always had his critics since he made the switch to a defender, but has been playing particularly poorly in recent times. Whilst it wasn’t a game in which you would expect the Blues to win comfortably, the result further increases the pressure on Town boss Jim Magilton. Even if Town owner Marcus Evans is intent on giving Jim the rest of the season, a growing number of Town fans are losing patience and feel that a new manager is required. Ipswich: R.Wright, Volz (Counago 74), McAuley, Campo, Thatcher, Norris, Miller, Quinn (Ambrose 58), Haynes (Walters 28), Lisbie, Stead. Subs not used: Supple, Balkestein, Counago. Booked: Volz, Miller. Birmingham: Taylor, Parnaby, Jaidi, Ridgewell, Queudrue, Murphy, Carsley, Agustien, Johnson (Hunt 65), McFadden (Bent 69), Jerome. Subs not used: Doyle, Phillips, Owusu-Abeyie. Booked: Parnaby, Ridgewell Click to view author Paul Bloomfield's profile Fancy writing for LiveFootball? Click here to find out more. |