Match Report


Birmingham CityBirmingham City     SunderlandSunderland
Computer Player Computer Player Computer Player Computer Player
Terry ScholesT. Scholes55
G
1captain
G
63Romero P. FernandezR. Fernandez
Harvey CooperH. Cooper71
D
2
D
59Craig GowerC. Gower
Terry SimonsenT. Simonsen68
D
3
D
59Diego Di NataleD. Di Natale
Gianmarco PivottoG. Pivotto65
D
4
D
58Kai SparwasserK. Sparwasser
Patrick PearceP. Pearce74
M
captain5
D
56Eoin GardnerE. Gardner
Brian GardnerB. Gardner71
M
6
M
61Ricardo VelosoR. Veloso
Nicholas CharltonN. Charlton50
M
7
M
60Thomas JanesT. Janes
Graham VieiraG. Vieira50
M
8
M
57Jakob ArendtJ. Arendt
Oliver HallerO. Haller73
A
9
M
57Peter DublinP. Dublin
Graham CarterG. Carter54
A
10
A
64Wayne DichioW. Dichio
Massimo PoloniaM. Polonia54
A
11
A
62John BlinkerJ. Blinker
 
Stuart SwiftS. Swift58
D
12
A
62Graham RankinG. Rankin
Noel PhilipsN. Philips56
D
13
A
58Danny MurrinD. Murrin
Andy FerdinandA. Ferdinand50
G
14
D
56Nuno SemedoN. Semedo

SkateUK
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Match Report
An overcast sky looms overhead here at St Andrews where Birmingham City play host to Sunderland. A crowd of 7,899 fill this 10,000 capacity stadium.
The pitch is in poor condition.
Birmingham City are playing in a 3-4-3 formation while Sunderland appear to be shaped for 4-4-2.
Today's match is refereed by Darren Keane.


0.00
Sunderland kick off and get the first half underway!
9.19
Nicholas Charlton flicks the ball to his team mate, Oliver Haller. Oliver Haller whips in a cross ball towards Massimo Polonia. Massimo Polonia directs the ball goalwards with his head but connects badly and the ball goes wide!
12.51
Jakob Arendt plays the ball forward to Wayne Dichio. Wayne Dichio shoots from 20 yards. Wonderful reactions from Terry Scholes keeps it out!
14.47
Patrick Pearce hits a low pass to Graham Carter. Graham Carter plays a one-two with Massimo Polonia and advances towards the goal... Graham Carter takes a shot at goal. The ball swerves viciously but the keeper is a match for it. Superb keeping!
15.43
Ricardo Veloso surges forward with the ball. Ricardo Veloso knocks in a cross ball towards John Blinker. John Blinker directs the ball goalwards with his head which easily beats the keeper. Goal!!
18.00
Terry Simonsen knocks the ball to his team mate, Nicholas Charlton. Nicholas Charlton makes a probing pass to Oliver Haller. Oliver Haller shoots from long range but it flies just wide!
20.19
Gianmarco Pivotto takes a short throw-in bringing Harvey Cooper into play. Harvey Cooper kicks a strong pass forward to Nicholas Charlton. Nicholas Charlton hits a low pass to Massimo Polonia. Massimo Polonia kicks a strong pass forward to Oliver Haller but the referee indicates it's offside!
22.39
Peter Dublin controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Wayne Dichio. Wayne Dichio shoots from 25 yards but it goes wide for a goal kick.
27.50
Gianmarco Pivotto sees Nicholas Charlton in space ahead and quickly passes the ball. Nicholas Charlton flicks a high pass forward to Oliver Haller who brings the ball under control. Oliver Haller shoots from long range but Romero P. Fernandez is on top of it.
28.55
Kai Sparwasser flicks a high ball forward to Jakob Arendt who takes it down. Jakob Arendt chips the ball to his team mate, John Blinker. John Blinker finds some space and shoots from distance. The keeper is more than a match for it. Good save!
30.22
Nicholas Charlton flicks the ball to his team mate, Graham Carter. Graham Carter knocks in a cross ball but it is headed clear by Diego Di Natale.
34.53
Ricardo Veloso makes a probing pass to Wayne Dichio. Wayne Dichio controls the ball perfectly and tries a long range shot on goal. Terry Scholes gathers the ball up comfortably. Top class keeping!
38.56
Graham Vieira takes a quick throw-in. Brian Gardner controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Oliver Haller. Oliver Haller sees the keeper off his line and tries a speculative shot on goal. The ball comes in low, but Romero P. Fernandez easily smothers it!
39.11
Peter Dublin knocks the ball forward to Wayne Dichio. Wayne Dichio finds some space and shoots from distance but it sails harmlessly over the bar!
42.42
Patrick Pearce clumsily knocks into Jakob Arendt. The referee calls over Patrick Pearce and warns him to calm down! Jakob Arendt hobbles a bit, but should be okay.
44.49
Eoin Gardner makes a strong solo run forward. Eoin Gardner threads a neat ball through to Wayne Dichio. Wayne Dichio shoots from long range. Superb reactions from Terry Scholes. What a save!
45.00
The referee blows for the end of the first half

Both teams emerge for the second half. Birmingham City appear unchanged since the first half. Sunderland also appear unchanged since the first half. The Birmingham City players look more relaxed than they did at the start of the game.

45.00
The whistle blows and Birmingham City get the second half underway!
60.55
Brian Gardner makes a probing pass to Massimo Polonia. Massimo Polonia runs straight at the defence! Massimo Polonia cuts inside the defence and shoots at goal. The ball strikes Kai Sparwasser's outstretched foot and is deflected wide.
65.48
Jakob Arendt kicks a strong pass forward to John Blinker. John Blinker knocks in a poor cross ball which is cleared easily by Harvey Cooper.
66.02
Jakob Arendt runs straight at the opposition's defence. Jakob Arendt chips the ball to his team mate, John Blinker. Some world-class footwork from John Blinker provides some space. He scuffs the ball at goal. Magnificent block by Harvey Cooper!
72.52
Peter Dublin flicks a high ball forward to John Blinker who takes it down. John Blinker shoots from long range. Solid save from Terry Scholes.
81.21
Terry Simonsen sees space and advances. Terry Simonsen makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Oliver Haller. Oliver Haller lofts in a cross ball towards Massimo Polonia. Massimo Polonia makes a deft header his aim is horrendously poor!
83.59
Jakob Arendt flicks a high pass forward. Wayne Dichio holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Wayne Dichio knocks in a poor cross ball which is cleared easily by Terry Simonsen.
84.31
Harvey Cooper flicks a high pass forward. Patrick Pearce holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Patrick Pearce kicks a strong pass forward to Massimo Polonia. Massimo Polonia knocks in a cross ball but it is headed clear by Kai Sparwasser.
85.30
Seeing a gap ahead, Kai Sparwasser plays the ball forward to Jakob Arendt. Jakob Arendt threads the ball through to Wayne Dichio. Wayne Dichio knocks in a cross ball which is cleared by the defence.
87.28
Diego Di Natale controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Peter Dublin. Peter Dublin kicks a strong pass forward to Wayne Dichio. Wayne Dichio shoots from outside the area but somehow Terry Scholes manages to keep it out.
89.56
Jakob Arendt makes a beautiful solo run. Jakob Arendt makes a pass forward but John Blinker makes his run far too early. Offside by a mile!
90.00
The referee whistles full-time!

Match Statistics
 

Birmingham City

Sunderland
Goals
0
1
Shots on Target
4
8
Shots off Target
3
2
Offsides
1
1
Fouls
1
0
Yellow Cards
0
0
Red Cards
0
0

Possession
50.6%
49.4%
Play Area
32.1%
43.2%
24.7%

Scorers
John Blinker 15

Man of the Match
The man of the match was awarded to John Blinker of Sunderland

Match Ratings
1.Terry Scholes (GK)
9
2.Harvey Cooper (DEF)
6
3.Terry Simonsen (DEF)
7
4.Gianmarco Pivotto (DEF)
6
5.Patrick Pearce (MID)
6
6.Brian Gardner (MID)
6
7.Nicholas Charlton (MID)
8
8.Graham Vieira (MID)
6
9.Oliver Haller (ATT)
8
10.Graham Carter (ATT)
6
11.Massimo Polonia (ATT)
6
 
12.Stuart Swift (DEF)
0
13.Noel Philips (DEF)
0
14.Andy Ferdinand (GK)
0

1.Romero P. Fernandez (GK)
7
2.Craig Gower (DEF)
6
3.Diego Di Natale (DEF)
6
4.Kai Sparwasser (DEF)
7
5.Eoin Gardner (DEF)
6
6.Ricardo Veloso (MID)
8
7.Thomas Janes (MID)
6
8.Jakob Arendt (MID)
9
9.Peter Dublin (MID)
7
10.Wayne Dichio (ATT)
7
11.John Blinker (ATT)goal scored
9
 
12.Graham Rankin (ATT)
0
13.Danny Murrin (ATT)
0
14.Nuno Semedo (DEF)
0