Here's how Singing The Blues match reporter Richard Barker viewed the 2-1 win at St Andrew's:
It had been another Robbie, in Man City striker Fowler, who had opened the scoring, but goals in the last 10 minutes from Jeff Kenna and Mikael Forssell saw Blues home.
Jamie Clapham's 100% appearance record since his January move from Ipswich Town came to an end through his hamstring strain, and Stan Lazaridis was the preferred choice to cover. In truth, it was the sensible choice, as he is not only comfortable on the left-hand side - unlike Kenna - but he is also a more than adequate left-back at international level. In midfield, David Dunn played just in front of Lazaridis, with Savage and Clemence in the middle, and Damien Johnson wide right. Clinton Morrison again partnered Forssell up front.
Blues started the game really well, pressurising every City player that had possession of the ball, and forcing a host of errors from the visitors.Keegan's men were at St Andrews on the back of a horrid set of results, and such pressure from Blues was highlighting the lack of confidence in their players. Morrison and Forssell were working well up front, and it was the Ireland International who had the first effort of the game, curling a left-footed effort well wide of David Seaman's goal.
However, after 14 minutes, the visitors took the lead. Steve McManaman took a free-kick, and Lazaridis lost his man, Shaun Wright-Phillips. The adopted son of Arsenal legend Ian Wright crossed well, and the ball was met by his father's former England team-mate Fowler, with an expertly executed diving header to put City ahead.
Blues were shell-shocked, with Savage looking in danger of losing his temper (though when doesn't he look like that?) after being booked for a foul on Fowler. They were able to get a grip on the game again, however, but lacked any real cutting edge. Johnson and Lazaridis were proving to be threats down the flanks, and Dunn began to get into the game more and more. Seaman was looking incredibly nervous when high balls were lofted into the area, but Blues weren't able to capitalise on their former 'keepers errors. Morrison was beginning to look a little rusty too, after one or two balls were finding their way to him - including one stunning ball by Lazaridis - but the former Crystal Palace frontman's touch was letting him down.
At half-time, it was difficult to believe that Blues were behind, given the possession that they'd had, and the amount of corners that they'd won. The same problem that has been at St Andrews for years was still there though... no cutting edge.
Blues started the second half even more emphatically than they'd ended the first. Dunn delayed a shot, and was tackled by another Dunne - Manchester City's Richard. Forssell was bundled over by Sun Jihai, but there was no penalty, before the Finn went through again before having his effort blocked, and then backheeling the rebound wide, when Dunn may have been better placed.
It was gradually becoming clear that it may be one of those days. Savage - who was inspiring Blues' efforts - blasted a shot miles wide and out for a throw-in when he should have looked for a team-mate, and then David Sommeil appeared to foul Forssell in the box, but again referee Uriah Rennie waved away the appeals.
If Blues were going ot get anything out of the game, it was going to need a bit of luck, and thankfully in the last ten minutes they got two slices of luck that their efforts had merited. With 9 minutes to go, Savage was fouled by Dunne on the edge of the area. Savage being Savage looked like he'd been shot for 10 seconds, then realised he'd won a free-kick, so bounced up and wrestled the ball off Jovan Kirovski and Clemence who had both been eyeing up some glory. Savage curled an excellent free-kick onto Seaman's left-hand post, and Kenna was on hand to nod home the rebound with Seaman stranded and a nice bit of luck in exaclty where the ball rebounded to.
Six minutes later, Blues went ahead, even more fortuitously. Again, Savage took the free-kick, but this time it was a cross into the area. The hapless Dunne headed the ball clear, straight onto Forssell's calf, and the ball trickled into the corner of the net to send the home fans wild. It's been apparent in recent weeks that Forssell has that happy knack of being in the right place at the right time. Well, point illustrated.
Blues did deserve the luck that they got with their goals, after an impressive performance. It was beginning to look like the typical Blues-Man City game; Fowler had scored - as he tends to do against Blues, Blues had plenty of possession, but couldn't score, and Man City looked like winning. Blues got the reward in the end though, and whilst the travelling fans will curse their luck, it's not like they haven't done it against us, is it?
Blues Taylor, Kenna, Cunningham, Upson, Lazaridis, Johnson, Savage, Dunn (Kirovski 61), Clemence (Cisse 89), Forssell, Morrison (John 61). Subs Not Used: Bennett, Purse.
Man City Seaman, Jihai, Dunne, Sommeil, Distin, Wright-Phillips, Barton, Reyna, McManaman (Sinclair 69), Fowler (Sibierski 69), Anelka. Subs Not Used: Macken, Tarnat, Stuhr-Ellegaard.
Att: 29,520
Ref: U Rennie (S Yorkshire)
