Andy Munro sees encouraging signs from Blues 1-0 defeat to Middlesbrough.
It was still a loss but at least I was properly entertained, with a performance that certainly warranted one point and probably three. Rome wasn’t built in a day and the signs are encouraging under Garry Monk, with the players playing with new found freedom despite the shrill and negative comments by the BBC Radio 5 female ‘commentator’ whose knowledge of the nuances of the game could probably be put on a pinhead.
Blues had the majority of play and possession and forced several good saves out of the Boro keeper whilst Stockdale was hardly worked at all. It’s just a shame that one mistake let a capable defence down although Colin still needs to move over to his right side. Jenkinson looks robust and good enough to take the ‘wrong’ left back slot instead. Morrison also did a decent job on his return.
In midfield, Gardner looked a different player post-Cotterill while Maghoma was a bundle of trickery. Most important of all, however, was a reborn, Jota who showed that he can start to be a major influence in the survival fight.
Up front Jutkiewicz held up the ball well and won more than his fair share of headers but, alas, the anonymous Che Adams was usually nowhere to be seen. Perhaps it’s time for Blues to do a Millwall and bully the opposition with two big strikers – Jutkiewicz and a Sam Gallagher who is also seemingly far pacier than the hamstrung(?) Adams.
Andy: was it necessary to tell us it was a female commentator? If it was a guy, would you have said ‘…a male commentator…’?
No, really, wouldja?
Male commentator would hardly be “Shrill”. Very annoying.