Bamber's Breakdown: Match Review (BCFC v Watford)

Birmingham v Watford

There were a few changes from the home win on Saturday, with Chang and Hall dropping to the bench for Hannibal and Graham.

Great to see Bielik back so quick, showing off his new two front teeth with a gum shield.

Lining up as a 3-5-2 with Graham and Colin as wing backs and Khadra partnering Juke up top.

First half

Well if you wanted another fast start for Blues this wasn’t the game. Chalk and cheese from the Rotherham match and within 6 minutes went go 1-0 down. Watford switched the play to Sema, who was in acres of space, he had all the time in the world to put a low cross in for Louza to tap in.

It didn’t get any better for Blues as Watford broke quickly and Davis found himself one on one with Long. Long for me has to do better, but Davies evades him and smashes it into the roof of the net on the 16th minute.

Honestly, any game plan we had went straight out the window.

As the half went on it could and should have been a cricket score. Watford had two great chances, a screamer from outside the box rattled Ruddy's post. Then Kone fizzed one just wide.

Blues offered absolutely nothing in terms of a chance on goal. Our set pieces have been our bread and butter this season, but every corner and free-kick was over hit or under hit, very poor deliveries from Hannibal.

HT 2-0 to Watford.

Second half

There were two changes for Blues at half time, Hogan and Hall on for Chong and Khadra.

Hogan almost made an instant impact as he wriggled through and found himself 1 on 1 with Bachman. He completely made a mess of it and it puts the ball well wide. For me, he has to score or at least hit the target. It was a real let off for Watford and it was the first of 3 big chances for Blues.

The second saw a great cross from Graham, which found Trusty in the box, who volleyed over. Another big change goes begging.

The last of the three fell to Hall. Juke with some strong work in the box before playing it across top Hall but, unfortunately, it bobbles up bounces off Hall.

A very big talking point for me was Davis, already on a yellow, dragged down Trusty and avoided a second yellow. To make matters worse, Long did a similar thing a few moments later and gets a booking.

It was well and truly game over on the 73rd minute when Kone beat Hannibal for pace and crossed low for Assombalonga. It was a bit fortunate as Ruddy saved his first attempt but the ball bounced back off the striker and rolled in over the line. Honestly, I thought we had seen the back of him after he moved to Turkey, but he comes back and his first goal on return is against us. You could put your house on him scoring against us.

Blues made 3 more changes - Hannibal, Dean and Juke off for James, Chang and Roberts.

We rued our missed early chances, especially Hogan's.

Hall and James had two more half decent attempts at the end, but it was honestly over from the first half.

FT 3-0 to Watford

Verdict

Another very strange change in tactics and team for Blues again. I have no idea why we switched it from the weekend. Khadra and Chong were wasted in the first half. How many times do we start with this 3-5-2, concede, then try and claw something back?

A gutless performance though and missed chances in the second half. We looked all over the places first half and 10 minutes of pressure in the second half doesn’t make up for it!

So wasteful from set pieces also, every dead ball was wasted from Hannibal and I do mean every one!

After that performance on Saturday, I had a hint of hope against Watford. Honestly, the changes and line up did us no favours.

A trip to QPR on the weekend and they’ve just been beaten 6-1 away. We all know what that means, if you need a win come and play us.

I don’t mean to be this guy, but this honestly looks like it’s becoming a mix of watching Bowyer with a sprinkle of Karanka. These performances aren’t good enough.

KRO!

Player ratings out of 10

Ruddy - 3

Colin - 2

Dean - 3

Long - 2

Trusty - 3

Hannibal - 2

Bielik - 3

Chong - 2

Graham - 5

Khadra - 2

Jutkiewicz - 3

Subs

Etheridge - N/A

Roberts - N/A

Longelo - N/A

Chang - N/A

James - N/A

Hall - 4

Hogan - 3

See the highlights from the game and the reactions from our team below:

Credit: Birmingham City Football Club

Credit: Birmingham City Football Club

Credit: Birmingham City Football Club