May 2009 Archives

WHAT a fantastic day out for Bluenoses at Reading - to see their team clinching automatic promotion on a thrilling, tense, nervous and exciting afternoon.

Well done to Alex McLeish, who has faced a lot of criticism this season but who has had the last laugh.

Of all the managers I have dealt with at St Andrew's, he is without doubt the most thorough.

His attention to detail is the rock on which he steered the team to automatic promotion.

On the BRMB react to the action phone-in, I had calls from all over the USA, Tunisia, Spain, Thailand, and New Zealand and even had Pinky and Perky on singing "Keep Right On". What an amazing day.

THERE is a sometime radio presenter called Danny Baker who I don't know too much about other than he is a bit of a plonker who supports Millwall and does a show on a national BBC station.

He said just a week or so ago that he was saying a prayer hoping Blues and Wolves failed to win promotion to the Premier League as they would be an embarrassment to the top flight.

What right has this buffoon to make such outrageous statements on BBC radio?

This, by the way, is the man who quite clearly and irresponsibly was a Paul Gascoigne hanger-on who encouraged him to drink when a real friend would have been keeping Gazza away from alcohol.

In addition, it's hard to name a team more embarrassing than Millwall and some of their thuggish fans.

I still remember being kept on the pitch with the Mail's Colin Tattum and the Blues players until almost midnight at the New Den in 2002 after Steve Bruce's men had beaten them in the semi-final of the play-offs.

Relive the jubliant scenes at the Madejski Stadium and hear the views of Blues correspondent Colin Tattum, boss Alex McLeish and goal-scoring hero Keith Fahey by clicking here

Kevin Phillips was the hero as his second-half winner sent Birmingham back to the Barclays Premier League.

Phillips, whose goals helped West Brom to promotion from the Coca-Cola Championship just 12 months ago, slotted his 14th of the season to claim the three points at the Madejski Stadium and condemn the hosts to a play-off with Burnley.

Alex McLeish's side went ahead when Marcus Hahnemann failed to gather Keith Fahey's low shot before Phillips made it 2-0 on the hour.

Substitute Marek Matejovsky hammered in a reply for Reading but they were unable to find an equaliser as the Blues celebrated a promotion they should have wrapped up weeks ago.

It's do-or-die day for Birmingham City in the race for automatic promotion.

Kick-off is 1.15pm at Reading and our writers Colin Tattum and Andy Walker will be live from the ground at 12.45pm.

Bookmark this link or set up the email reminder below - and we'll see you at 12.45pm!