Reading Reserves 1 - 1 Birmingham

Saturday 31st January
FA Cup Round 4

Birmingham have been struggling this season but look a lot better now Chris Sutton has joined from Celtic. However - they have a real makeshift defence for tomorrow (I'm writing this bit on Friday) and the pundits (and my mate Christian from Birmingham) think Reading are favorites. What they keep forgetting to say it that it's our "reserve team" that's been playing in all the cups.

A good turn out in the Upper West Bar
What a strange game ... Birmingham at near enough full strength, Reading putting out there reserves. Only Hanneman, Sidwell & Harper from the usual "1st team" played. Bright start from Reading, Shane Long put us 1-0 up with a firm shot into the bottom right hand corner and we looked okay. Jermaine Pennant was lively (last time he was in the area he was banged up for Drink driving after his sat-nav allegedly directed him to Aylesbury instead of Birmingham!) and Chris Sutton always looked a threat and Sonko looked more like Lois Lane than Superman on one occasion but everyone felt pretty confident at half-time and in the early part of the 2nd half.

Steve Bruce then did a "Jose Mourinho" and sent on 3 subs at once - Forsell, Dunn and someone else - the tempo changed a little and Birmingham's play improved, resulting in Dunn grabbing an equaliser. Oh well - more match practice for the reserves!

PS Christian asked me if I was going up to Birmingham top see the replay. I'm not that sad that I go and watch our reserves away games :-)