Town 2 Birmingham City 1

Jan 7 2008 by Dougie Thomson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

DAVE KITSON should try telling 11,000 Town fans the FA Cup doesn’t matter!

The Reading striker might have belittled the famous old competition in the build-up to his side’s third-round match at Tottenham.

But his comments were firmly kicked into touch at the Galpharm as Town and Premier League Birmingham slogged it out in a good, old-fashioned cup-tie.

Unlike Reading chief Steve Coppell, Brum boss Alex McLeish put out a side which was close to full strength, with just two changes from the team beaten 1-0 at Manchester United on New Year’s Day.

Town were missing regular starters in the shape of injured striker Andy Booth and suspended centre-back Nathan Clarke – and that made their first FA Cup victory over top-flight opposition since QPR were beaten by the same score at the same stage in 1984 all the more impressive.

It certainly went down well with the fans, and the joint was jumping, first when Luke Beckett prodded the opener in the third minute, then when Chris Brandon fired in the winner with 10 to go, Garry O’Connor having levelled after 18.

Neither Town scorer would have been in the starting XI in normal circumstances, with Brandon making his first start in 16 games and Beckett, back out on his own at the top of the scoring chart with seven, his first in nine.

With neither skipper Jon Worthington nor Ronnie Wallwork available, manager Andy Ritchie was keen to have the combative presence of captain-for-the-day Andy Holdsworth in midfield.

There was a memorable full debut for 18-year-old James Berrett, who slotted in alongside Holdsworth and rose to the occasion superbly.

And Michael Collins dropped from midfield to right-back, allowing former FA Cup winner Frank Sinclair to switch to the centre of defence in place of Clarke.

With Brandon playing down the left and Malvin Kamara the right, Danny Schofield took the forward midfield slot in support of lone striker Beckett, and had his best game of the season.

It was Schofield’s surging run through the middle which enabled Town to get off to such a great start.

He took possession after Berrett won a key tackle, then drilled the ball in low from the left after playing a neat one-two with Brandon.

Northern Ireland international keeper Maik Taylor made a hash of things by failing to collect properly, and Beckett was on hand to convert from close range.

Brandon had Brum backpedaling furiously in the 10th minute, and it took a solid clearing header from Sebastian Larsson to stop Beckett connecting with the cross.

Matt Glennon made the first of a string of good saves in the 13th minute, using his legs to deny former Chelsea man Mikael Forssell after he had been freed by Franck Queudrue.

And when, after clearing a Town corner, Brum broke quickly through Daniel De Ridder, Glennon also blocked a goalbound effort by Fabrice Muamba, only for the ball to fall nicely to O’Connor, who sidefooted home.

Only the flag of South Yorkshire linesman Gary Brittain stopped Brum going in front four minutes later.

Even though De Ridder’s curling cross glanced off the head of the retreating Sinclair, O’Connor was ruled offside as he toepoked home on the volley.

Town were still causing their visitors plenty of problems, however.

In the 31st minute, Schofield and Beckett combined to set up Kamara, whose well-placed cross was gathered by Taylor as Beckett lurked.

Then, after Queudrue fouled Kamara on the right in the 34th minute, Robbie Williams’ free-kick was met by Brandon, whose downward header brought a block by Taylor at the base of the far post.

Brum were counter-attacking at pace, and Town breathed a sigh of relief when De Ridder wastefully blasted over from Forssell’s 40th-minute pass.

Glennon made saves from O’Connor either side of half-time before Gary McSheffrey shot wide after cutting in from the left on the hour.

With the contest tight, both sets of supporters must have been thinking of a replay, but Town had other ideas.

Schofield broke forward to supply Beckett, who charged down the right.

With centre-backs Liam Ridgewell and Radhi Jaidi gravitating to the near post the frontman crossed deep to Brandon, who forced the ball home from six yards out.

Brum pushed forward in search of a second leveller, but Glennon was equal to De Ridder’s shot towards his top right corner while Jaidi headed McSheffrey;s corner onto the roof of the net.

Ref watch

Top-flight whistler Steve Tanner, from Somerset, was willing to let a few rugged challenges go, but then had a six-minute spell where he was handing out yellow cards like confetti.

Booked three from each side in total. Appeared to give Town a let-off when he disallowed Garry O’Connor’s 23rd-minute effort for offside, even though the ball had come off the head of Frank Sinclair.

Huddersfield Town

Matt Glennon

A big game from the big man who could do little about Brum’s goal and stood firm when the pressure was on.

8/10.

Michael Collins

Stood in at right-back to allow Andy Holdsworth to play in midfield and didn’t let anyone down

7/10.

Robbie Williams

Started despite the hamstring niggle which forced him off at half-time. Clearly not 100%.

6/10.

James Berrett

Town’s full debutant settled his nerves with a couple of strong early challenges and remained solid throughout.

8/10.

David Mirfin

Worked hard to shackle frontmen Mikael Forssell and Garry O’Connor, then dealt with Cameron Jerome.

7/10.

Frank Sinclair

Gutsy display at centre-back against taller men and provided great direction to his teammates.

8/10

Malvin Kamara

Lively wide right and made sure experienced Franck Queudrue knew he had been in a game.

7/10.

Andy Holdsworth

Made skipper for the day and led by example with a determined display in central midfield.

9/10.

Luke Beckett

Lone frontman’s not his ideal role, but scored one and made the winner, so nobody can complain!

8/10.

Danny Schofield

Made some really telling runs and good passes and played a central role in both Town’s goals.

8/10.

Chris Brandon

His oh-so-significant strike capped a bright and hard-working display on the left-hand side.

8/10.

Town substitutions

Joe Skarz for Williams, HT; Phil Jevons for Kamara, 78mins. Not used: Young, Killock, Smithies.Cautions: Brandon, Berrett, Skarz.

Birmingham City

Taylor, Kelly, Queudrue, Ridgewell, Jaidi, McSheffrey, Muamba (Doyle, 66mins), De Ridder, Larsson, O’Connor, Forssell (Jerome, 62mins).

Subs not used: Sadler, Parnaby, Mutch.

Cautions: Queudrue, Ridgewell, Jaidi.