Pennant boosts Birmingham’s survival hopes
A home win over Wigan was not enough to ease the Midlands outfit out of the bottom three but it did move them to within three points of safety and raise hope that top flight status can be preserved.
First-half efforts from Jermaine Pennant and Mario Melchiot handed Birmingham three precious and deserved points against a below-par Latics and sent the St Andrews club into 2006 in bullish mood.
“This is a massive result for us,” said Black.
“We have a lot of ability in the squad but football is about performance and results. While we have sustained more injuries than we merited over the season so far, everyone is working hard and is extremely focused on getting us out of this position. If we can get a fully fit squad and starting getting competition for places, there is no reason why we can’t get out of this, no reason whatsoever,” insisted Black.
“We have Charlton and Portsmouth coming up now and if we can get that kind of performance out of the team, we can get more victories.”
Key to this win, which ended a mixed festive period on a high note for Birmingham, was the display of Pennant. The former Arsenal man, mesmerised the Wigan defence with some dazzling wing play.
He capped his man of the match performance by breaking his Premiership goal duck with a precise header midway through the opening period.
“Jermaine was fantastic today,” said Black. “He glided by people as though they were not there and his first touch and delivery were excellent. He produced performances like that when he first joined us and now he has to get back to that level on a regular basis.
“We all know wide players can be inconsistent at times but Jermaine always gives us something and he is an exceptional player.”
Even in victory though, Birmingham still encountered problems. Melchiot limped off at half-time with a recurrence of a knee problem, while Muzzy Izzet also had to be replaced after suffering a degree of tightness in his legs on an encouraging return to first-team action.
Bruce will also hope Matthew Upson’s decision to play through the pain of an ankle injury that was expected to rule him out for a month will not return to haunt him.
At least Birmingham now have a fortnight’s break before resuming Premiership action, with next weekend’s FA Cup trip to Torquay offering the chance of some much-needed respite from the pressures of league combat.
Wigan have two cup fixtures by the time they next play in the Premiership again, following up an FA Cup clash with Leeds by taking on Arsenal in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final.
But judging by the barely concealed anger of manager Paul Jewell, it could be a difficult week at the JJB Stadium.
“I can’t really say what I want to about that,” stormed Jewell.
“I am very angry, so in that situation it is best to keep a lid on my feelings. But I warn the players now. I will not tolerate that kind of performance. If I have to do something drastic I will.”
: Maik Taylor, Melchiot (Martin Taylor 45), Cunningham, Upson, Lazaridis, Pennant, Izzet (Kilkenny 84), Johnson, Gray, Jarosik (Pandiani 74), Heskey.
: Pollitt, Chimbonda, Henchoz, De Zeeuw, Wright, Bullard (Kavanagh 73), Francis, Skoko (Teale 45), McCulloch (Connolly 71), Camara, Roberts.
: P Walton (Northamptonshire).
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