Birmingham City boss Harry Redknapp has insisted that the Blues cannot hide behind their hamstring curse as they continue their search for the first win of the campaign.

The west Midlands club have had their attacking options depleted with the likes of Jota and Che Adams having suffered muscular injuries whilst Isaac Vassell won’t be fit to start after having recovered from his own hamstring niggle.

Despite this, Redknapp says whoever plays should provide the goals as they look to climb out of the drop zone in the early stage of the season. Preston North End are their next opponents over the weekend, and the manager knows that they have a tough task on hand with the Lilywhites, who possess the best defence in the division.

He said: “They are very strong defensively, they have done a great job and we need goals, we are short of goals so we need to find goals from somewhere on Saturday for sure. We have got great support, I think they know the importance of the win. They are not silly, they look at the players we have brought in and they know there is some quality there. But they know that three of them who are going to be massive players for the club in the future are not fit to start.” Continue reading “Harry Redknapp: Birmingham City can hide behind their hamstring curse” →

Birmingham City boss Harry Redknapp has confirmed that Sebastien Bassong is training with the Blues in order to improve his overall fitness.

The Cameroon international was released from Norwich City earlier this summer after making over 120 appearances across all competitions for the club.

Redknapp is currently in the hunt for a new central defender but has cooled his interest in Aden Flint after seeing two bids rebuffed by Bristol City. Bassong has previously worked with the 70-year-old at Tottenham Hotspur, and the manager hints that he could be the answer, if he proves his fitness.

“He’s on a free, he’s a good lad and a good player who played for me at Tottenham. He was player of the year at Norwich two years ago and he’s still a very good player in my opinion,” he said. Meanwhile, the west Midlands side have significantly bolstered their full-backs positions with the signings of Carl Jenkinson and Cohen Bramall on season-long loans from Arsenal. Continue reading “Harry Redknapp hints Birmingham City could sign Sebastien Bassong” →

Championship side Birmingham City are lining up an approach for Newcastle United defender Grant Hanley, who could be sold after Newcastle United’s promotion to the top flight.

The former Blackburn Rovers graduate was largely used as backup to the first-team as the Magpies clinched promotion to the Premier League in the first coming. The 25-year-old will undoubtedly want regular playing time for next season, and the Tynesiders are open to offers for their central defender.

League rivals Derby, Sheffield Wednesday and Aston Villa are also monitoring the situation of Hanley, but Harry Redknapp could use his experience to his advantage in order to lure the Scotland international to St Andrew’s. The experienced head coach managed to turn the club’s fortunes in the dying stages of the campaign to keep them in the Championship last term, and he is now eyeing a tilt for promotion with the Midlands club.

Coincidentally, Redknapp was in charge of Tottenham Hotspur who downed the Blues from the Premier League back in the 2010-11 season, and they have since lingered with the relegation zone rather than fighting for the playoff positions. Hanley has been a regular mid-table player in the Championship, and he could be the perfect fit for the club, who no longer have the lanky Krystian Bielik to depend upon. The Arsenal defender played a key role in the defence during his six-month loan stint, but he now appears to be heading to Norwich City on a year-long loan deal. Continue reading “Birmingham City eyeing move for Newcastle United centre-back” →

England and Sweden produced the game of the tournament so far as Theo Walcott turned the match on its head and helped Roy Hodgson’s side seal a 3-2 win

After a delayed kick off due to the late finish in Donetsk, England’s Scott Parker had the best chance to open the scoring on nine minutes with a long range effort that tested Isaksson in the Sweden goal. Within minutes, Sweden replied with a shot from distance of their own but Seb Larsson’s hopeful attempt was comfortably gathered by Joe Hart.

Both sides were looking threatening up front and while Zlatan Ibrahimovic also threatened from distance, Danny Welbeck missed a great chance with a glancing header from a James Milner cross that skidded wide.

After 24 minutes, England’s Euro 2012 campaign sparked into life as they took the lead when a pinpoint cross from Steven Gerrard was met powerfully by Andy Carroll and his downward header gave Isaakson no chance. Ashley Young then had a great opportunity to double the lead when Ashley Cole released the winger on the left. With options in the middle, Young chose to shoot and dragged his shot into the side netting.

The Swedes came to life late on in the first period as Ibrahimovic and Elmander eased into the game more but the English defended well in numbers to maintain their lead at half time.

It had been an entertaining first half but few would have anticipated the drama to follow in the second period. Sweden came out knowing that they needed to score in order to stay in the competition and they started brightly in their quest to do just that.

Their strong start to the second half was duly rewarded on 49 minutes when a free kick on the edge of the England box was blocked by the wall but the rebound fell kindly to veteran Olof Mellberg whose scrambled effort crept home via England’s Glen Johnson.

Worse was to follow as a Larsson free kick flew deep into the England box and with nobody picking up Mellberg, the former Aston Villa man easily made it 2-1.

Roy Hodgson clearly had to change things around and the introduction of Theo Walcott turned out to be an inspired decision. Within four minutes of the Arsenal winger coming onto the pitch a corner was cleared to his feet and his dipping drive from the edge of the box inexplicably flew past Isaksson.

With the scores now level, both sides had chances to steal the winner but it was a piece of brilliance from Walcott once again that sealed the game. Jinking to the by-line on 78 minutes his neat cross was flicked in brilliantly by Danny Welbeck to make it 3-2 to England and send the Swedes home early.

Once again, both teams could have added to the scoring but England had the better opportunity as Gerrard forced a brilliant point blank save from the Swedish keeper before the whistle finally blew.

Birmingham City manager Chris Hughton has said that he had the opportunity to finish in the play-offs this season, but are facing a tough run of fixtures.

Birmingham City have the chance to secure their place in the play-off positions, which will guarantee them the opportunity to fight for a place in the Premier league next season.

However, they will be facing the likes of West Ham in the remaining matches, and Chris Hughton considers that Birmingham City do have a tough fixture list in the final few matches of the season. Birmingham City now need a point from their remaining two matches in order to secure their play-off position. The latest football odds make them firm favourites to qualify.

Even though it is highly unlikely that they will be able to throw away such a good position, Chris Hughton has warned his players against complacency.

Birmingham City went into the match against Ipswich town without a number of first-team players, but were unable to get a credible draw against the side from Portman road. They have also lost Steven Caldwell to injury in the first half, which only complicated matters for Chris Hughton. They now trail West Ham by eight points with only two matches remaining.

They will be facing Barnsley in the next match followed by leaders Reading on the final day of the Championship season.

“We are close, but we have got to play two very, very tough games,” said Hughton. “They don’t come as tough as Brighton away – irrespective of their recent form – and Reading at home. But I am desperate for this group of boys to get over the line. They have been excellent all season. They deserve it, for the amount of games they’ve played and the spirit they’ve shown,” Hughton said after the 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town.