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Hereford United put up a spirited display at St. Andrews this evening, but fell to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Birmingham City. First half strikes from Garry O'Connor and Gary McSheffrey had handed the home side a decent advantage at the break, but Theo Robinson's goal assured a nervy end for the Premiership team but they held on to progress to the third round of the Carling Cup.
For the fourth game running, the United line-up remained unchanged; despite the doubts over Karl Broadhurst's fitness, the ex Bournemouth man took his place alongside Dean Beckwith at the back. The subs bench was once again altered slightly with Simon Johnson replacing Luke Webb. Birmingham named a host of well known players in their starting eleven, including former Aston Villa centre back Liam Ridgewell, and Scotland international O'Conner.
Ben Smith's first minute mis-timed tackle allowed McSheffrey to try his luck from a free-kick but it was deflected over. A few minutes after, Wayne Brown was called into action after Rowan Vine struck a powerful drive. Despite the early chances, Birmingham didn't look like creating too much despite most of the possesion, that was until the 27th minute when the deadlock was broken. Matthew Sadler found room down the left hand side and produced a killer cross for O'Conner who volleyed past Brown from inside the area. From the away end, the marking looked slightly shabby with O'Conner being allowed plenty of time to pick his spot, although there may have been calls for offside.
Birmingham continued to threaten after their opener, and McSheffrey again went close with a low drive, but Brown was equal to it. The former Coventry winger had been denied on two occasions already, but it was third time lucky for him as he doubled the home side's advantage in the 38th minute. McSheffrey had Vine to thank, as his strong run into the box and pass found McSheffrey who struck powerfully towards goal. Brown got his hand to it, but the power was too much for him and the ball trickled over the line. The goal woke United up, with Robinson making a 60 yard run before squaring to Richard Rose, but the full back's low effort was gathered up by Birmingham goalkeeper Richard Kingson. Just before half time, a free-kick by Rose was headed on, and Robinson flicked towards goal, but his effort was blocked and then cleared.
The second half was a different story to the first, Birmingham dominated the opening period, but United really upped their game in the second. Toumani Diagouraga was unlucky just minutes after the half started, as he found space just outside the box and sent a low shot just past Kingson's post. Lionel Ainsworth made a burst down the right hand side, and played the ball to the impressive Robinson, who struck a shot; Kingson managed to palm the ball away, and a follow up effort by Ainsworth was then blocked. Birmingham then came back at United and former Arsenal trainee Sebastian Larsson was superbly denied by Brown, after the Swede's curling free-kick. Graham Turner then made a bold decision to bring on Steve Guinan and Kris Taylor for Trevor Benjamin and Ben Smith, and the changes made a big difference.
Guinan's ability to hold the ball up allowed him to feed the ball out to other players, and create chances for others. Good link-up work with Robinson allowed the Watford loanee to get a shot in on goal, but Kingson gathered the ball up with ease. At the other end, McSheffrey fired over the bar from the edge of the area, before Hereford pulled a goal back. Guinan was again involved collecting the ball just inside the Birmingham half, before placing ball through for Clint Easton to run on, who, from the right hand side cut-back for Robinson. The striker took his shot early, and powerfully and blasted past Kingson into the back of the net to send the away support into delight. Immediaetly after, Sone Aluko, an attack minded winger was bought on for Birmingham in place of Mehdi Nafti.
But it was still Hereford who looked more threatening, and Easton again crossed, this time for Rose, after a decent counter-attack, but Rose headed over. The best chance for the equaliser fell to subsistute Taylor, after good work from Robinson. He was found by Diagouraga, and he struck a low shot which Kingson could only push away, Taylor followed up and his first close range effort was superbly blocked by the goalkeeper, before the ball looped up in the air, and Taylor again tried his luck with a volley which went across the face of the goal and out for a throw in. McSheffrey again threatened to put the game beyond doubt, with another fierce left foot drive which went over, before Taylor tried his luck with a full volley after a good tackle, but the ball went wide. The last of the action came when Neil Danns acroabtically tried his luck from a Larsson cross, but the ex Colchester star couldn't find the target. Hereford tried their best to create more chances, but the time was soon up, and Birmingham progressed with a very narrow win.
The game, watched by 10,185 including a fine away following, was an entertaining encounter for both sets of supporters. Birmingham, as can be expected, looked the better side, moving the ball around quicker and creating more chances in the first half, but once Hereford found their feet and gained a little confidence, matched the home side in every department, with Robinson up front particulary impressing. Next up for United is another short away trip, this time at Wrexham on Saturday. The Red Dragons were comprehensivally beaten by Aston Villa tonight at The Racecourse, and if Hereford can find their form, then a good result there is a real possibility. There could well be changes too, with Guinan pushing Benjamin for that role up front alongside young Robinson, and Taylor too looking to make the central midfield postion his own.
Hereford: Brown, McClenahan, Rose, Beckwith, Broadhurst, Ainsworth, Easton, Diagouraga, Smith, Benjamin, Robinson.
Subs: Ingham, McCombe, Taylor, Johnson, Guinan.
Birmingham: Kingson, Parnaby, Kelly, Ridgewell, Sadley, Larsson, McSheffrey, Nafti, Danns, Vine, O'Conner.
Subs: Doyle, Jaidi, Aluko, Jerome, Forssell.
