Jeez, that was bliddy hard work! After giving away our customary comedy goal - courtesy of a really weak challenge from Rozehnal - we were a tad fortunate to snag all 3 points when most had already settled for one.

Played in atrocious conditions, the game was littered with errors and poor passing, and in truth more came from the black ‘n whites than Brum. Having said that, we created more scoring opportunities than Brum, especially in the 1st half so perhaps deserved a touch of good fortune.

Perhaps understandably, I thought we began to run out of steam in the 2nd half, and allowed Birmingham to get on top for uncomfortable spells, but tbh they didn’t actually create too many chances and Given didn’t really have a lot to do. To their credit, the Toon kept going and bagged a late winner for their efforts.

I actually thought our 2nd half problems stemmed from Butt’s substitution. This lead to Viduka and Smith playing up front with Martins wide right. Martins’ body language betrayed his disenchantment with this arrangement, and tbh he was about as useful as a man short.

This formation left us short-handed in m/f, and I was amazed BSA left it so long to substitute Geremi with Emre, pushing Martins up front and pulling Smith back into m/f. This stiffened things considerably. I thought McCleish’s decision to take off Gary McSheffrey also helped, as I thought he was controlling the game at that point - he’s a canny player this lad.

My MOTM was N’Zogbia who was dangerous going foward. Milner had a decent game, and is actually now linking well with Zog, but he invariably has to pull the ball onto his right foot, and too many of his crosses went straight to their keeper. Mind he was unfortunate to crash a shot off the underside of the crossbar.

Defensively, we made a few basic errors, but goal apart, didn’t do too badly. I suspect Brum’s lack of real ambition contributed to our relative comfort in this area. Taylor had another decent game, and Beye continues to improve.

Our relative success v Arsenal was based on getting control in m/f - something we were never able to achieve today. It became a massive struggle, but I give them credit for keeping going right to the end. Beye showed his good fitness levels by powering forward at the death, winning the vital corner, and being in the right place to put it away.

Three hard-earned points, against a decent team, which further alleviates the accumulated pressure.

a verdict by: Clarky

Birmingham get the second period in much the stronger of the two sides, while the rain keep running down at St. James’ Park.

The Blues first-half scorer, Jerome burns by Taylor and cuts back looking for the arriving of McSheffrey. Rozehnal read the situation this time and slides to concede a corner. Larsson takes but Given is able to claim at his near post.

The Man-Of-The-Match performance by James Milner, illustrated the new United style of the game, and he keep tries to get the Magpies going and darts in from the left flank. His near an hour mark worked in a yard for a shot in-between Kelly and Schmitz, the ball skids up the watery St. James’s surface but evades both the dive of Taylor and his far post.

And another back in form display from N’Zogbia in 65minutes, crosses low from the left and the ball once again skids right across the face of goal, with no-one to turn the delivery ball home and the Blues survive. Yet in the matter of time, the ball would be surely get in.

With the amount of possessions so far, United should’ve been two or three goals up. But with the kind of wet and slippery surface like today, I can understand it was even more difficult to control the ball in a pacey football game from both side.

In 69 minutes, Viduka cleverly turn and creates a space 30 yards out, the Aussie star one-two passes with Smith before worked the ball wide for Joey Barton. BarToon tries to force his way into the area and resulting a corner off Kelly.

N’Zogbia takes the deliver with Birmingham can only half clear, the ball drops back to Barton but his first time shot is blocked by the sliding Nafti.

Sam Allardyce making the second United changes and taken off his skipper and bring in the Turkish delight Emre to the field.

Joey Barton loses possession on halfway and in frustration trips Cameron Jerome, Mr. Styles has no option but to give United midfielder a yellow card. Free kick for Brum. Liam Ridgewell popped up on the right-wing from the free-kick and wins a corner from the sliding challenge of N’Zogbia.

Kapo takes from the right but this time Jerome can’t direct his header on target and United have a goal-kick.

Newcastle try again to search for the first home win since October, with Martins turns a clever ball inside Kelly in the penalty area. He aim for Taylor’s far post, and right-footed curler ball looks destined for the net but somehow the Blues stopper manages to dive in and palm the ball away.

On the edge of normal time Muamba trips N’Zogbia when the younf talented player tries to force his way into the penalty area. Free-kick in a good position.

Emre takes and the ball clatters into the wall. And for the second time a big penalty shout from the Turk and the home crowd only being waves away by Rob Styles. TV replay shows the ball struck in the arm of Jerome and out for a corner. But this is Premier League after all.

Emre waste no time to take the corner himself from the left-flank and it was destined to have Habib Beye dashes the ball in at the near post. The Senegale defender powering a header into the ground and the ball bounces up into the top roof of Taylor’s net for a dramatic Newcastle’s last minute winner. 2-1.

Jose Enrique replaces Oba Martins on stoppage time as Newcastle United play for time and guard the lead. In desperate dying seconds the Blues pressing for an equaliser but it’s all over for them and the game ends for United win at home again.

Good game, good result, but we are still have conceded the ball early in the first-half in need more attention from Big Sam. But, we are pleased with the display. Congratulations to James Milner for a deserved Man of The Match reward.

Coming up next, the postmortem!

TEAMS

Newcastle United:
Shay Given, Habib Beye, Charles N’Zogbia, Steven Taylor, David Rozehnal, Nicky Butt (Mark Viduka, 31″), Joey Barton, Geremi (Emre, 71″), James Milner, Alan Smith, Oba Martins (Jose Enrique, 92″)
Subs: Steve Harper, David Edgar

Birmingham City:
Maik Taylor, Stephen Kelly, Mathew Sadler, Rafael Schmitz, Liam Ridgwell (c), Sebastian Larsson, Cameron Jerome, Gary McSheffrey (Olivier Kapo, 62″), Mehdi Nafti, Daniel De Ridder (Mikael Forssell, 76″), Fabrice Muamba
Subs: Colin Doyle, Garry O’Connor, Stuart Parnaby

Referee: Rob Styles
Attendance: 49, 948

Rainy Gallowgate at the start of the first half causing a little problem for the players to get good passing movement over the wet surface. But the Lads start the game attacking the visitor’s end.

But once again Newcastle was conceded an early goal in eight minutes while Birmingham plays the ball long from their deep. David Rozehnal is tracking the run of Cameron Jerome but unable to cut out the pass and the Blues striker takes a touch before rounding Given and slotting into an empty net. 0-1.

This is the Toon Army job again to help United team make another chasing game, and they performed another superb backing.

On the other side, Butt tries to get Martins away with a chip into the Blues penalty area, this time Blues player Rafael Schmitz is succeed to head clear the ball before Martins would have been clean through.

Rob Styles waves the Newcastle protests away for a penalty claim in 16 minutes. N’Zogbia and Milner combine on the left. Milner made an ultimate crossing from deep to trouble Ridgewell, the ball skids up off the surface and Smith tries to take advantage.

Ridgewell trying to get the possession from Smithy which resulting United’s versatile player goes down under his challenge, it would’ve been harsh had the penalty been given.Milner wins the Magpies first corner immediately after the accident and takes the flag-kick himself.

His delivery was dangerous and beats everyone inside the penalty area. Rozehnal dives to head against the post but Rob Styles give the visitors a free-kick for an infringement by Roz.

The Geordies are keep searching for a leveller and James Milner is next to test the Blues defensive side. He is skipping another Ridgewell’s challenge efforts on the edge of the six-yards-box before gunning a low drive skid wide of Taylor’s far post.

His terrific effort immediately have been reponded with a roaring chant of “There’s only one James Milner” from the Gallowgate terraces. Unfortunately for Nicky Butt, he looks to be carrying an injury on half hour mark and being replaced by Mark Viduka.

Soon after the first United changes on first-half, if there’s someone who can bring the goal in for United, that is must be Oba Martins.

N’Zogbia’s shot in 37 minutes blocked by a crowd of Blues defenders, but the ball only spinning free for Martins. Matthew Sadler slides in to deny the Nigerian who has a clear strike on goal but he only trips Martins.

This time with no hesitation, Rob Styles points to the spot, and Martins steps up to fire into the net via the diving Taylor and a post for his seventh of the season. 1-1.

Newcastle now dominated the game and should be in front in the near closing minutes of the first half. James Milner who has terrific display today, gets on the end of another wicked N’Zogbia delivery but somehow Maik Taylor manages to push the winger’s close range volley up and over the bar.

N’Zogbia takes the flag-in from the right and the Blues can only half clear as far as Milner lurking 20 yards out, he takes a touch before arrowing a right-footed strike for Taylor’s top corner, again though the Northern Irish stopper denies the England Under-21 star and palms the stinging effort onto the crossbar and the Blues clear the loose ball.

Half-time ends 1-1 for both team in a fantastic United display. Coming up next the second-half match report.

TEAMS

Newcastle United:
Shay Given, Habib Beye, Charles N’Zogbia, Steven Taylor, David Rozehnal, Nicky Butt Mark Viduka (31″), Joey Barton, Geremi (c), James Milner, Alan Smith, Oba Martins
Subs: Steve Harper, Jose Enrique, David Edgar, Emre

Birmingham City:
Maik Taylor, Stephen Kelly, Mathew Sadler, Rafael Schmitz, Liam Ridgwell (c), Sebastian Larsson, Cameron Jerome, Gary McSheffrey, Mehdi Nafti, Daniel De Ridder, Fabrice Muamba
Subs: Colin Doyle, Garry O’Connor, Mikael Forssell, Stuart Parnaby, Olivier Kapo

Referee: Rob Styles
Attendance: tbc