2006–07 Birmingham City F.C. season

The 2006–07 season was Birmingham City Football Club's 104th consecutive season played in the English football league system, their 46th in the second tier of English football, and their first season at that level under the name of the Football League Championship. Managed by Steve Bruce, Birmingham were promoted back to the Premier League after just one season in the Championship. They reached the fourth round of both the 2006–07 FA Cup and League Cup. The 2006–07 season also marked the 100th anniversary of the first match held at their St Andrew's stadium.

Birmingham City F.C.
2006–07 season
ChairmanDavid Gold
ManagerSteve Bruce
GroundSt Andrew's
The Championship2nd (promoted)
FA Cup
  • Fourth round
  • (eliminated by Reading)
League Cup
Top goalscorerLeague: Gary McSheffrey (13)
All: Gary McSheffrey (16)
Highest home attendance29,431 vs Queens Park Rangers, 26 December 2006
Lowest home attendance10,491 vs Wrexham, League Cup 2nd round, 19 September 2006
Average home league attendance22,273[1]

Gary McSheffrey was top scorer with 16 goals, of which 13 were scored in the league.

Pre-season

Pre-season friendlies
DateOpponents VenueResultScore
F–A		Scorers AttendanceReport
8 July 2006 Burton AlbionA W5–1Campbell (4) 6' 86' 88' 90', Jerome 48' [2][3]
22 July 2006 Tottenham HotspurH L0–2 [4]
29 July 2006 AS NancyH D1–1Forssell [5]

Season review

Birmingham returned straight back to the Premier League by finishing second in The Championship thereby gaining automatic promotion.[6] The team had started the season inconsistently leaving them in ninth position after the 0–1 defeat to Norwich City on 17 November. This led to supporters calling for the sacking of manager Steve Bruce, but the board held firm and the team pulled themselves around. The year finished with Birmingham topping the table by nine points after dropping only seven points in 15 games since the defeat against Norwich.

Boxing Day saw the centenary of the opening of St Andrew's. Queens Park Rangers were the team to visit on the historic day, and Birmingham marked the occasion by defeating their rivals 2–1. Many fans also hoped that the 'curse of the gypsies' would finally be dispelled from the stadium, and at last the team could make their mark on English football.[7]

The FA Cup saw Birmingham overturn Newcastle United away from home that was undoubtedly the result of the season. Goals from Gary McSheffrey, Bruno N'Gotty, Sebastian Larsson, DJ Campbell, and an own goal by former Aston Villa midfielder Nolberto Solano gave Birmingham a 5–1 victory at St James' Park. Blues went on to lose in the next round to Reading.

Birmingham once again returned to some inconsistent form, but a run of good results after the Easter games against Burnley and Barnsley saw them climb back to the top of the table with one game to go, and after Crystal Palace beat Derby County, promotion was secured. The only thing left to be sorted out was who would win the league, Birmingham or Sunderland? Blues had a one-point lead, but after a defeat to Preston North End and a victory for Sunderland, Blues were confined to finishing second. But promotion back to the big time was secured.

The end of season awards ceremony, held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel, saw Stephen Clemence win the player of the season and players' player of the season awards. Fabrice Muamba was chosen young player of the season, and Krystian Pearce was the Academy player of the season. Sebastian Larsson's goal against Sheffield Wednesday on 28 April was chosen goal of the season, and the breakthrough award, sponsored by the local radio station, went to goalkeeper Colin Doyle, whose penalty save against Wolverhampton Wanderers in April earned him the "magic moment" award.[8]

The Championship
Main article: 2006–07 Football League

Match details
DateLeague
position		Opponents VenueResultScore
F–A		Scorers AttendanceReport
5 August 2006 4thColchester UnitedH W2–1Campbell 30', Bendtner 79' 24,238 [9]
9 August 2006 4thSunderlandA W1–0Forssell 40' pen. 26,668[9]
12 August 2006 4thStoke CityA D0–0 12,347[9]
19 August 2006 1stCrystal PalaceH W2–1Bendtner 23', Larsson 90' 20,223[9]
26 August 2006 4thCardiff CityA L0–2 20,109[9]
9 September 2006 2ndHull CityH W2–1Campbell 16', Bendtner 53' 19,228[9]
12 September 2006 1stQueens Park RangersA W2–0N'Gotty 23', Jerome 90' 10,936[9]
16 September 2006 2ndIpswich TownH D2–2Campbell 74', Dunn 86' 20,841[9]
23 September 2006 2ndLeeds UnitedA L2–3Warner 13' o.g., Bendtner 74' 18,898[9]
30 September 2006 2ndLeicester CityH D1–1McSheffrey 58' 18,002[9]
14 October 2006 6thLuton TownA L2–3Campbell 14' Danns 66' 9,275[9]
17 October 2006 9thNorwich CityH L0–1 20,537[9]
21 October 2006 8thDerby CountyA W1–0Clemence 84' 25,673[9]
28 October 2006 6thWest Bromwich AlbionH W2–0McSheffrey (2) 19', 90' 21,009[9]
31 October 2006 4thCoventry CityA W1–0Bendtner 26' 27,212[9]
4 November 2006 4thPlymouth ArgyleA W1–0Jaïdi 75' 17,008[9]
11 November 2006 3rdBarnsleyH W2–0McSheffrey 35', Danns 90' 19,344[9]
18 November 2006 3rdWolverhampton WanderersH D1–1McSheffrey 30' 22,256[9]
25 November 2006 3rdBurnleyA W2–1Bendtner 15', Campbell 83' 12,889[9]
29 November 2006 3rdSouthamptonA L3-4Jerome 68', Bendtner 72', Jaïdi 90' 21,889[9]
2 December 2006 1stPlymouth ArgyleH W3–0Bendtner 21', Upson 30', McSheffrey 41' 22,592[9]
9 December 2006 1stPreston North EndH W3–1McSheffrey (3) 32', 40', 89' pen. 23,159[9]
16 December 2006 1stSheffield WednesdayA W3–0Clemence 42', McSheffrey 65', Jerome 90' 26,083[9]
23 December 2006 1stSouthend UnitedA W4–0Campbell 8', Clemence 38', McSheffrey 54', Jaïdi 84' 9,781[9]
26 December 2006 1stQueens Park RangersH W2–1Upson 22', Jerome 62' 29,431[9]
29 December 2006 1stLuton TownH D2–2McSheffrey 31', Danns 90' 24,642[9]
1 January 2007 1stIpswich TownA L0–1 22,436[9]
30 January 2007 2ndSouthend UnitedH L1–3Clarke 9' o.g. 19,177[9]
3 February 2007 4thColchester UnitedA D1–1Clemence 66' 5,918[9]
11 February 2007 2ndStoke CityH W1–0McSheffrey 71' 15,854[9]
17 February 2007 2ndCrystal PalaceA W1–0Jerome 34' 17,233[9]
20 February 2007 3rdSunderlandH D1–1Campbell 90' 20,941[9]
24 February 2007 3rdHull CityA L0–2 18,811[9]
27 February 2007 1stLeeds UnitedH W1–0Bendtner 15' 18,363[9]
4 March 2007 1stCardiff CityH W1–0Larsson 56' 28,223[9]
9 March 2007 1stDerby CountyH W1–0Vine 45' 20,962[9]
13 March 2007 1stNorwich CityA L0–1 23,504[9]
18 March 2007 2ndWest Bromwich AlbionA D1–1D. Johnson 86' 21,434[9]
1 April 2007 2ndCoventry CityH W3–0Jaïdi 13', Campbell (2) 65', 78' 25,424[9]
7 April 2007 3rdBurnleyH L0–1 28,777[9]
9 April 2007 3rdBarnsleyA L0–1 15,857[9]
14 April 2007 3rdSouthamptonH W2–1Jaïdi 13', Bendtner 79' 19,754[9]
17 April 2007 2ndLeicester CityA W2–1Jaïdi 13', Larsson 19' 24,290[9]
22 April 2007 1stWolverhampton WanderersA W3–2Cole 54', Bendtner 77', Jerome 88' 22,754[9]
28 April 2007 1stSheffield WednesdayH W2–0Jerome 74', Larsson 84' 28,317[9]
6 May 2007 2ndPreston North EndA L0–1 16,837[9]

League table (part)
Final Championship table (part)
Pos Club Pld W D L F A GD Pts
1st Sunderland46277127647+2988
2nd Birmingham City46268126742+2586
3rd Derby County46259126246+1684
4th West Bromwich Albion462210148155+2676
5th Wolverhampton Wanderers462210145956+376
Key Pos = League position; Pld = Matches played;
W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost;
F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
Source [10]

Results summary
OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
46 26 8 12 67 42  +25 86 15 5 3 37 18  +19 11 3 9 30 24  +6

Source: [10]

FA Cup
Main article: 2006–07 FA Cup

Birmingham reached the fourth round of the 2006–07 FA Cup before losing to Reading of the Premier League.

Round DateOpponentsVenue ResultScore
F–A		Scorers AttendanceReport
Third round 6 January 2007Newcastle UnitedH D2–2Campbell 15', Larsson 86' 16,444[9]
Third round replay 17 January 2007Newcastle UnitedA W5–1McSheffrey 5', Solano 45' o.g., N'Gotty 59', Larsson 83', Campbell 89' 26,099[9]
Fourth round 27 January 2007ReadingH L2–3Martin Taylor 47', Larsson 90' 20,041[9]

League Cup
Main article: 2006–07 Football League Cup

Birmingham reached the fourth round of the 2006–07 League Cup before losing to Liverpool of the Premier League.

Round DateOpponentsVenue ResultScore
F–A		Scorers AttendanceReport
First round 22 August 2006Shrewsbury TownH W1–0Larsson 83' 12,428[9]
Second round 19 September 2006WrexhamH W4–1
a.e.t.		Jerome 41', McSheffrey (2) 102', 113', Bendtner 117' 10,491[9]
Third round 24 October 2006Sheffield UnitedA W4–2Campbell 41, Bendtner 70', Jerome 79', Larsson 90' 10,584[9]
Fourth round 8 November 2006LiverpoolH L0–1 23,061[9]

Transfers

In
Date Player Club Fee Ref
31 May 2006Cameron JeromeCardiff City£3m [11]
20 June 2006Neil DannsColchester United£500,000 [12]
28 June 2006Stephen KellyTottenham Hotspur£750,000 [13]
6 July 2006Bruno N'Gotty(Bolton Wanderers)Free [14]
4 August 2006Radhi JaïdiBolton Wanderers£2m [15]
16 August 2006Gary McSheffreyCoventry City£4m [16]
31 August 2006Artur KrysiakUKS SMS ŁódźUndisclosed [17]
11 January 2007Rowan VineLuton Town£2.5m [18]
31 January 2007Patrick Kavanagh(UCD)Free [19]
31 January 2007Sebastian LarssonArsenal£1m [20]
Brackets round club names indicate the player's contract with that club had expired before he joined Birmingham.

Loan in
Date Player Club Return Ref
3 August 2006 Fabrice MuambaArsenalEnd of season [21]
4 August 2006 Nicklas BendtnerArsenalEnd of season [22][23]
4 August 2006 Sebastian LarssonArsenal31 January 2007 [20][22]
31 January 2007 Gary DickerUCDEnd of season [24]
21 March 2007 Andy ColePortsmouthEnd of season [25]

Out
Date Player Fee Joined Ref
7 July 2006Emile Heskey£5.5mWigan Athletic [26]
26 July 2006Jermaine Pennant£6.7mLiverpool [27]
3 August 2006Alex BruceFreeIpswich Town [28]
5 January 2007Peter TillFreeGrimsby Town [29]
11 January 2007Oliver AllenReleased(Barnet) [30]
17 January 2007David Dunn£5.5mBlackburn Rovers [31]
25 January 2007James BlakeReleased(Redditch United) [32]
31 January 2007Marcos Painter£25,000Swansea City [33]
31 January 2007Matthew Upson£6mWest Ham United [34]
30 June 2007Mathew BirleyReleased(Bromsgrove Rovers) [35]
30 June 2007Julian GrayReleased(Coventry City) [36]
30 June 2007Mark HallReleased [35]
30 June 2007Patrick KavanaghReleased(Bray Wanderers) [35]
30 June 2007Jake MeredithReleased(Team Bath) [35]
30 June 2007Bruno N'GottyFree(Leicester City) [37]
30 June 2007Jamie PriceReleased(Gloucester City) [35]
30 June 2007Nick WrightReleased(Halesowen Town) [38]
Brackets round club names denote the player joined that club after his Birmingham City contract expired.

Loan out
Date Player Club Return Ref
6 October 2006 Peter TillLeyton OrientOne month [29]
12 October 2006 Nick WrightBristol CityOne month [39]
27 October 2006 Adam LegzdinsOldham AthleticJanuary 2007 [40]
14 November 2006 Marcos PainterSwansea City31 January 2007 [33][41]
23 November 2006 Mathew BirleyLincoln CityOne month [42]
23 November 2006 Nick WrightNorthampton TownOne month [43]
23 November 2006 Peter TillGrimsby Town5 January 2007 [29]
4 January 2007 Jamie PriceTamworthOne month [44]
12 January 2007 Adam LegzdinsMacclesfield TownOne month [40]
16 February 2007 Sam OjiBristol RoversTwo months [45]
30 March 2007 Asa HallAshford Town (Kent)End of season [46]
30 March 2007 Nick WrightAshford Town (Kent)End of season [46]

Appearances and goals
Numbers in parentheses denote appearances as substitute.
Players with squad numbers struck through and marked left the club during the playing season.
Players with names in italics and marked * were on loan from another club for the whole of their season with Birmingham.
Players included in matchday squads
No.[47] Pos Nat Name League FA Cup League Cup Total Discipline
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals!
1GK NIR Maik Taylor 270301031000
2DF IRE Stephen Kelly 35 (1)0103 (1)039 (2)050
3DF ENG Mat Sadler 360302041030
4DF ENG Martin Taylor 29 (2)02 (1)14035 (3)110
5DF ENG Matthew Upson 8 (1)2300011 (1)220
6MF ENG Stephen Clemence 31 (3)4001032 (3)460
7MF SWE Sebastian Larsson 27 (16)4334234 (16)990
8MF ENG David Dunn 9 (2)1000 (1)09 (3)130
8FW ENG Andrew Cole* 5100005100
9FW FIN Mikael Forssell 3 (5)100205 (5)100
10FW ENG Cameron Jerome 20 (18a)7204226 (18)941
11MF ENG Julian Gray 2 (5)000305 (5)021
12MF TUN Mehdi Nafti 18 (14)00 (1)01019 (15)070
13GK IRE Colin Doyle 190003022000
14FW ENG DJ Campbell 15 (17)9322 (2)120 (19)1210
15MF AUS Neil Kilkenny 0 (8)00 (3)02 (1)02 (12)000
16DF CIV Olivier Tébily 5 (1)000106 (1)010
17MF ENG Neil Danns 11 (18)30 (3)03014 (21)330
19FW ENG Rowan Vine 10 (7)1000010 (7)100
20DF IRE Marcos Painter 1000102010
21DF FRA Bruno N'Gotty 251210027221
22MF NIR Damien Johnson 24 (2a)1300027 (2)121
24DF TUN Radhi Jaïdi 386103042622
26MF ENG Fabrice Muamba* 30 (4)0303 (1)036 (5)091
27FW DEN Nicklas Bendtner* 38 (4)111 (1)00 (4)239 (9)1351
28FW ENG Gary McSheffrey 4013311 (1)244 (1)1661
29GK ENG Adam Legzdins 0000000000
a. Soccerbase's stats for the match between Derby County and Birmingham City on 9 March 2007 omit substitute appearances by Jerome and Johnson.[48]
Players not included in matchday squads
No.[47] Pos Nat Name
18DF ENG Sam Oji
25FW ENG Sone Aluko
23MF ENG Mathew Birley
19MF ENG Peter Till

References

General

  • Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. ISBN 978-1-85983-010-9.
  • Matthews, Tony (2010). Birmingham City: The Complete Record. Derby: DB Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85983-853-2.
  • Source for match dates, league positions and results: "Birmingham City 2006–2007: Results". Statto Organisation. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  • Source for lineups, appearances, goalscorers and attendances: Matthews (2010), Complete Record, pp. 448–49.
  • Source for goal times: "Birmingham Results 2006/07". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  • Source for transfers: "Birmingham Transfers 2006/07". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 July 2013.

Specific

  1. "Stats: Attendance". The Football League. Archived from the original on 30 September 2012.
  2. Cartlidge, Brian (8 July 2004). "Burton Albion 1 Blues 5". Singing The Blues. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  3. Tattum, Colin (8 July 2004). "Burton Albion 1 Blues 5". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  4. Barker, Richard (23 July 2006). "Blues 0 Tottenham Hotspur 2 .. Match Report". Singing The Blues. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  5. "Birmingham City 1–1 AS Nancy". joysandsorrows.co.uk. 30 July 2006. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  6. "Final Championship 2006/2007 league table". Birminghamcity-mad.co.uk. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  7. Smith, Martin. "Birmingham hope curse has run course". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  8. "Clem gains the plaudits". Birmingham City F.C. 2 May 2007. Archived from the original on 9 August 2011.
  9. "Birmingham City Reports – 2006–2007". sportinglife.com. 365 Media Group. Archived from the original on 23 May 2012. Individual match reports are linked from this page.
    "Fixtures & Results 2006/2007". Birmingham City F.C. Archived from the original on 15 December 2007.
  10. "Birmingham City 2006–2007 : English League Championship Table". Statto Organisation. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
  11. "Birmingham complete Jerome deal". BBC Sport. 31 May 2006. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  12. "Danns completes Birmingham move". BBC Sport. 20 June 2006. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  13. "Kelly completes Birmingham switch". BBC Sport. 28 June 2006. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  14. "Birmingham seal deal for N'Gotty". BBC Sport. 6 July 2006. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  15. "Birmingham agree terms with Jaidi". BBC Sport. 4 August 2006. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  16. "Birmingham capture £4m McSheffrey". BBC Sport. 16 August 2006. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  17. "Bruce brings in Polish goalkeeper". BBC Sport. 31 August 2006. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  18. "Birmingham complete Vine signing". BBC Sport. 11 January 2007. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  19. "Pat Kavanagh". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  20. "Birmingham wrap up Larsson deal". BBC Sport. 31 January 2007. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  21. "Muamba joins Birmingham on loan". Arsenal F.C. 3 August 2006. Archived from the original on 23 January 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  22. "Birmingham capture third Gunner". BBC Sport. 4 August 2006. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  23. Bramley, Steve (30 January 2007). "Bendtner extends stay". Sky Sports. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  24. "Gary signs". Birmingham Mail. 1 February 2007. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  25. "Birmingham sign Cole in loan deal". BBC Sport. 21 March 2007. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  26. "Wigan seal £5.5m move for Heskey". BBC Sport. 7 July 2006. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  27. "Pennant completes Liverpool move". BBC Sport. 26 July 2006. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  28. "Defender Bruce heads to Ipswich". BBC Sport. 3 August 2006. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  29. "Peter Till". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  30. "Transfers: January 2007". ESPN FC. 31 January 2007. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  31. "Dunn chooses Rovers over Bolton". BBC Sport. 17 January 2007. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  32. "Blues release Blake". Birmingham City F.C. 25 January 2007. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  33. "Swans secure Painter from Blues". BBC Sport. 31 January 2007. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  34. "West Ham capture Upson from Blues". BBC Sport. 31 January 2007. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  35. "Quartet offered new deals". Birmingham City F.C. 14 May 2007. Archived from the original on 15 June 2007.
  36. "Coventry sign Birmingham's Gray". BBC Sport. 10 July 2007. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  37. "Foxes recruit N'Gotty and Nielsen". BBC Sport. 4 June 2007. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  38. "Trio sign pro deals". Birmingham City F.C. 4 July 2007. Archived from the original on 1 March 2012.
  39. "City sign winger Wright on loan". BBC Sport. 12 October 2006. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  40. "Adam Legzdins". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  41. "Swans take Painter on loan deal". BBC Sport. 14 November 2006. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  42. "Birley joins Imps on loan". Birmingham City F.C. 23 November 2006. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012.
  43. Rutledge, Lewis (23 November 2006). "Wright makes Cobblers move". Sky Sports. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  44. "Cooper in talks to sign striker". Birmingham Mail. 6 January 2007. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  45. "Sam Oji". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  46. "Blues duo join Town". Birmingham Mail. 3 April 2007. Archived from the original on 23 January 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2013 – via HighBeam Research.
  47. "Player profiles". Birmingham City F.C. Archived from the original on 8 December 2006.
    "Birmingham City: Current squad". Soccerbase. Mirror Group. Archived from the original on 26 May 2007.
  48. "Results & Matches on: Fri, 9 Mar 2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
    "Birmingham 1–0 Derby". BBC Sport. 9 March 2007. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
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