Birmingham FA Cup comeback breaks Blyth hearts

A superb second-half comeback allowed Birmingham to break brave Blyth Spartans hearts as they fought back from two down to defeat the non-Leaguers 3-2 in The FA Cup Third Round.

Spartans captain Robbie Dale had fired his side into FA Cup heaven as his brace gave the hosts a 2-0 lead at the break, but he and his team-mates were blown away by the visitors in a rampant opening to the second half as a goal from Lee Novak and two from Wesley Thomas saw the Blues avoid an upset. 

As expected, a jam-packed Croft Park was awash with noise as the action began, and the day’s pantomime villain, Nikola Zigic, was on the receiving end of the early jeers.

The Serbian, making his first start for the Blues since re-joining the club last month, almost silenced his critics inside seven minutes after he powered a low header from Mark Duffy’s corner into the ground and under the bar – but celebrations were cut short as the referee ruled it out for a foul.

Two minutes later he was presented with another opportunity to open the scoring, but he blazed high over the bar from six yards with the net gaping following Novak’s cutback.

Spartans were by no means being outplayed, and they were about to click into full gear as Daniel Maguire nearly saw a nice spell of possession rewarded with a goal – albeit from fortuitous circumstances.

Maguire, a plumber by trade, was making a nuisance of himself in attack as he chased down Brum goalie Colin Doyle, and the shot-stopper seemed to panic as he fired his clearance straight into the striker – but fortunately for Gary Rowett’s men the ball rolled just wide of the open net.

They were not so fortunate moments later, though, as the roof was blown off the ground when Blyth legend Dale, the club’s third highest-ever scorer, gave the non-Leaguers the lead on 35 minutes. 

His side had been in control for a while, and they got their just reward when Jarrett Rivers danced past three defenders towards the by-line and fizzed the ball low across the goalmouth for Dale to charge onto and rifle home at the back post.

The volume went up another notch just six minutes later as the Spartans entered FA Cup dreamland.

Stephen Turnbull, scorer of a wonderful free-kick against Hartlepool United in the last round, knocked a short free-kick to Dale, and the barman floated along the 18-yard line before drilling home right-footed to give his side a two-goal lead at the break.

But any thoughts of landing a plum home tie in the Fourth Round were quickly blown away as a rampant City flew out the traps and leave brave Blyth what might have been.

Seven minutes after the restart Birmingham winger Mark Duffy, who seconds earlier was denied by keeper Peter Jeffries when one-on-one, had the ball out wide on the left. He played it to Lee Novak, who strode inside to unleash a low drive into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Spartans were reeling, and, smelling blood, their opponents continued to attack. They found themselves level on 55 minutes when Thomas latched onto a through ball, held off a defender and rifled into the top corner from the edge of the area.

Thomas then completed the turnaround with a header at the back post following a short corner on 58, and from then on it was plain sailing for the Championship side until the dying moments.

Dale had earlier whizzed a strike past the post as Spartans steadied the ship, but it was not until the four minutes of added time they came close to an equaliser.

First, Danny Parker headed just wide from a corner before Daniel Maguire was sent through on goal with seconds left. The forward took a neat touch to take him away from the defender, but his shot was sliced and ended up high and wide as he and his side’s Cup run came to an end.

Blyth Spartans (4-5-1): 1 Peter Jeffries; 2 Joel Dixon, 5 Nathan Buddle, 4 Ryan Hutchinson, 3 Jordon Watson; 7 Jarrett Rivers, 10 Daman Mullen, 6 Stephen Turnbull, 8 Daniel Hawkins, 11 Robert Dale (C); 9 Daniel Maguire.

Subs: 16 Michael Richardson for Mullen 65; 14 Danny Parker for Hutchinson 86; 18 Alex Nicholson for Dixon 90. 

Subs not used: 12 Arran Wearmouth, 15 Neal Hooks, 17 Matthew Wade, 19 Niall Harrison.

Goals: Dale 35, 41

Birmingham City (4-4-2): 21 Colin Doyle; 2 Neal Eardley, 28 Michael Morrison, 6 David Edgar, 18 Mitchel Hancox; 12 Lee Novak, 39 Guy Moussi, 17 Callum Reilly, 7 Mark Duffy; 19 Nikola Zigic, 10 Wesley Thomas.

Subs: 24 Koby Arthur for Duffy 82.

Subs not used: 3 Jonathan Grounds, 11 David Cotterill, 22 Andrew Shinnie, 31 Paul Caddis, 33 Demarai Gray, 1 Darren Randolf.

Goals: Novak 52; Thomas 55, 58

Referee: Mr M Jones

Attendance: 3,644