Birmingham celebrates Cup triumph
Source: Agencies |
March 1, 2011, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
CHAMPAGNE flowed throughout on Sunday night as Birmingham's Chinese executives celebrated the end of the club's 48-year title drought, but thoughts were already turning to Premier League survival.
Birmingham's acting chairman Peter Pannu hopes the 2-1 victory over Arsenal in the League Cup final has convinced the players they are capable of hauling themselves away from the top flight's relegation zone.
While goalkeeper Ben Foster earned the man of the match award, substitute Obafemi Martins scored the 89th-minute winner a month after arriving on loan from Rubin Kazan until the end of the season. The winner came after a defensive blunder by keeper Wojciech Szczesny and defender Laurent Koscielny, leaving Arsenal players slumped on the turf at the final whistle.
The conquerors of Arsenal, which is second in the Premier League, are only two points above the bottom three. "This will be a step forward for the boys because the boys know they can do it," Pannu said.
"They have not done terribly badly this season. They know they have the ability and with all their confidence together they have beaten one of the Big Four clubs.
"They have got to utilize that self belief, which we are sure they have got after today, and retain our Premier League position, which I am confident they will do. They know they are capable."
Especially with Alex McLeish as manager.
"Strategically Alex outwitted (Arsenal manager Arsene) Wenger in a sense that he knew they would be attacking, so we defended well and, when we could, took our chances," Pannu said.
"Alex has got that special ability in him, he understands the occasion and he rises up to it. He understands players very well and knows how to bring best out of the players and he's proven that today."
Birthday
The victory coincided with owner Carson Yeung's 51st birthday. As Pannu celebrated in a restaurant with Yeung and friends from Hong Kong, he stressed: "This is a special occasion for the fans, the team and lastly the owners."
Wenger said Arsenal's shock defeat could have an impact on the club's push for three other trophies this season. "Everyone is devastated in the dressing room, they (the players) are destroyed, and I don't want to add to that," Wenger said. "I am bitterly disappointed like the whole team. We had some problems to start the game, the number of games we played caught up a little bit on us."
Arsenal, whose last silverware was the 2005 FA Cup, again attracted criticism that they lack the mental strength and physical power to turn talent into trophies.
In a Premier League match, Manchester City was held 1-1 at home by Fulham.
Birmingham's acting chairman Peter Pannu hopes the 2-1 victory over Arsenal in the League Cup final has convinced the players they are capable of hauling themselves away from the top flight's relegation zone.
While goalkeeper Ben Foster earned the man of the match award, substitute Obafemi Martins scored the 89th-minute winner a month after arriving on loan from Rubin Kazan until the end of the season. The winner came after a defensive blunder by keeper Wojciech Szczesny and defender Laurent Koscielny, leaving Arsenal players slumped on the turf at the final whistle.
The conquerors of Arsenal, which is second in the Premier League, are only two points above the bottom three. "This will be a step forward for the boys because the boys know they can do it," Pannu said.
"They have not done terribly badly this season. They know they have the ability and with all their confidence together they have beaten one of the Big Four clubs.
"They have got to utilize that self belief, which we are sure they have got after today, and retain our Premier League position, which I am confident they will do. They know they are capable."
Especially with Alex McLeish as manager.
"Strategically Alex outwitted (Arsenal manager Arsene) Wenger in a sense that he knew they would be attacking, so we defended well and, when we could, took our chances," Pannu said.
"Alex has got that special ability in him, he understands the occasion and he rises up to it. He understands players very well and knows how to bring best out of the players and he's proven that today."
Birthday
The victory coincided with owner Carson Yeung's 51st birthday. As Pannu celebrated in a restaurant with Yeung and friends from Hong Kong, he stressed: "This is a special occasion for the fans, the team and lastly the owners."
Wenger said Arsenal's shock defeat could have an impact on the club's push for three other trophies this season. "Everyone is devastated in the dressing room, they (the players) are destroyed, and I don't want to add to that," Wenger said. "I am bitterly disappointed like the whole team. We had some problems to start the game, the number of games we played caught up a little bit on us."
Arsenal, whose last silverware was the 2005 FA Cup, again attracted criticism that they lack the mental strength and physical power to turn talent into trophies.
In a Premier League match, Manchester City was held 1-1 at home by Fulham.
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