Birmingham City v Preston North End St Andrew's 1/4/2024 15.00 hrs https://www.bcfc.com/ https://www.smallheathalliance.com/list....e_vignette Manager (Temp) Gary Rowett Burton Albion In May 2009, Rowett was named as assistant to newly appointed manager Paul Peschisolido at Burton Albion.[12] Rowett was put in temporary charge of Burton, assisted by Kevin Poole, following Peschisolido's sacking in March 2012.[11] On 10 May, Rowett was announced as the permanent manager of Burton Albion.[13] In his first season, he led Burton to fourth place in League Two, losing in the play-off semi-final to Bradford City,[14] and followed up with a sixth-place finish in 2013–14 and a 1–0 defeat to Fleetwood in the play-off final.[15] Whilst in charge of Burton, Rowett oversaw their best ever League Cup performance, as they reached the third round in 2012–13 before being eliminated by Bradford City. They equaled this achievement two years later under his successor Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. Unfortunately, he was also in charge for their two worst defeats in the Football League, both 7–1. The first was against Bristol Rovers in April 2012, while he was still temporary manager, and the second against Port Vale in April 2013. In September 2014, with Burton near the top of League Two, Rowett rejected the opportunity to manage Championship strugglers Blackpool; he said he felt it was not the right job for him at the present time.[16] Birmingham City On 27 October 2014, Rowett was appointed the manager of his former club, Birmingham City – one place above Blackpool at the bottom of the Championship table. He was joined at Birmingham by Burton backroom staff members Kevin Summerfield as assistant manager, Mark Sale as first-team coach and Poole as goalkeeping coach. All three are also former Birmingham City players.[17] Rowett guided Birmingham from 21st in the Championship to 10th at the end of his first season, earning many plaudits for the remarkable turnaround in form. Rowett was sacked by Birmingham on 14 December 2016 upon their change of ownership and boardroom team, despite leading the team to 7th in the Championship table and challenging for a play-off place.[18][19] The decision was met with surprise and criticism by Birmingham supporters, with the club appointing Gianfranco Zola as his replacement.[20][21] Zola resigned as Birmingham manager in April 2017, after a sequence of only two wins in 24 games throughout his tenure as manager left the club embroiled in a relegation battle.[22] Derby County Rowett was appointed as the new manager of Championship club Derby County, another of his former clubs as a player, on 14 March 2017, and signed a contract until the end of the 2018–19 season.[23] Rowett took over with Derby sat in tenth place, taking fifteen points from their final nine games to guide them to a ninth-placed finish. Rowett signed five players ahead of the 2017–18 season largely focusing on adding experience to a Derby side which had gained a reputation for post-Christmas slumps in form[24] Players such as Tom Huddlestone (30) and Curtis Davies (32) raised the squad's average age to 28.2 years old, the second-highest in the division.[25] After a slow start of just 3 wins from the opening 10 games left them 15th in the table, 13 wins from the following 20 matches saw the team climb to 2nd place at the turn of the year, with Rowett winning Championship Manager of the Month for October and December 2017.[26][27] On 9 January 2018, Rowett was linked with the managerial vacancy at Premier League club Stoke City, but instead signed an improved contract, lasting until 2021.[28] Despite Rowett adding further experience to the squad with the signing of 31-year old Cameron Jerome in the January transfer window, Derby again suffered a post-January slump, winning just 2 out of 13 league matches, a run that included heavy defeats to relegation candidates Sunderland and Burton Albion[29] to briefly fall out of the top 6, before a brief resurgence in their final three games saw them qualify for the playoffs on the final day of the season with a 6th-placed finish and 75 points.[30] The play-off campaign ended in defeat, Derby losing 2–1 on aggregate to Fulham, despite winning the first leg.[31][32] Soon after the end of the season, Rowett requested permission to talk to Stoke City about their vacant managerial position.[33] Stoke City Rowett was appointed Stoke City manager on 22 May 2018, signing a three-year contract, with Stoke paying Derby around £2m in compensation.[34] Stoke, having been relegated from the Premier League the previous season gave Rowett a large transfer budget. The players he brought in were goalkeeper Adam Federici, experienced centre back Ashley Williams, full-back Cuco Martina, midfielders Sam Clucas, Peter Etebo and Ryan Woods, wingers Tom Ince and James McClean and forward Benik Afobe.[35] The team made a poor start to the campaign winning only two of their opening ten matches.[36] Stoke won back-to-back games at the beginning of October against Bolton Wanderers and Norwich City before losing to Rowett's old club Birmingham.[37][38][39] City then went ten games unbeaten through November and December but made little progress up the table as Stoke drew six of them, conceding late equalisers on three occasions.[40][41][42] Stoke's run was ended by another defeat to Birmingham on Boxing Day.[43] After poor results against Bolton Wanderers and Bristol City supporters began to call for Rowett's departure.[44][45][46] Rowett's contract with Stoke was terminated by the club on 8 January 2019.[47][48] Millwall On 21 October 2019, Rowett was appointed as the new Millwall manager, succeeding Neil Harris, who left after more than four years in the post.[49] On his debut five days later, the team won 2–0 at home to his previous club Stoke.[50] After finishing 8th, 11th and 9th in his first three seasons, he signed a new contract of undisclosed length in July 2022.[51] In October 2023, Rowett left Millwall by mutual consent.[52] Return to Birmingham Rowett rejoined Birmingham City as interim manager on 19 March 2024 after incumbent Tony Mowbray took medical leave for the remainder of the season.[53] To think if they hadn't sacked him years ago they wouldn't be in the mess they are in now, good news for Blues fans as a manager he has never lost against us LAST TIME OUT please log in to view this image FORM GUIDE CITY 2 PNE 14 With those figures should be an away win but with Rowett suspect they will be hard to beat. Only the Millers have had a lower rating than this. IN FORM please log in to view this image BIRMINGHAM CULTURE The Birmingham Botanical Gardens are a 15-acre (6-hectare) botanical garden situated in Edgbaston, Birmingham, England. The gardens are located 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) south-west of Birmingham city centre at grid reference SP049854. Designed in 1829, the gardens are Grade II* listed in Historic Englands's Register of Parks and Gardens,[1] and retain many original features and layout, which was designed by the landscape gardener and horticulturalist John Claudius Loudon. The site is notable for its range of glasshouses and gardens, which display a wide variety of plants and birds. Birmingham Botanical Gardens is managed by Birmingham Botanical and Horticultural Society, a registered charity. The gardens are open daily to the public with paid admission. History When Birmingham Botanical and Horticultural Society was formed in 1829, the intention was to develop a botanical garden. The chosen site for Birmingham Botanical Gardens was an 18-acre area of the Calthorpe estate, named Holly Bank Farm. The gardens were designed in 1829 by J. C. Loudon, a leading garden planner, horticultural journalist and publisher. The aim was to combine a scientific and ornamental garden and arboretum that would include a nursery and market garden for selling plants, fruits and vegetables to help with the gardens' maintenance costs. Loudon's design for the main conservatory was rejected as too expensive, so it was eventually designed by a local manufacturer. It took three years to plan and construct the site, before it was opened to members of the society on 11 June 1832. Further development and planting continued throughout the decade. Due to rising expenditure, the southern part of the gardens was given up in 1844 and would eventually be used as Westbourne Road Leisure Gardens. The layout of the Botanical Gardens has changed very little since Loudon first designed it.[1] In 1852, the Tropical House was built, to house the tropical water lily, Victoria amazonica. This was followed by the construction of the Subtropical House in 1871. In 1884, the present-day Terrace glasshouses replaced the original conservatory and lean-to houses.[2] Birmingham Botanical Gardens has played a significant role in the dissemination of Loudon's ideas in terms of planting and garden layout within the Birmingham area. Between 1833 and 1927, the gardens hosted annual exhibitions of exotic plants, fruits and flowers, which raised local horticultural expertise. In 1910 a zoological collection was introduced with the aim of increasing society membership and this included bears, monkeys, seals and alligators. Although the zoological collection was later abandoned, the gardens' collection of birds remained a feature. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s a £1.8 million refurbishment of the gardens took place, which involved the introduction of several new buildings and the restoration of the glasshouses. An aviary was constructed in 1995, housing a variety of birds in four different flights.[1] Who’s Available? After missing the Good Friday clash with Rotherham United, manager Ryan Lowe is hopeful of being able to call upon Liam Millar for this one. Ryan Ledson, who was also absent a few days ago, won’t be back on Monday due to a calf issue, but he could return for the weekend’s trip to Vicarage Road. Ben Whiteman, Brad Potts and Ched Evans all remain sidelined. Opposition Focus Birmingham City head into Easter Monday desperate to pick up points in the midst of a relegation battle at the bottom of the table. Blues sit just a place above the bottom three and are under the guidance of former boss Gary Rowett until the end of the season, given that permanent manager Tony Mowbray has taken a formal medical leave of absence. Rowett’s first game in charge on Friday ended in agonising defeat late on against relegation rivals Queens Park Rangers, and he’ll be hoping he can put an end to their seven-match winless run. Match OfficiaL Referee: Oliver Langford Assistant Referees: Craig Taylor and Bhupinder Singh Gill Fourth Official: Ed Duckworth Oliver Langford will take charge of his third PNE fixture of the season on Monday, following the away matches against Norwich City and Sunderland. So far this term, Langford has shown 89 yellow cards and six reds in the 28 matches he’s refereed. Plenty on this game for both sides, Blues desperately trying to stay up, us trying to catch the play off group, not an easy game against a side who are now on their 30th manager of the season Unfortunate that Mowbray is ill but the American owners shot at glory could be playing Northampton next season. Used to be a reasonably priced ground £27.50 for us oldies, seriously !!!!!!!
Birmingham City 1 Stansfield Preston North End 0 Birmingham City line-up: Ruddy; Laird, Aiwu, Sanderson, Buchanan; Paik (Šunjić, 90+2), Bielik; Miyoshi (Anderson, 81), James (Dozzell, 54), Bacuna (Gardner, 90+2); Stansfield (Hogan, 81). Subs not used: Etheridge, Roberts, Drameh, Dembele. PNE line-up: Woodman; Whatmough, Lindsay, Hughes; Holmes (Seary, 90+2), McCann, N.Mawene (Millar, 62), Brady; Frøkjær (Woodburn, 62), Riis (Osmajić, 74), Keane (Stewart, 74). Subs not used: Cornell, Cunningham, Storey, Best. Attendance: 24,511 (1,389 PNE fans). Referee: Mr O Langford. On a day when play off rivals Norwich, Coventry and Hull all lost, we had a chance to put us closer to the play offs but in traditional North End stylee we lost as well. Slightly understrength due to illness and injury but in truth be tols this was a poor performance and they wanted it more than us as teams at the bottom usually do. Mawene made his first start and looked what he was a very inexperienced player at Championship level, he is a prospect but this was a hard afternoon for him. Holmes at right wing back had his work cut out aginst Bacuna , midfield was non existant and so was the service to the front line. After the usual tortuous crawl down the M6 took nearly three hours to get there, our support swelled the crowd to the biggest they had had this season. Noisy atmosphere to begin with although once the game started that died a bit. Little to enthuse in the opening period although we started the better, a brief passage of home pressure brought a shot from Bacuna aved by Woodman and an effort from Miyoshi which went narrowly wide. The yellows finally woke up from their slumber Mawene scuffed a shot, then there wwere two great chances Mads FJ ina great position chose to pass instead of shooting, same with Brady although he did get a shot on target which was easily saved by Ruddy. On the stroke of half time Buchanan narrowly wide for the Blues. Did admire the optimism of two young fans who wanted players shirts signs with them given they were on the 22nd row might have taken some seeing especially the one who wanted Woodman's shirt given the keeper would be at the other end the pitch. The second half began with the ever inept Mr Langford inventing a new rule. Tackle on the edge of their penalty area, City playing lies on the floor of the pitch we take a quick throw Riis in on goal he stops play, wasn't a head injury less than impressed. The game by now had become dire and it looked as both sides could play until the end of time without scoring and then City scored About 6 years ago we conceded a 50 yard own goal at this particular ground, this matched it for comedy value. Ball out of defence down City's right wing first Woodburn slips as he goes for the ball, then Lindsay does the same, Stansfield is left on his own in our half near the centre line with only Woodman in front of him, didn't take a genius to work out was would happen and sure enough bottom left corner, Blues 1 up. We offered little after that although Milar did cause them some problems when he came on, Gardner nearly made it two but they deserved the win. Put it down to experience, Watford next Bowler Hat day Birmingham City interim boss Gary Rowett told BBC Radio WM: "After the way the QPR game ended and the quick turnaround, it might have been easy to feel a bit sorry for ourselves. "But we had a good energy about us. And it was just moments when we nearly got there before the goal finally came. "When you're a young player, who has been frustrated recently, it would have been easy to panic and lose composure with so much time to think but Jay Stansfield showed what a natural finisher he is and found the bottom corner. He showed a bit of balls. "It was an important three points. There's no feeling like winning games - the feeling from the crowd after the game, the feeling after the final whistle, the feeling as a player coming back into the dressing room." Preston manager Ryan Lowe: "We can't legislate for that slip. It cost us a point, minimum. "But we could have had the game out of sight in the first half when we had two glorious chances to score and it would have been a potentially game-over situation at 2-0. "My centre-half, who has been outstanding all season, slipped at the wrong time. And if you give a player of that calibre a one-versus-one he will have every chance of scoring. "We did everything we could, but decision making and a lack of quality has cost us."
