Maribor 1-2 Birmingham: Wade in for Blues
Published 20:10 29/09/11 By MirrorFootball
Wade Elliott spared Colin Doyle’s blushes as his winner earned Blues their first Europa League victory despite the keeper’s horrendous blunder.
Doyle had gifted NK Maribor the half-time lead when he swung at and missed Jonathan Spector’s back-pass to allow Dalibor Volas to score a comical opener.
But Scotland winger Chris Burke levelled and then Elliott, a recent signing from Burnley, earned Chris Hughton’s side a victory with a classy strike.
Hughton said: “I was very frustrated with the goal we conceded. In defence of Colin, it was a very difficult ball for him to deal with.
“It was then important we didn’t concede again and we managed that and then went on to get a grip on the game.
“We showed great character and team spirit and, in the end, I thought we were worthy winners. I would think Colin and Jonathan might offer to buy Chris and Wade a drink now!”
When Maribor’s goal came, it was a farce. Doyle somehow missed Spector’s back-pass and then seemed to watch helplessly as the ball rolled behind him and Volas put the ball in the net.
Bosss Hughton had strikers Nikola Zigic and Chris Wood stripped and ready to come on when the equaliser came in the 64th minute.
King held the ball up well and flicked it on to Burke, who then showed superb technique to poke the ball around his marker and slot it under the onrushing goalkeeper.
A speculative punt forward 11 minutes from time just eluded Blues midfielder Morgaro Gomis’ control, but when the loose ball was not dealt with, Elliott was alert to the opportunity and drove his right-footed half-volley inside the near post.
