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

Pre-season

Pre-season friendlies

Season review

Birmingham returned straight back to the Premier League by finishing second in The Championship thereby gaining automatic promotion. 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.
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.

The Championship

Match details

DateLeague
position		OpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A		ScorersAttendanceReport
5 August 20064thColchester UnitedHW2–1Campbell 30', Bendtner 79'24,238
9 August 20064thSunderlandAW1–0Forssell 40' pen.26,668
12 August 20064thStoke CityAD0–012,347
19 August 20061stCrystal PalaceHW2–1Bendtner 23', Larsson 90'20,223
26 August 20064thCardiff CityAL0–220,109
9 September 20062ndHull CityHW2–1Campbell 16', Bendtner 53'19,228
12 September 20061stQueens Park RangersAW2–0N'Gotty 23', Jerome 90'10,936
16 September 20062ndIpswich TownHD2–2Campbell 74', Dunn 86'20,841
23 September 20062ndLeeds UnitedAL2–3Warner 13' o.g., Bendtner 74'18,898
30 September 20062ndLeicester CityHD1–1McSheffrey 58'18,002
14 October 20066thLuton TownAL2–3Campbell 14' Danns 66'9,275
17 October 20069thNorwich CityHL0–120,537
21 October 20068thDerby CountyAW1–0Clemence 84'25,673
28 October 20066thWest Bromwich AlbionHW2–0McSheffrey 19', 90'21,009
31 October 20064thCoventry CityAW1–0Bendtner 26'27,212
4 November 20064thPlymouth ArgyleAW1–0Jaïdi 75'17,008
11 November 20063rdBarnsleyHW2–0McSheffrey 35', Danns 90'19,344
18 November 20063rdWolverhampton WanderersHD1–1McSheffrey 30'22,256
25 November 20063rdBurnleyAW2–1Bendtner 15', Campbell 83'12,889
29 November 20063rdSouthamptonAL3-4Jerome 68', Bendtner 72', Jaïdi 90'21,889
2 December 20061stPlymouth ArgyleHW3–0Bendtner 21', Upson 30', McSheffrey 41'22,592
9 December 20061stPreston North EndHW3–1McSheffrey 32', 40', 89' pen.23,159
16 December 20061stSheffield WednesdayAW3–0Clemence 42', McSheffrey 65', Jerome 90'26,083
23 December 20061stSouthend UnitedAW4–0Campbell 8', Clemence 38', McSheffrey 54', Jaïdi 84'9,781
26 December 20061stQueens Park RangersHW2–1Upson 22', Jerome 62'29,431
29 December 20061stLuton TownHD2–2McSheffrey 31', Danns 90'24,642
1 January 20071stIpswich TownAL0–122,436
30 January 20072ndSouthend UnitedHL1–3Clarke 9' o.g.19,177
3 February 20074thColchester UnitedAD1–1Clemence 66'5,918
11 February 20072ndStoke CityHW1–0McSheffrey 71'15,854
17 February 20072ndCrystal PalaceAW1–0Jerome 34'17,233
20 February 20073rdSunderlandHD1–1Campbell 90'20,941
24 February 20073rdHull CityAL0–218,811
27 February 20071stLeeds UnitedHW1–0Bendtner 15'18,363
4 March 20071stCardiff CityHW1–0Larsson 56'28,223
9 March 20071stDerby CountyHW1–0Vine 45'20,962
13 March 20071stNorwich CityAL0–123,504
18 March 20072ndWest Bromwich AlbionAD1–1D. Johnson 86'21,434
1 April 20072ndCoventry CityHW3–0Jaïdi 13', Campbell 65', 78'25,424
7 April 20073rdBurnleyHL0–128,777
9 April 20073rdBarnsleyAL0–115,857
14 April 20073rdSouthamptonHW2–1Jaïdi 13', Bendtner 79'19,754
17 April 20072ndLeicester CityAW2–1Jaïdi 13', Larsson 19'24,290
22 April 20071stWolverhampton WanderersAW3–2Cole 54', Bendtner 77', Jerome 88'22,754
28 April 20071stSheffield WednesdayHW2–0Jerome 74', Larsson 84'28,317
6 May 20072ndPreston North EndAL0–116,837

League table (part)

Results summary

FA Cup

Birmingham reached the fourth round of the 2006–07 FA Cup before losing to Reading of the Premier League.
RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A		ScorersAttendanceReport
Third round6 January 2007Newcastle UnitedHD2–2Campbell 15', Larsson 86'16,444
Third round replay17 January 2007Newcastle UnitedAW5–1McSheffrey 5', Solano 45' o.g., N'Gotty 59', Larsson 83', Campbell 89'26,099
Fourth round27 January 2007ReadingHL2–3Martin Taylor 47', Larsson 90'20,041

League Cup

Birmingham reached the fourth round of the 2006–07 League Cup before losing to Liverpool of the Premier League.
RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScore
F–A		ScorersAttendanceReport
First round22 August 2006Shrewsbury TownHW1–0Larsson 83'12,428
Second round19 September 2006WrexhamHW4–1
a.e.t.		Jerome 41', McSheffrey 102', 113', Bendtner 117'10,491
Third round24 October 2006Sheffield UnitedAW4–2Campbell 41, Bendtner 70', Jerome 79', Larsson 90'10,584
Fourth round8 November 2006LiverpoolHL0–123,061

Transfers

In

Loan in

Out

Loan out

Appearances and goals

No.PosNatName
18DFSam Oji
25FWSone Aluko
23MFMathew Birley
19MFPeter Till