BCFC Fanzine TV: Reaction After Birmingham City vs West Brom
Andrew Clark and Chris Edge return on BCFC Fanzine TV to reflect on Birmingham City’s draw with West Bromwich Albion, offering further thoughts 24 hours after the match. The episode also begins with an important message to Birmingham City owner Tom Wagner.
Support for Tom Wagner
The podcast opens with both hosts sending their best wishes to Birmingham City owner Tom Wagner following news that he had suffered a stroke.
Andrew Clark notes that Wagner is believed to be receiving the best possible medical care and expresses hope for a full recovery. The pair highlight how much Wagner has done for Birmingham City and how supporters across the club will be united in wishing him well.
Fans are also reportedly planning a show of support during the upcoming match against Leeds, including a banner across the stands and fundraising for charity in Wagner’s name.
The hosts emphasise that moments like these remind everyone that health is more important than football.
Reflecting on the West Brom Draw
Around 24 hours after the final whistle, the discussion shifts to the game itself. With the Championship fixtures still ongoing at the time of recording, the hosts note that the league table had not yet fully updated.
While Birmingham extended their unbeaten run and secured another clean sheet, the overall feeling after the match remained somewhat flat.
Andrew Clark revisits his immediate post-match reaction and admits that, in the moment, frustration influenced his criticism of Samuel. After reviewing highlights of the match, he clarifies that the player was not the worst performer on the pitch and that his earlier comments were partly driven by disappointment.
The conversation then turns to the atmosphere inside St Andrew’s. The hosts describe the game as draining and acknowledge that many supporters around the ground appeared similarly deflated during the match.
Although Birmingham created several opportunities, including goal-line clearances by West Brom defenders, penalty appeals, and a late disallowed goal for August Prisk, the hosts felt the team did not begin playing with real intensity until roughly the 65th minute.
Recurring Issues in Home Performances
Chris Edge argues that the frustrations surrounding the match are not based on a single performance but rather a pattern that has appeared multiple times throughout the season.
He compares the West Brom match with several other home fixtures and suggests that similar issues have repeatedly surfaced. While Birmingham have maintained a strong home record, the number of draws has led to debates about whether those results represent missed opportunities.
The conversation raises questions about why similar patterns continue to appear even as players change within the squad.
At the same time, the hosts acknowledge that West Brom deserve credit for their approach. According to the discussion, Albion played with physicality and intensity while focusing on defensive stability after conceding heavily in previous matches.
One supporter described the match as a goalless draw that contained a few chances but ultimately lacked overall quality.
For context on the Championship and the competitive nature of the division, supporters can view the latest standings via the English Football League.
Supporter Culture and Matchday Atmosphere
Another talking point from the podcast concerns the atmosphere generated by the travelling West Brom supporters.
Andrew Clark notes that several chants heard during the match were associated with other clubs, including songs commonly linked to Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers. He jokingly suggests that the Albion supporters might be better sticking to their traditional “boing boing” chant.
Despite the rivalry, the tone of the discussion remains largely light-hearted.
Feature: Players Who Played for Both Clubs
The episode concludes with a feature discussing players who represented both Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion.
The hosts mention several footballers who have played for both clubs over the years, including Darren Carter, Paul Robinson, Ben Foster, Jeff Horsfield, Chris Wood, Kenny Cunningham, Kevin Phillips, Paul Peschisolido, Darren Purse and Robert Hopkins.
Each host then selects their personal favourite.
Andrew Clark’s Choice: Craig Gardner
Andrew chooses Craig Gardner, highlighting the midfielder’s contributions during his time at Birmingham City.
He points particularly to Gardner’s goal in the League Cup semi-final, which helped secure the club’s place in the final where Obafemi Martins scored the winning goal. Andrew explains that moments like that have left a lasting impression on supporters.
Gardner later returned to Birmingham City and is now involved with the club as technical director, though Andrew acknowledges that opinions about his current role vary among supporters.
Chris Edge’s Choice: Paul Mardon
Chris selects Welsh central defender Paul Mardon, who joined Birmingham City from Bristol City in the early 1990s.
Mardon was regarded as a technically gifted defender with strong passing ability and intelligence on the ball. During his career he attracted interest from Liverpool and later moved to West Bromwich Albion for a transfer fee of £400,000 in 1993.
He went on to make over 140 appearances for West Brom and earned caps for Wales before injuries eventually shortened his career.
Looking Ahead
The podcast closes with a preview of upcoming BCFC Fanzine coverage, including pre-match discussions and live reactions following future games.
Supporters are encouraged to join the conversation, share their own picks for players who played for both clubs, and continue following the channel’s coverage of Birmingham City.
Keep Right On.