Birmingham City fell asleep while defending a corner kick, still setting up their defense while West Brom put a short ball into play, finding Phil Scharner at the far post just as Brum realized what was going on. The Austrian put his ball but toward goal at a sharp angle, with Ben Foster instinctively jumping back into jump, unable to get enough of his right hand on the ball to stop West Brom's third goal. After 72 minutes, the Baggies were set to jump out of the drop and send Brum into 17th, holding a 3-1 lead.
Birmingham City Vs. West Brom: Paul Scharner, Lax Corner Defending From Brum, Give Baggies 3-1 Lead
The corner kick defense was emblematic of the entire day for the Blues. They have been flat. At the back, they've been lax, with defensive breakdowns leading to each of the three goals. In attack, they've only had two chances - Jean Beausejour's goal and a dangerous ball from distance by David Bentley. Everything Alex McLeish's club was on Sunday, they are not today.
On the corner kick, Birmingham’s defenders were looking to their marks, having taken their eye off the ball when the play was restarted with a show pass. Just as Brum lifted their heads to the play, and inswinging ball from the left flank found an unmarked Scharner running to the far post. The ball was beyond the upright and only two yards from the byline, but Scharner got the ball back toward goal. Foster’s right hand got enough of the ball to call the goal into question, but replayed showed the ball clearly crossed the line, sealing this match for the Baggies.
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