Birmingham City F.C. season 2006-07

Infobox Football club season
club = Birmingham City
season = 2006–07
manager = flagicon|ENG Steve Bruce
chairman = flagicon|ENG David Gold
league = The Championship
league result = 2nd
cup1 = FA Cup
cup1 result = 4th round
cup2 = League Cup
cup2 result = 4th round
league topscorer = flagicon|ENG Gary McSheffrey (13)
season topscorer = flagicon|ENG Gary McSheffrey (16)
highest attendance = 29,431 vs Queens Park Rangers
(26 December 2006)
lowest attendance = 15,854 vs Stoke City
(11 February 2007)

The 2006–07 season was Birmingham City F.C.'s 104th consecutive season played in the Football League, their 46th in the second tier of English football, and their first season in that tier under the name of The Championship. The 2006–07 season also marked the 100th anniversary of the first game to be held at their St Andrew's stadium, and saw Birmingham promoted back to the Premier League after just one season in The Championship.

eason review

Birmingham bounced straight back to the Premier League by finishing second in The Championship. The season started with some inconsistent form leaving the team down and out in ninth position after the 0–1 defeat to Norwich City on 17 November. This left the Blues faithful calling for the sacking of manager Steve Bruce, but the board kept faith and the team pulled themselves around, and 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 by 2–1. Many fans also hoped that the ‘curse of the gypsies’Fact|date=April 2008 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 undoubtedlyFact|date=April 2008 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.

Playing stats

:"Last updated on February 9, 2008."

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colspan="12"|"Players not playing for Birmingham City at the end of the season:"

End of season player awards

The end of season awards ceremony was held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel on 2 May 2007. [ [http://www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~1019658,00.html Clem gains the plaudits] , BCFC.com 2007-05-02. Retrieved on 2008-02-29.]

Players loaned in

Results summary

Birmingham finished second in The Championship, behind Sunderland, who finished the season on 88 points, and ahead of Derby (84 points), West Bromwich Albion (76 points), Wolverhampton Wanderers (76 points), and Southampton (75 points), who qualified for the play-offs.

Results by round

FA Cup

Birmingham reached the fourth round of the FA Cup 2006-07 before losing to Reading of the Premier League.

*Birmingham City scores given first

League Cup

Birmingham reached the fourth round of the Football League Cup 2006-07 before losing to Liverpool of the Premier League.

*Birmingham City scores given first

References