Saturday February 12, 2011 Day 27 Finished St. Andrew's

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  1. Late Zigic strike shatters Potters

    Late Zigic strike shatters Potters

    Nikola Zigic headed home three minutes into stoppage time as Birmingham sunk Stoke 1-0 at St Andrews. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Birmingham City
    • Stoke City
    • - Don't forget you can watch highlights of this match, along with every Premier League game, from 00:01 on Monday morning (UK only).
    • 90'+3 And that's the final whistle!! It's ended Birmingham 1 Stoke 0 with a goal three minutes into stoppage-time!! Birmingham win for the first time in 2011 and record back-to-back wins to ease their relegation worries! Thanks for joining us!!
    • 90'+3 GOAL BIRMINGHAM!! Bentley shoots, Begovic spills it, Jerome chips it in under the bar and there's ZIGIC to head home!! Birmingham have won it at the death!!
    • 90'+3 There's still time for another free-kick...
    • 90'+2 Begovic dwells on this one. Eventually the ball is launched long.
    • 90'+1 Jerome on the byline. Fails to beat the first man and then Larsson's cross is plucked out of the air by Begovic.
    • 90' In it comes, but the blue back line stands firm as the fourth official signals three minutes of time added on.
    • 90' Delap with another missile. Zigic concedes a late, late corner!
    • 89' Stoke are content to hammer the ball deep into Birmingham territory - and they have a throw!
    • 88' Awful free-kick!! Larsson thumps that one over everyone and out! McLeish will be fuming!!
    • 86' Carr now for Birmingham. Handball by Whitehead and Birmingham have a free-kick midway in the Stoke half. They need a good Larsson delivery!
    • 85' Bentley turns away from Whelan. Zigic loses it and Dean Whitehead has time and space to come away with the ball.
    • 84' We're approaching the last five minutes. Surely one goal would win this one!
    • 82' Instant chance for Fuller but that's way over Foster's bar!
    • 81' And here comes Ricardo Fuller for Stoke. Jones makes way.
    • 80' Jerome breaks! The ball finds Bentley deep on the right, Delap clears but only as far as Jerome. Plays in JOHNSON!! Poor effort!!
    • 79' Sub for Stoke. Glenn Whelan is on for Jermaine Pennant.
    • 78' Jerome picks it up on the corner of the box. That's a waste! Poor shot that's miles wide of the goal!
    • 77' Ferguson to Ridgewell for Birmingham. Bentley is beaten by Marc Wilson.
    • 75' And here comes Jerome and it's Obafemi Martins who makes way. He has 15 minutes to make an impact.
    • 74' Free-kick to Birmingham. Foster thumps it long, so long it's gone all the way through to Begovic!
    • 73' Looks like Cameron Jones will be on for Birmingham shortly.
    • 72' Zigic can't bring that ball under control. Jones again receives it for Stoke. Brought down by Jiranek and that'll be the first yellow card!
    • 71' Ferguson looks for Carr. The defender failed to read that one and Jones will get the ball away for Stoke.
    • 70' Jones finds Carew for Stoke. Carew gets his shot away but there's no power in the strike and it's simple for Foster.
    • 68' Huth is winding everyone up in blue at the moment!
    • 66' Zigic to BENTLEY!! Thumped against Huth's arm!! Huth goes down holding his head in an attempt to prevent a penalty!! No spot kick says the ref. Ball to hand says Mark Halsey! The Norwegian is lucky there!!
    • 65' Delap will launch another long throw. In it comes, headed out as far as HUTH!! Rifles it into the net!! But the flag is up!! Must be for a foul. So close for Stoke!!
    • 64' And that's a poor kick by Foster. Jones picks it up and goes on the attack. Can't find a way through though. That would have been controversial!
    • 63' And now Stoke have belted the ball out for a goal-kick to howls of derision from the Blues' fans!
    • 62' Gardner with a firm tackle. Whitehead goes down, there's nothing in that but the Stoke man is holding his head. Bit of play-acting there I think. Gardner and the fans are furious!
    • 60' Bentley plays it short to Larsson. Floats it in but that's too long and the ball drifts over everyone and out to safety.
    • 59' And straight up the other end Birmingham have a corner. Zigic complains as Shawcross wrestles him in the box.
    • 58' Jones for Stoke again. Looks for a way through. It finds its way to Carew, but he can't find the shot to trouble Foster.
    • 56' Corner to Stoke. Pennant takes it. Looks for Carew and that's thumped clear! No finesse but effective!!
    • 55' LARSSON!! Great twisting run!! Let's fly and it whistles just past Begovics' post!!
    • 55' That'll come forward but with only Zigic there, that's a waste!
    • 54' Carr runs at the Stoke defence. Forced backwards. Ferguson will try and get it down the right. Cleared again. Jones collects but good defending by Jiranek.
    • 53' Martins again goes down. He's finding it hard so far to find a way through a red and white wall.
    • 52' Larsson delivers! Huth is there again to bang it away!
    • 51' Gardner nicks the ball off Carew. Ridgewell tries to find Zigic. That's nowhere near the Serbian, but still the hosts come forward.
    • 51' Ridgewell hits the deck. No foul says the ref.
    • 50' Huth with another clearance and this time Carew is penalised for a high challenge.
    • 49' Larsson delivers into the Stoke box. Again it's cleared. Plenty of work for the centre backs today!
    • 48' Zigic now, heads it into the box. Jones clatters Ferguson, Birmingham free-kick in their own half.
    • 47' Bentley with a poor ball. Delap heads it away.
    • 47' No changes at the break as Begovic takes an early free-kick.
    • 46' Birmingham get us back underway!
    • - And here comes the teams for the second half!
    • 45'+1 Carew heads the ball on. Carr is there to head it away again. And that's the whistle as Martins collects the ball. It's stalemate at the break. Birmingham 0-0 Stoke.
    • 45' Pennant takes. Zigic heads it out. There'll be one minute of added time.
    • 45' Last minute. Walters with a far post cross looking for Carew, Ridgewell heads it out for a corner.
    • 44' Begovic bangs it forward. Foul by Jones as he challenged with Jiranek.
    • 43' Delap defends well. Brings the foul out of Gardner.
    • 42' Jones for Stoke. Walters tries the reverse pass. Doesn't come off and Birmingham will clear. Martins hits the deck once again. McLeish is furious!
    • 40' Zigic is beaten to it and that's thumped long. Carr will bring it up the pitch. Bentley now. Looks for Ridgewell. Knocked out. BENTLEY!! Picks it up and tries the curler!! Drifts wide!
    • 39' Gardner with a great ball to Larsson. Pugh is there to block. Throw to Birmingham by the Stoke corner flag.
    • 38' Good passing move by Birmingham. Falls to Bentley, chips the ball into the penalty spot, but that's easy for Begovic to come and claim.
    • 37' Taken by Begovic. Pennant loses out to Bentley. Gives it away to JONES!! Cuts inside and shoots with his left!! Foster dives to his left to claim!! Birmingham can't afford to give away possession like this!!
    • 36' Last ten minutes of the first half as Zigic gives away a cheap free-kick.
    • 35' Throw for Stoke. Delap will launch it. Huth beats Johnson to it but can't keep it down. Over Foster's bar.
    • 34' This has been a better spell. Can either team break the deadlock before the half time whistle?
    • 33' Stoke on the attack. No way through for Carew. Awful ball by Carr! Gifted it to DELAP!! Thumps it over the top!! Carr was lucky there!
    • 31' GARDNER!!! Wins the ball on the halfway line!! Drives into the Stoke half and strikes!! Collected at the second attempt by Begovic with Martins waiting in space! Worth a pop though!
    • 30' Jones and Pennant are over it! PENNANT!! Over the wall and curls it inches wide of the post with Foster helpless!! Stoke's best chance of the match!! So close!!
    • 29' Short corner. Pugh delivers, cleared but that's a poor challenge by Larsson on Pennant. Free-kick to Stoke about 25 yards out just right of centre.
    • 28' Now Martins goes down under Rory Delap's tackle from behind. Stoke play on. Jones twists and turns in the box and wins a corner!
    • 27' Bit of a chat for Craig Gardner from the ref after a studs-up tackle on Pugh.
    • 26' The ball's given back to Birmingham. This time Marc Wilson pushes Zigic. Taken quickly, too quickly and Shawcross knocks it out of play.
    • 25' Zigic is on the deck after a challenge by Pennant. Accidental but the Serbian is not happy.
    • 24' Again it's the hosts who spray the ball around, but they're not hurting Stoke at the moment who are content to let them play it across the pitch.
    • 23' We're halfway through the first period. It's Birmingham 0 Stoke 0.
    • 22' Little bit of ball-juggling by Walters on the touchline. Concedes the throw. Meanwhile, Huth is complaining about the attentions of Martins.
    • 20' Ferguson, great ball to Carr into the corner! That's a great weighted pass! Just too close to Begovic! Good Birmingham move. They've looked the more likely so far!
    • 18' Still Birmingham press. Carr to Zigic, in comes Huth to clear for Stoke.
    • 17' Handball against Whitehead. Free-kick to Birmingham just in the Stoke half. Bentley can run. Has time to get the cross in but delays and concedes the goal kick.
    • 16' Larsson takes it. Zigic rises, falls to RIDGEWELL! Not enough power and Asmir Begovic wil gladly collect that one.
    • 15' Oooh! Danny Pugh clobbers Larsson! No booking but that's a Birmingham free-kick.
    • 14' Zigic flicks the ball on. Mopped up by the Stoke defence. Whitehead with a long ball to Jones. Patient build up by Stoke. Pennant loses out and Martins can come away for Birmingham.
    • 12' Again Stoke come forward. Long ball looking for Carew. He can't get over it and the ball drifts into the stands much to the delight of the Blues fans.
    • 11' Shawcross beats Martins. Pennant runs at Ridgewell. Cross comes in, Carew hits the deck and Barry Ferguson will clear.
    • 10' Ten minutes gone. Stoke have a free-kick. Plenty of big men in there, but it's Foster who plucks the delivery out of the air.
    • 9' Jonathan Walters into the box for Stoke. Too long but Jermaine Pennant is there, in it comes again, good defensive header by Roger Johnson.
    • 8' Carew picks up a loose ball, Good tackle by Marin Jiranejk. Martins skips into the box but that's hoofed away by Danny Pugh.
    • 7' Good run by David Bentley. Larsson tries to get the ball into the box. Appeals for a corner. Nothing doing say the officials.
    • 6' Larsson again with a superb cross looking for MARTINS! Huth just gets in front to head the ball to safety!
    • 5' Kenwyne Jones now for the Potters. To Pennant but Liam Ridgewell forces play back. In comes the cross. Great take by Ben Foster.
    • 4' Good work by Larsson again. In comes the cross..ZIGIC!! Heads over the bar!! First chance of the match goes to the Blues!
    • 3' Intercepted. Finds Carew but good work by Sebastian Larsson makes sure there's no way through.
    • 3' Ben Foster hoofs it forward. Stephen Carr to Martins for his first touch. Good strength their by the Nigerian.
    • 2' John Carew tries to barrel his way in for Stoke but is pulled up for an early foul.
    • 1' And it's Stoke who get us underway.
    • 14:57 And here they come!
    • 14:55 The sun is a welcome sight across St Andrews today. We're still waiting for the teams to emerge blinking into the unseasonal February weather.
    • 14:43 So, predictions lean to Birmingham. Ben reckons 1-0 or 2-1 to the Blues. Toolmanukltd goes for 2-0 to Birmingham, Diane thinks the hosts will come out on top by 2-1. Coopster though, sees the Potters take it with the only goal of the game.
    • 14:40 Andy Wilkinson and Danny Higginbotham drop to the Stoke bench to make way for Danny Pugh and Dean Whitehead, while Jon Walters replaces the injured Matthew Etherington. The influential Ricardo Fuller is back on the bench following a family funeral.
    • 14:35 So Alex McLeish makes two changes to the team that beat West Ham As expected, Obafemi Martins debuts while Sebastian Larsson also starts. Cameron Jerome makes way for the Nigerian while Lee Bowyer drops to the bench.
    • 14:26 Our referee today is Mark Halsey from Lancashire.
    • 14:26 And the Stoke XI: Begovic, Delap, Huth, Shawcross, Pugh, Pennant, Whitehead, Wilson, Walters, Jones, Carew. Subs: Sorensen, Higginbotham, Collins, Whelan, Fuller, Diao, Wilkinson.
    • 14:25 And the teams are in! Birmingham line-up as: Foster, Carr, Johnson, Jiranek, Ridgewell, Larsson, Ferguson, Gardner, Bentley, Zigic, Martins. Subs: Doyle, Bowyer, Phillips, Jerome, Fahey, Beausejour, Davies.
    • 14:21 Worse news though for Stoke's Mamady Sidibe who seemed set to return to action shortly, only to suffer more disappointment. Read Injury setback for Sidibe here!
    • 14:20 Alex McLeish is expected to throw loan signing Obafemi Martins into the match for his Birmingham debut as the manager tries to record the first league win of 2011. The Nigerian's work permit was finally approved this week after joining on 31 January.
    • 14:19 In contrast, last season's corresponding fixture was a complete non-event, ending in a 0-0 bore draw, but if Stoke win today, they'll complete their first league double over the Blues since 1988-89.
    • 14:18 But it was this season which saw Stoke break that hoodoo. The match at the Britannia saw the hosts run out 3-2 winners in November. Ricardo Fuller's stunner followed Robert Huth's opener and although the Blues levelled through Keith Fahey and Cameron Jerome, a tame effort from Dean Whitehead proved enough to take the points.
    • 14:18 Recent times, though, have been less happy for the team in red and white. They've won only one of their last seven league matches against Birmingham and have failed to score in six. The last time they took the points at St Andrews was back in 1988 - a 1-0 win in the old Division Two.
    • 14:17 History favours Stoke. The Potters have won 38 of their 85 matches, Birmingham have come out on top in 28 with 19 draws.
    • 14:16 While Tony Pulis's side netted two late goals to beat Sunderland 3-2, a win which leaves them sitting pretty in ninth.
    • 14:15 Both teams are buzzing after good wins last week. Nikola Zigic scored the only goal of the game as the Blues downed fellow strugglers West Ham leaving City on the cusp of back-to-back wins for the first time in a year.
    • 14:15 Hello and welcome to our LIVE text commentary of the Premier League clash between Birmingham City and Stoke City from St Andrews.

  • Summary

    • 90'+3 GOAL BIRMINGHAM!! Bentley shoots, Begovic spills it, Jerome chips it in under the bar and there's ZIGIC to head home!! Birmingham have won it at the death!!
    • 82' Instant chance for Fuller but that's way over Foster's bar!
    • 80' Jerome breaks! The ball finds Bentley deep on the right, Delap clears but only as far as Jerome. Plays in JOHNSON!! Poor effort!!
    • 70' Jones finds Carew for Stoke. Carew gets his shot away but there's no power in the strike and it's simple for Foster.
    • 66' Zigic to BENTLEY!! Thumped against Huth's arm!! Huth goes down holding his head in an attempt to prevent a penalty!! No spot kick says the ref. Ball to hand says Mark Halsey! The Norwegian is lucky there!!
    • 65' Delap will launch another long throw. In it comes, headed out as far as HUTH!! Rifles it into the net!! But the flag is up!! Must be for a foul. So close for Stoke!!
    • 55' LARSSON!! Great twisting run!! Let's fly and it whistles just past Begovics' post!!
    • 40' Zigic is beaten to it and that's thumped long. Carr will bring it up the pitch. Bentley now. Looks for Ridgewell. Knocked out. BENTLEY!! Picks it up and tries the curler!! Drifts wide!
    • 31' GARDNER!!! Wins the ball on the halfway line!! Drives into the Stoke half and strikes!! Collected at the second attempt by Begovic with Martins waiting in space! Worth a pop though!
    • 30' Jones and Pennant are over it! PENNANT!! Over the wall and curls it inches wide of the post with Foster helpless!! Stoke's best chance of the match!! So close!!
    • 16' Larsson takes it. Zigic rises, falls to RIDGEWELL! Not enough power and Asmir Begovic wil gladly collect that one.
    • 6' Larsson again with a superb cross looking for MARTINS! Huth just gets in front to head the ball to safety!
    • 4' Good work by Larsson again. In comes the cross..ZIGIC!! Heads over the bar!! First chance of the match goes to the Blues!
    • 14:26 And the Stoke XI: Begovic, Delap, Huth, Shawcross, Pugh, Pennant, Whitehead, Wilson, Walters, Jones, Carew. Subs: Sorensen, Higginbotham, Collins, Whelan, Fuller, Diao, Wilkinson.
    • 14:25 And the teams are in! Birmingham line-up as: Foster, Carr, Johnson, Jiranek, Ridgewell, Larsson, Ferguson, Gardner, Bentley, Zigic, Martins. Subs: Doyle, Bowyer, Phillips, Jerome, Fahey, Beausejour, Davies.

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

    • Starting line-up

      • B. Foster
      • S. Carr
      • M. Jiránek Yellow Card
      • R. Johnson
      • L. Ridgewell
      • B. Ferguson
      • C. Gardner
      • S. Larsson
      • D. Bentley
      • O. Martins Substitution Out (76′)
      • N. Žigic Goal

      Subs

      • K. Phillips
      • L. Bowyer
      • C. Doyle
      • C. Davies
      • C. Jerome Substitution In76′
      • K. Fahey
      • J. Beausejour

    • Starting line-up

      • A. Begovic
      • R. Delap
      • R. Shawcross
      • R. Huth
      • D. Pugh
      • D. Whitehead
      • M. Wilson
      • J. Pennant Substitution Out (78′)
      • J. Walters
      • K. Jones Substitution Out (81′)
      • J. Carew

      Subs

      • T. Sørensen
      • S. Diao
      • D. Higginbotham
      • R. Fuller Substitution In81′
      • D. Collins
      • G. Whelan Substitution In78′
      • A. Wilkinson

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      - -
      Defenders
      - -
      Yellow Card - -
      - -
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      Midfielders
      - -
      - -
      - -
      - -
      Strikers
      Substitution Out76′ - -
      Goal - -
      Subs
      Substitution In76′ - -
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      - -
      Defenders
      - -
      - -
      - -
      - -
      Midfielders
      - -
      - -
      Substitution Out78′ - -
      - -
      Strikers
      Substitution Out81′ - -
      - -
      Subs
      Substitution In81′ - -
      Substitution In78′ - -

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