Source: Daily_Mail
Birmingham 3 Sheffield Wednesday 0: Hleb injury casts a shadow on Cup stroll
Birmingham boss Alex McLeish praised his players for restoring the club's morale eight days before they face Arsenal in the Carling Cup final.[LNB]But Alexander Hleb will struggle to be fit to face his former team at Wembley after being carried off midway through the first half, the victim of a clattering foul by James O'Connor.[LNB] Three and easy: David Murphy scores Birmingham's third goal[LNB]McLeish admitted that Hleb is aserious doubt and said: 'Hopefully he'll be OK for Wembley but he got afair rattle and the guy was very late with the tackle.'[LNB] Cup cheer: Obafemi Martins (second right) celebrates opening his account for Birmingham[LNB]Wednesday manager Gary Megsonexonerated his player of blame, saying: 'It was a mistimed challenge byJames but he didn't do it deliberately. We hope that Hleb's OK.'[LNB]MATCH FACTSBirmingham (4-4-2): Doyle; Carr, Parnaby, Johnson (Mutch 62min), Murphy; Beausejour, Bowyer, Hleb (Bentley 26), Fahey; Martins, Jerome (Phillips 46). Subs (not used): Foster, Larsson, Gardner, Zigic. Booked: Johnson.Sheff Wed (4-4-2): Weaver; Spurr, M Morrison (Beevers 46), R Johnson, Reynolds; Teale, O'Connor (Palmer 46), Osbourne, Jones; Mellor, C Morrison. Subs (not used): Jameson, Heffernan, Potter, Sedgwick. Booked: O'Connor, Spurr, Beevers, Johnson.Referee: A Taylor (Cheshire).[LNB]Cameron Jerome also limped out withan ankle injury but is expected to recover in time, while RogerJohnson, having been booked, was taken off as a precaution.[LNB]Wednesday made the worst possiblestart, conceding after only six minutes when Jean Beasejour was leftunmarked at the back post to steer in Lee Bowyer's cross.[LNB]Obafemi Martins punished them further by bursting past a feeble challenge from Michael Morrison before firing past Nicky Weaver.[LNB]David Murphy smashed home the thirdfrom close range after what appeared to be a foul on Weaver by Bowyer,but Megson, without a win in four matches in charge, didn't have theheart to protest.[LNB]'It might have been a foul,' he said, 'but we were just not strong enough.'[LNB] Full of woe: Whatever happened to Sheffield Wednesday? Bentley closes the book on Tottenham and begins a new story at BirminghamJerome calls on Birmingham to dump Wednesday out of the CupAll the latest Birmingham City FC news, features and opinion[LNB] Explore more:People: David Murphy, Obafemi Martins, Nicky Weaver, Alex McLeish Places: Birmingham
