New Zealand striker Chris Wood scored a hat-trick to fire Birmingham to a 3-0 victory over Millwall that lifted the Blues out of the Championship relegation zone on Sunday.
Wood, who played in all three of New Zealand's matches at the 2010 World Cup, has made a good impression with Chris Hughton's team since signing on loan from West Brom in the close-season and the teenager was too hot for the Lions to handle at St Andrew's.
Millwall were unable to capitalise on their early dominance, with debutant Liam Feeney hitting a post and Liam Trotter forcing a fine save from Boaz Myhill.
Wood made them pay as the 19-year-old opened the scoring with a close-range finish in the 29th minute and then beat Millwall goalkeeper David Forde with a clinical strike from outside the penalty area midway through the second half.
Auckland-born Wood, who helped Brighton win promotion from League One during a loan spell with the Seagulls last season, completed his treble in the 90th minute with a header from Chris Burke's cross to take his goal tally to four in six matches.
Source: AFP
