Source: Daily_Mail
Birmingham 2 Blackburn 1: Jerome at the double to keep City strolling
Cameron Jerome lifted Alex McLeish's men into unchartered territory with two goals of vastly differing quality as Birmingham's incredible rise this season continued.[LNB]The former England Under-21 striker celebrated his Goal of the Month award following last month's 35-yard screamer at Anfield by earning the Blues their fifth straight Barclays Premier League triumph.[LNB] City star: Cameron Jerome scored his second and third of the season for Birmingham[LNB]The first direct effort on either goal brought success. Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce is never happy to concede from a set-piece. With a sprinkling of players who stand comfortably over six-feet tall, his anger will only have been intensified.[LNB]A right-wing corner was taken short by James McFadden to Seb Larsson. Only one Rovers player went out to clear the danger and El Hadji Diouf didn't appear to pressure either the man or ball.[LNB]Larsson crossed and Christian Benitez, one of the smallest players on the pitch, nodded goalwards. Liam Ridgewell stuck out a leg, as did Jerome, standing directly in front of Paul Robinson.[LNB]Opener: Jerome flicks home his first of the night[LNB]It was Jerome's second goal of the season. Scant reward for his effort this far, but the collective has carried Birmingham City to unexpected heights, not the individual. [LNB]On another day, McLeish might well have been celebrating a second midway through the half. A neat move down the left ended with the ball on the right, Stephen Carr trying his luck. His shot didn't carry any threat until Benitez read its run and poked home. The offside decision was marginal but went in Blackburn's favour.[LNB]Allardyce was forced into a switch shortly afterwards. He was fortunate that it was a like-for-like replacement as Keith Andrews replaced Brett Emerton. After the lengthy lay-off suffered by the affable Australian, there will be plenty of well-wishers in Lancashire hoping it is nothing too serious.[LNB]Thereafter, the hosts were content to allow the visitors to press. Nikola Kalinic caught a clear sight of goal during a scramble but fluffed his lines, his air-shot greeted withpenalty appeals that referee Mike Jones laughed off along with the home crowd.[LNB]That fifth straight victory appeared on the horizon within threeminutes of the re-start. If Jerome's opener was a scrappy affair, hissecond of the evening was nothing of the sort. Larsson controlled abouncing ball and spotted Carr's run behind Gael Givet.[LNB]His overhead flick was collected by the former Spurs man who made his way to the byeline unimpeded. [LNB]Jerome had pulled away from the near post without anyone noticing and Carr's low cross was met with an emphatic finish, low inside Robinson's left-hand post.[LNB]Birmingham looked a decent bet for victory at that stage but there was a sting in the tail. As there usually is at St Andrew's as Blackburn launched a late fightback.[LNB]Morten Gamst Pedersen's inswinging free-kick found Pascal Chimbonda at the far post and Ryan Nelsen poked into the net after Joe Hart could only parry the ball into his path. That set up an interesting final 20 minutes but City held on - and were unlucky not to add to their lead in the closing stages.[LNB] Di Santo set to stay at Blackburn as Chelsea give deal the green lightGiles Barnes earns chance to win Birmingham City deal as Alex McLeish hands trial to former Derby midfielderALL THE BLACKBURN ROVERS FC
