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It's finished - Pizarro's goal giving Chelsea a hard-fought win but Birmingham will feel hard done by and deserved at least a point from this game.
Another Belletti corner is cleared by Franck Queudrue - time almost up now
Injury time beckoning and Chelsea appear to have just done enough
Steve Sidwell is on for Joe Cole
Five minutes left and Chelsea are closing in on a hard-fought three points here
Anelka strikes at goal again but Maik Taylor saves well
Blues have responded well to the goal and claim two quick corners - but Chelsea survive
That header from Pizarro may have won it for Chelsea but it's harsh on Birmingham
Pizarro puts Chelsea in front from close range after Birmingham fail to deal with a corner
Pizarro is booked - only the second yellow of the game
McFadden almost makes the dream start to his Blues career when, from a quick corner, he forces Cech into a good save with his feet
In a double change, O'Connor is replaced by Mikael Forssell
Jerome is replaced by McFadden for his City debut
All to play for still in the final 20 minutes, Birmingham have been the better side overall but the visitors have improved in recent minutes
Better from Chelsea finally as Joe Cole's corner is cleared
A lovely one-two between Anelka and Malouda ends with Anelka's effort being blocked but that was Chelsea's best chance so far
Half a chance for Anelka but Birmingham defend well again and clear
McLeish's side are on top but need a goal as Chelsea continue to look very lacklustre
Kapo's pull back is aimed for Larsson but Cech just diverts it away from his path and the ball hits Larsson and goes wide but a great chance for Blues
Still defences on top at St Andrews but the game should open up in the last half an hour
Anelka has been kept fairly quiet so far but he manages to get a shot in - but it's wide
Alex McLeish will be pleased with the way his side have began the second period - Chelsea, however, will be looking to improve
Malouda fouls Ridgewell as Kapo fires another shot well over the bar for the home side
The second 45 get underway in a dull and wet West Midlands
The home side have had the better chances but it's half-time and still goalless at St Andrews
Muamba then blasts over the bar - Birmingham may rue these missed chances
Jerome's effort from a corner is cleared off the line by Alex this time - another great chance for the home side
That was a let-off for Chelsea and the closest either team has come to a goal in the first half so far
Cech mis-kicks from a backpass and Cameron Jerome almost puts Birmingham in front but the ball strikes the post
Chelsea attempt to force the issue again as Alex heads wide from close-range
The home fans have been noisy so far and will be pleased to take Chelsea into half time level - 10 minutes or so to the break
Damien Johnson's strike is blocked but the home side are playing on the break still
Wright-Phillips failed to shake off that early knock and is forced off - Pizarro comes on in his place
The visitors have shaded it so far without creating many chances
Carvalho gets in the way of an Olivier Kapo shot from the right at Birmingham manage to ease the pressure with a rare attack
Chelsea are looking the more dangerous going forward but the home side are defending well
Ballack's well-delivered free kick is cleared by Liam Ridgewell as Chelsea turn up the heat
Anelka gets his first chance of the game but his shot is blocked - the game has livened up now
Sebastian Larsson's cross is met by the head of Olivier Kapo, but it's fairly comfortable for Petr Cech
Birmingham win a corner and O'Connor rises but his header is over
After an initial nervous start, City are having more possession now
Ballack fires a free-kick from distance straight into the arms of Maik Taylor
Still no real chances to report in what has been a tentative start at St Andrews
Muamba is booked for unsporting behaviour
Fabrice Muamba brings down Michael Ballack for a Chelsea free-kick
Birmingham advance and Garry O'Connor tries his luck but his effort is blocked by Ricardo Carvalho
Shaun Wright-Phillips has picked up a knock and needs treatment
No early chances but Birmingham are looking a little nervous at the moment
The away side have done most of the early attacking at St Andrews
Chelsea win an early corner but it comes to nothing in the end
The game begins with the home side's fans looking for another impressive display against one of the 'top four'
Chelsea new-boy Nicolas Anelka makes his first start in place of Claudio Pizarro, while Birmingham are unchanged from the side that drew against Arsenal but do have new signing James McFadden on the bench.
In a rematch of the opening game of the season, Birmingham City host title-chasing Chelsea, and manager Alex McLeish will be hoping to build on their impressive display at the Emirates Stadium last weekend. The Blues came away with a shock point from the clash at Arsenal, providing solid rearguard action to hold the Gunners to a 1-1 draw - only the second time the north London side have failed to win in the league at home this season. However, recent form has not been as good. The Midlands side have secured only one win in their last eight games, as well as being dumped out of the FA Cup by League One side Huddersfield Town two weeks ago. The Blues are currently 16th in their first season back in the top-flight, as they continue to adapt to new boss McLeish's style of play. Club captain Damien Johnson will again wear a protective mask after his miraculous return from a fractured skull, only two weeks after suffering the injury. Only long-term absentee Borja Oubina will be unavailable for Saturday's encounter. Unbeaten in their last eight games in all competitions, Chelsea have adapted well to life after Jose Mourinho, with the Londoners only four points behind league leaders Manchester United. With the continued absence of Didier Drogba at the Africa Cup of Nations, new £15million striker Nicolas Anelka looks set to make his full debut after a substitute appearance last weekend. The absent African players join Andriy Shevchenko who has a leg injury, Frank Lampard (thigh strain) and captain John Terry (fractured metatarsal) in being unavailable to head coach Avram Grant. However, Terry's injury means that new signing Branislav Ivanovic from Lokomotiv Moscow may be considered for his debut following his arrival on Wednesday. In the clash on the opening day at Stamford Bridge, the Midlands side impressed and were only narrowly beaten 3-2 despite earlier leading.
Claudio Pizarro emerged as Chelsea's hero in a hectic match in which lowly Birmingham City deserved to share the spoils. The Peruvian notched the first goal in Chelsea's 3-2 win over the Blues on the opening day and had failed to score again before his winner at St Andrew's. It was rough justice for a battling performance from the relegation-threatened Midlands club. In their last three games against Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea, they have been far from outplayed but all they can show from the matches is a single point. Chelsea, who gave their expensive striker Nicolas Anelka his first start, were often put out of their stride by Birmingham's determination to take the game to the Londoners. But the game was decided in the 78th minute. Pizarro, who had been booked only two minutes previously for diving, bravely dived in to head home Juliano Belletti's corner. Chelsea's hard-earned win means that their manager Avram Grant has now lost only two of the 27 games in which he has been in charge. Chelsea, who had not lost any of their previous nine Premier League games against Birmingham, could count themselves lucky to escape with the three points. Without the services of John Terry and Didier Drogba, Chelsea found themselves in real dog-fight in a goalless first half. Michael Ballack and Claude Makelele set up several promising moves but were thwarted by Birmingham's tenacious spirit and in the face approach. The Londoners were put visibly put out of their stride as was indicated in the closing stages of the first half when Birmingham were given fresh hope when Petr Cech almost made a calamitous mistake. Making a weak clearance to the left of his goal he only put the ball to Cameron Jerome who saw his header from 25 yards hit the post. But the incident undoubtedly lifted Birmingham as they staged a late rally to pressurise Chelsea's often casual defence. Olivier Kapo saw an effort blocked, while Jerome's goalbound shot was deflected to safety by a Alex to the relief of the Chelsea defence. Jerome easily outshone Anelka and led his line with a lot of confidence. Birmingham, however, should have taken a 56th minute lead when Seb Larsson ballooned his close-range shot over the bar following a right wing cross from Kapo. At this stage Chelsea's defence was often ill at ease and only survived by some good luck. Birmingham introduced their latest signing, James McFadden, who forced Cech to make the save of the game within two minutes of entering the fray. But the Londoners robbed plucky Birmingham of a share of the spoils when a determined Pizarro popped up with his winner.
Corners
Fouls
Goal attempts
Shots off target
Offsides
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