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Portsmouth avenge their 5-0 defeat from their last visit to St Andrews with two contrasting winning goals. The first, a mistake by Kingson while the second was a Kranjcar screamer. Pompey march on with their fifth away win of the season.
Foul by Benjani on Djourou as Pompey look to see out the win.
Kranjcar's wonder strike has knocked the stuffing out of Birmingham's players and crowd. It looks like away win number five for Pompey.
What a goal - Kranjcar smacks a 25 yard free kick across the face of goal and into the top corner. 2-0 Pompey.
Pompey forward Utaka leaves the field to be replaced by Matty Taylor.
Blues fans celebrate a 'goal' but Ridgewell's top corner strike is ruled out for offside.
Nafti picks up a booking for a foul on Diop.
Scotland stiker Garry O'Connor replaces a tired looking McSheffrey.
Kapo goes into the book for protesting at the decision.
Blues supporters are furious with ref Atkinson as Ridgewell is brought down in the area by Diop. Ridgewell should have hit the effort first time but it did look a blatant penalty.
A good 20 yard shot by Kranjcar is saved by Kingson.
Muntari hits a 25 yard free kick straight into the Birmingham wall.
McSheffrey looks shattered after repeated breaks down the flank - the latest results in a cross that is saved by James.
Great last ditch tackle by Kelly who slides in to cut out a through ball from Diop to Muntari.
Benjani drills a 20 yard effort high over the bar.
Kingson looks to have recovered from his first half mistake as he saves well from Benjani.
More solid goal keeping by James as he races from his line to snatch the ball away from Kapo.
Utaka seems to be finding more space in the second period and again delivers a dangerous cross that Ridgewell does well to clear.
Distin does brilliantly to clear from Kapo after McSheffrey's cross looked to be heading for the striker.
Utaka goes agonisingly close for Pompey as the away side respond well after a slow second half start.
Portsmouth finally spring into life and should be two up. Paramot fires over the bar after being set up by Utaka.
Pompey look hesitant as Distin heads just wide of his own goal after good work by McSheffrey
A decent ball into the box by deRidder is collected at the second attempt by James. Good start by Blues.
Birmingham are quick out of the blocks as Forssell just misses Muamba's through ball.
No changes for either side as Forssell and Kapo kick off the second half.
An even first half sees Portsmouth go in at the break one up thanks to an awful mistake by young Blues keeper Kingson.
Forssell takes his frustrations out on Johnson. Free kick to Portsmouth.
Davies is the first into the book after hacking down Forssell.
Home fans scream for a penalty as Forssell is brought down by Campbell but referee Atkinson waves play on.
Birmingham are all over Portsmouth as they desperately search for an equaliser before half time.
Xmas DVD blooper as Kingson lets Muntari's weak shot squeeze under his body to put Pompey one up.
Referee Martin Atkinson incenses the home crowd by awarding Portsmouth a free kick when it seemed Campbell had hs arm around Kapo's neck.
A quick break by Birmingham's McSheffrey is just intercepted by Campbell for a corner.
Mistake by Davies gives Kapo some space but his cross is cut out by Distin.
Diop tries his luck from 30 yards but the ball sails past Kingson's left post.
Birmingham are showing caretaker boss Eric Black plenty of spirit as they continue to force Portsmouth back.
Steve McClaren won't want to watch this as David James makes a superb save to keep out Forssell's fierce goal bound effort.
The weather conditions are producing a scrappy midfield tussle with Pompey pair Diop and Muntari battling it out with Muamba and Nafti for Blues.
Great save by Kingson who just manages to tip Kranjcar's stinging long range effort around the post for a Pompey corner.
Portsmouth have their first decent spell of passing as a flowing move between Diop, Davies, Muntari and Kranjcar is finally cleared by Ridgewell.
de Ridder is too quick for Muntari who hacks down the winger. Free kick to the home side.
McSheffrey's chip into the box comes to nothing and James collects
Free kick to Birmingham as Muamba charges forward and is brought down on the edge of the box by Muntari
Kapo's involved again for Blues as he races on to a Muamba flick on but his cross just eludes McSheffrey
First chance of the game as Kapo drills the ball across the Portsmouth six yard box but Forssell is behind the play.
A long ball out of defence by Ridgewell is flicked on by Kapo but Forssell can't reach it and James collects
The rain is lashing down in Birmingham making for a fast surface
For Portsmouth, John Utaka is back following a hamstring niggle while Papa Bouba Diop also returns from suspension as Pompey look to avenge their last visit to St Andrews - a 5-0 defeat.
Birmingham caretaker boss Eric Black is without forward Cameron Jerome (hernia) so Mikael Forssell continues to lead the line with Olivier Kapo.
Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Pamarot, Utaka, Diop, Davies, Muntari, Kranjcar, Benjani
Birmingham: Kingson, Kelly, Djourou, Ridgewell, Schmitz, Muamba, De Ridder, Nafti, McSheffrey, Kapo, Forssel
Birmingham City start the post-Steve Bruce era with a visit from high-flying Portsmouth, whose boss Harry Redknapp was a reported target for the Blues. Paul Jewell and Martin Jol are also believed to have been interesting the Blues following Bruce's departure for Wigan Athletic, but for the time being Eric Black will step into the breach. City already had plenty on their plate with a relegation battle already looking likely, after a run of just one win in their last seven league games. Last time out, they suffered a 2-1 home derby defeat at the hands of Aston Villa, with Gabby Agbonlahor netting the winner just three minutes from time at St Andrew's. Scoring goals has been a problem, with the Blues netting 13 in 13 league games so far this term, although the return to full fitness of Mikael Forssell should be a major boost. Stuart Parnaby, Damien Johnson and Borja Oubina are all ruled out by injury for Black. Meanwhile, all is rosy at the present time at Fratton Park, with Pompey sixth in the table and seeming capable of mounting a serious challenge for a European spot. Manager Redknapp recruited wisely in the summer, with the likes of Sylvain Distin, Sulley Muntari and Papa Bouba Diop adding a physical presence to the squad. However, the undoubted star so far this season has been striker Benjani Mwaruwari, who leads the Premier League goalscoring charts with eight. The Zimbabwean has added a cutting edge to his play this season, having previously struggled to match his undoubted effort with accuracy in front of goal. Redknapp will be hopeful of having strikers Nwankwo Kanu (hamstring) and John Utaka (groin) back in contention, but defender Linvoy Primus is a long-term absentee after knee surgery.
Struggling Birmingham City slipped deeper into trouble as they suffered their sixth defeat in seven games to make it imperative that they appoint a new manager as soon as possible. Portsmouth, beaten 5-0 on their previous visit to St Andrew's, certainly gained sweet revenge as they produced another composed performance to record their sixth successive away win. They were handed their latest success on a plate and it was an unfortunate mistake by Birmingham's debutant goalkeeper, Richard Kingson, which put them on the winning path to increase their unbeaten run to nine games. Kingson, surprisingly preferred to Maik Taylor, allowed a tame looking shot from Sulley Muntari slip through his fingers after 34 minutes which compared to Scott Carson's mistake for England earlier in the week. Although Kingson later made a couple of good saves, the damage had been done, and Portsmouth sealed their latest win on the road when Nico Kranjcar capped a fine week with the second goal. The Croatian scored direct from a free-kick seven minutes from time after scoring the opening goal against England on Wednesday. It was a bad result for Birmingham watched by their smallest crowd of the season. There were few encouraging signs for Birmingham whereas Portsmouth are hitting the high spots with the likes of Sylvain Distin, Sol Campbell and David James showing top-class form. Manager Harry Redknapp has put together a more skilful and successful side since the disastrous 5-0 defeat and this was highlighted by Portsmouth's overall performance. Goalkeeper James is in good form and Pompey fans voiced their opinion in no uncertain terms when they chanted "still England's number one." Birmingham obviously wanted to produce a top-class performance in view of the off-the-field events, but Portsmouth always appeared to have the slight edge. Everything appeared to be going to plan until the 34th minute when disaster struck struggling Birmingham. There was no apparent danger when Benjani slipped a short pass to Muntari, who fired in an angled shot from the right and the ball slithered through the hands of the unfortunate Kingson. It was a massive setback for Birmingham and put Pompey well and truly in the driving seat. Only Mikael Forssell appeared to be of any real danger to the Pompey defence in which Campbell and Distin were in commanding form. Birmingham's brave fight was extinguished when Kranjcar slammed home his 82th minute free-kick.
Corners
Fouls
Goal attempts
Shots off target
Offsides
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