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The ful time whistle goes and Blues deservedly take the spoils having dominated most of the play.
Clinton Morrison throws the ball away to waste some time and picks up a yellow card.
The referee indicates that there will be four minutes of injury time.
Birmingham are looking comfortable having taken the lead and are easily holding Rovers at bay.
Steve Bruce makes his final change and brings on Clinton Morrison for Walter Gerardo Pandiani.
Robbie Blake pokes the ball through to Heskey who brings the ball down on the edge of the box and lashes home his left footed shot.
Blackburn make another substitution and replace Brett Emerton with Paul Gallagher.
Heskey concedes a free kick when he felt that he should have had the decision and shows dissent, resulting in a yellow card.
The game has settled down after the brief flurry following Birmingham's goal as the passing is going astray.
Robbie Blake is caught in possession and Tugay tries an ambitious 40 yard effort with Taylor off his line, but its off target.
Blackburn make another change and replace Nils-Eric Johansson with Kerimoglu Tugay.
Stan Lazaridis breaks down the left and he stands a ball up to the far post but Pandiani heads over when Upson was better placed.
Birmingham earn a free kick 25 yards out but Walter Pandiani's shot is parried by Brad Friedel.
A great passing move from the home side finds Robbie Blake and he tucks the ball past Friedel from 12 yards.
Birmingham make a positive change and take off Medhi Nafti with Robbie Blake.
Blackburn make a substitution and replace Morten Gamst Pedersen with David Thompson.
The play has been scrappy although Birmingham are marginally on top in terms of possession.
The quality in this second half has so far been poor and no chances have been created.
Pandiani peels away to the far post to meet a Pennant cross but nobody has read his drilled pull back.
The second half has not got going yet and neither team has grabbed the initiative.
There are no changes at half time and Blackburn get the game restarted.
Birmingham have been on top and had some great chances but Blackburn have taken one of theirs and are perhaps fortunate to be ahead at the break.
Stead beats the offside trap and finds himself one on one with Maik Taylor but blasts his shot into the crowd.
Aaron Mokoena clatters into Jermaine Pennant and picks up a yellow card.
Stephen Reid surges forward from midfield but his 25 yard shot goes way over.
Lazaridis gathers the ball down the left and crosses to Heskey but the striker's volley is off target.
Pennant puts in another great cross but Pandiani can't get enough on his header and the chance is gone.
The Blues are putting in some teasing crosses and look a threat in the air but so far Blackburn aer holding firm.
Pandiani does well and lays the ball off to Clemence but his shot is scuffed and Friedel gathers easily.
Birmingham are looking composed when going forward, particularly with Pennant, but the final ball has been lacking.
Pennant puts in another great cross and it takes two deflections off Blackburn defenders but Friedel makes a good save.
Birmingham are getting frustrated as the passes are going astray and on the balance of play they should not be behind.
Emerton again does well down the right but Morten Gamst Pedersen's header is neither on target or directed to Stead.
Birmingham are forced into an early change and take off Darren Anderton for Stephen Clemence.
Blues are gradually getting back into it but Rovers are looking comfortable at the moment.
Blackburn have been boosted after taking the lead against the run of play and Birmingham need to regroup.
Emerton skips past Lazaridis down the right and sends over a great cross and an unmarked Stead powers a header past Taylor from 6 yards.
Jermaine Pennant whips over a dangerous cross but Walter Pandiani heads straight at Brad Friedel.
Blues have started brightly and are on top as Blackburn have yet to get going.
Pennant whips over a corner and Pandiani latches onto it but his shot hits the upright and goes behind for a goal kick.
Jermaine Pennant tries a curler from 25 yards out but it takes a deflection off the wall and goes behind.
Blues are mounting some pressure and force a couple of corners followed by a free kick in a dangerous position.
Neither team has settled yet although Birmingham are beginning to enjoy the lion's share of possession.
Upson plays the ball long towards Heskey who tries to beat Friedel with a header but the keeper makes the save.
Following a brief delay the referee, Barry Knight, gets the game underway.
Steve Bruce, Birmingham City's manager, described Emile Heskey as England's best striker after the former Liverpool star grabbed a late winner. Bruce witnessed a storming comeback from Birmingham who had trailed to a Jonathan Stead goal at half-time. Afterwards he claimed: "Heskey has had his critics but he has done fantastically well for us. This is his tenth goal of the season and without him we could possibly have been in trouble. "If you want a typical English centre-forward for me there is no-one better in the country. It doesn't surprise me he is back in the England squad because for me he has no competition." Mark Hughes was disappointed with the outcome. He admitted: "Once Birmingham equalised it was difficult for us to get back into the game. "We have made a huge effort this season and it important that we finish on the right note. "Obviously, we cannot say what impact Robbie Savage would have had on the game. I was aware of the agreement but we felt Birmingham would give us the opportunity to play Robbie, but they didn't want him to take part in the match. "I telephoned Steve Bruce but he didn't want Robbie to play because of the club's decision and he would abide by what had been agreed. "It was an opportunity to put everything behind us but now we will have the same situation next season." Hughes was pleased with Stead's 13th minute strike which certainly livened up the game and made it from dull and meaningless, but was disappointed Rovers could not hang on to their lead. The former Huddersfield striker's second goal of the season once again highlighted Birmingham's shortcomings at home which have cost them dearly this season. On this occasion they made amends with their late resurgence to take three points for only the second time in ten games against Blackburn. There had been a promising start from Birmingham with Walter Pandiani in particular an early danger with a powerful shot against the post and a close-range header. Jermaine Pennant had created both chances but the youngster, who joined Birmingham from Arsenal midweek, strived manfully to plot Blackburn's downfall in a hectic first half but with little success. He provided a non-stop service from the right but no-one was on hand to take advantage of his quality play, as was indicated when Pandiani failed again to score from close range. New Zealander Ryan Nelsen, who has made such an impressive start to his Premiership career, was again the cornerstone of Blackburn's impressive away performance. He rarely ventured far from his central defensive role and consequently Birmingham experienced problems breaking down the opposition despite the tantalising play of Pennant. It was not until the 60th minute that Birmingham finally broke down Blackburn's resistance when Robbie Blake grabbed the equaliser within a minute of replacing Mehdi Nafti. The goal sparked off a blistering finish and with Heskey suddenly finding some determined form and the England striker snatched the superb 80th minute winner. The ball ran loose into the path of Heskey who rammed his shot into the back of the net with the kind of lethal finishing which made him a star in the early part of his career. Man of the Match: Jermaine Pennant - Maintained his impressive form for Birmingham since his arrival from Arsenal and showed that a £3million fee could prove to be a bargain.
Corners
Fouls
Goal attempts
Shots off target
Offsides
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