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  • Kick-off: 15:00
  • Venue: St Andrews Stadium
  • Attendance: 26554
  • Referee: Styles, R

Live Commentary

90mins

The referee blows the whistle for full time, to see the away side collect all three points in this bottom of the table clash.

86mins

Leon Osman crosses the ball into the area but is cleared well by Martin Taylor

82mins

James Beattie makes way for Leon Osman

81mins

Emile Heskey heads the ball into the path of Walter Pandiani who has a good shot saved by Nigel Martyn, as the home side start to pile up the pressure in search of the equaliser

78mins

Mikel Amatriain Arteta plays ball through for Kevin Kilbane but a well timed tackle from Damien Johnson breaks up the play

76mins

Jermaine Pennant whips in a cross which Joseph Ikpo Yobo heads out for a corner while being under pressure by Emile Heskey

73mins

Mikel Amatriain Arteta is booked for a foul on Jiri Jarosik

70mins

Kenny Cunningham is replaced by a tactical decision, which sees striker Walter Pandiani come on to see if he can bring the home side back into the game

68mins

Andy van der Meyde is replaced by Kevin Kilbane

64mins

Neil Kilkenny takes a free kick which beats the keeper and rolls across the line and out, before being cleared by everton

61mins

Duncan Ferguson tries a header from 8 yards out but the ball is straight at the home keeper Maik Taylor

58mins

Mikel Amatriain Arteta tries an over head kick from a corner but sees the ball go over the cross bar

55mins

Duncan Ferguson wins the flick on where James Beattie has a good effort on goal which is well saved by Maik Taylor to give everton a corner

54mins

Jermaine Pennant passes to Mikael Forssell who gets the ball down to get a tame shot off

52mins

Damien Johnson runs through on to the ball where he is challenged by Simon Davies, Blues looked for the penalty which was turned away from the referee.

50mins

Jermaine Pennant cuts inside from the right wing and tries a shot on his weaker foot which is easily collected by Nigel Martyn

47mins

Emile Heskey shoots within the area which issaved by Nigel Martyn to give home side a corner

46mins

Birmingham win a corner which Jermaine Pennant tries to find Jiri Jarosik but the ball is cleared away by everton

45mins

Rob styles gets the second half underway

45mins

Referee blows the whistle for half time

44mins

Damien Johnson plays the ball to Jiri Jarosik who tries a shot but hurts his ankle in the process

43mins

Simon Davies scores just before the half time break for the visiting team

39mins

Jermaine Pennant wastes a free kick which he over hits and the ball runs out for a throw in to everton

36mins

Emile Heskey wins the header from a long ball ,which finds Mikael Forssell who trys to lay it off to Jermaine Pennant on the right, but the pass is intercepted by Joseph Ikpo Yobo

32mins

Nicky Butt comes off for the home side and is replaced by Neil Kilkenny

29mins

Andy van der Meyde crosses corner into near post which iscleared by Kenny Cunningham

28mins

Tony Hibbert crosses the ball into the box which Maik Taylor saves well against a Tim Cahill effort, everton win a corner

27mins

Jermaine Pennant plays the ball to Mikael Forssell which he rushes his shot, and goes wide out of play

24mins

Jermaine Pennant switches to the left wing where he wins a free kick for the home team just outside the area

23mins

Tim Cahill tries a shot from edge of the area which is dragged wide

21mins

The corner is taken by Jermaine Pennant but cleared easily by Duncan Ferguson who gets to help defend the set piece

20mins

Jermaine Pennant win a corner after taking on Andy van der Meyde

17mins

Long ball up to Duncan Ferguson who wins the flick on, which James Beattie is unable to get on.

14mins

Tony Hibbert puts the ball into the box, which Duncan Ferguson collects, but is judged to have fouled Martin Taylor in the process.

11mins

Mikel Amatriain Arteta clears an in-swinging corner by Jermaine Pennant

11mins

Mikael Forssell wins a corner for the home side

7mins

Jiri Jarosik has an effort just within the area but there are too many bodies in the way and Everton clear the effort after it rebounds off Damien Johnson

6mins

Jermaine Pennant stands over a free kick, which is wipped into the area and cleared wide.

4mins

Duncan Ferguson puts Martin Taylor under pressure after a long ball pumped up field by Phil Neville

2mins

Everton win a throw in on the half way line which is won by Mikael Forssell

0mins

Rob Styles blows the whistle to get the game under way.

Match Report

Birmingham City slumped deeper into trouble as Everton's second win of the season put Steve Bruce under even greater pressure.

The Blues are still without a Premiership home win this season and this was their fifth defeat at St. Andrew's.

Everton, meanwhile, are showing signs of playing themselves out of trouble and the win moved them off the bottom of the table.

Following their impressive display in holding Chelsea to a 1-1 draw in their previous game, they carved out a vital win thanks to Simon Davies' first goal of the season - a strike which left home goalkeeper Maik Taylor with egg on his face.

With so much at stake it was hardly surprising that neither team played with any real conviction in the early stages.

Nicky Butt, who had never been on a beaten side playing against Everton, and Damien Johnson worked hard in midfield to generate some spark but strike pair Emile Heskey and Mikael Forssell were both sadly off the pace.

Everton were very cautious in their early play but slowly dragged themselves into the match.

Tim Cahill was the inspiration and the Australian gave the visitors hope with a shot on the run which went just wide. The attempt sent out the message that Birmingham's defence could be penetrated.

In sharp contrast the hosts failed miserably to make any real impact as an attacking unit. Their only real attempt in the first half was a tame free-kick from Jermaine Pennant which was easily handled by Nigel Martyn.

Cahill then popped up with a diving header which Maik Taylor saved in fine style, but the Northern Ireland goalkeeper was at fault when Everton took the lead in the 43rd minute, with only their third Premiership goal of the season.

Andy van der Meyde broke clear on the left and his pass into the middle found Davies, who hammered in a low shot which bounced just in front of Taylor and over the body of the Birmingham goalkeeper.

This was a massive boost for Everton and yet another body blow for City, who have hit their worst spell during Steve Bruce's four-year reign.

As usual, Birmingham found themselves chasing the game and this created a panic situation which did little to enhance their prospects.

They often left themselves exposed at the back where Martin Taylor's lack of pace was highlighted when James Beattie and Duncan Ferguson both went close to increasing Everton's advantage.

Only an alert Maik Taylor prevented Everton from scoring on each occasion.

The hosts, however, were out of luck in the 65th minute when teenager Neil Kilkenny, who had taken over from the experienced Butt in the first half, saw his low free-kick hit the post and bounce across the face of Everton's goal.

As Birmingham's disgruntled fans began to stream out of the ground substitute Walter Pandiani carelessly wasted a glorious chance to equalise when he scooped his effort from close range over the bar.

Man of the Match: Joseph Yobo

The powerful defender produced a composed performance to nullify Birmingham's out of sorts front-line.

Birmingham City Team

Everton Team

Birmingham City

Everton

Corners

86

Fouls

1115

Goal attempts

1811

Shots off target

105

Offsides

14

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