Match Report

Birmingham's Kevin Phillips is repeating his goalscoring form of last season when he made a major contribution to West Bromwich Albion winning the Championship.

He was again on target for Birmingham in their vital 2-1 win over Ipswich which keeps the Blues on Wolves' coat-tails as they extended their unbeaten run to four games.

He took his tally so far this season to nine and his third in two games to keep Birmingham challenging strongly in second place behind their Midland rivals, Wolves, whom they play in a top of the table battle on Saturday at Molineux.

One interested spectator was former Birmingham manager, Steve Bruce, who guided the Blues to promotion a couple of seasons ago.

On this occasion the Wigan boss sat among the Birmingham fans as he watched his son, Alex, battle bravely in an Ipswich defence ripped apart on occasions.

Ironically, seconds after Bruce had left the ground with his wife Alex put Ipswich back into the game with a glancing header from Darren Ambrose's corner.

Earlier Birmingham's determination to overwhelm Ipswich at an early stage was very evident and they produced several promising attacks which had the Ipswich defence at full stretch.

Goal poacher Phillips had the ball in the net after seven minutes only to be ruled offside.

Ipswich's relief, however, was short-lived as Birmingham stormed into the lead just two minutes later.

A cross from the left was smashed goalwards by Marcus Bent but it was deflected to the left where it was met first time by Liam Ridgwell who hammered home a powerful shot past the transfixed Richard Wright.

Birmingham, watched by their smallest crowd of the season, had their tails up after taking the lead and their determination to attack at every opportunity paid another rich dividend when Phillips was on the mark for his ninth goal of the season.

Ben Thatcher failed in a desperate tackle on Seb Larsson and the Birmingham winger raced away to provide a cross from the right which the waiting Phillips headed home from the six-yard line.

Larsson continued to pose problems with his accurate passes as Ipswich were seemingly unable to cut out this danger.

In their only isolated raid Owen Garvan and Pablo Counago conspired to become entangled with each other and wasted a good opportunity to reduce the arrears.

Twelve minutes into the second half Birmingham could have been home and dry but Frank Queudrue's dipping shot hit the crossbar.

Queudrue was later substituted by David Murphy as Birmingham went off the boil to allow Ipswich to have a more positive say in the game.

Five minutes from time Bruce went up to score at the near post with a header to convert a left-wing corner from Ambrose.

Corners

Fouls

Goal attempts

Shots off target

Offsides