• Date: Sat 27 October 2007
  • Venue: St Andrews Stadium
  • Ref: Tanner, S
  • Attendance: 27,661
Birmingham City

Birmingham City

Kapo (26) P

Ridgewell (67)

Kapo (81)

3 - 2
Wigan Athletic

Wigan Athletic

Bent (23)

Bent (59)

Birmingham City vs Wigan Athletic

Team Lineups

Birmingham City

Maik Taylor
Rafael Schmitz
Stephen Kelly
Franck Queudrue
Liam Ridgewell
Wilson Palacios (Sebastian Larsson, 78)
Olivier Kapo
Fabrice Muamba (Garry O'Connor, 62)
Mehdi Nafti
Daniel de Ridder (Gary McSheffrey, 90)
Cameron Jerome

Wigan Athletic

Chris Kirkland
Paul Scharner
Andreas Granqvist
Titus Bramble
Mario Melchiot
Kevin Kilbane
Denny Landzaat
Luis Antonio Valencia
Antoine Sibierski (Julius Aghahowa, 84)
Jason Koumas
Marcus Bent


Live Text Commentary
Full time
 

The brace from Kapo and a Ridgewell strike cancel out Bent's double as Blues win in a superb game at St Andrews.

89

Approaching injury time and it seems that Kapo goal will win it

86

Ridgewell fouls Koumas but time is running out for Wigan now

84
Substitution
 

Julius Aghahowa comes on for Antoine Sibierski for Wigan

82

Kapo fired past Kirkland to put the home side in front for the first time in the game

81
Goal
 

Kapo's second goal of the day puts Birmingham in front with less than 10 minutes left

80

Both sides are still going for the win and it remains on a knife-edge

78
Substitution
 

Sebastian Larsson comes on for Palacios

78

A Schmitz effort back down the other end is well blocked by Andreas Granqvist

76

Wigan waste a good opportunity - Bent fires an effort just wide from close-range

73

This game could go either way with just over 15 minutes remaining

71

Scharner almost finds himself with a chance in the area but he is adjudged to have handled the ball

68

Wigan failed to deal with the cross and Ridgwell capitalised for his first goal since joining from local rivals Villa

67
Goal
 

Ridgewell scores from close-range to haul Birmingham level for the second time

65

Kapo fires in a dangerous ball but Jerome can't get on the end of it

63

A Jerome shot is blocked by Kevin Kilbane

62
Substitution
 

Garry O'Connor is on for Muamba

62

The home side will have to find a second equaliser if they are to get anything out of this game now

60

Blues had looked the more likely scorers but Kelly and Taylor failed to deal with Mario Melchiot's cross and Bent benefited

59
Goal
 

Bent taps home to restore Wigan's lead after a mix-up in the Birmingham defence between Taylor and Kelly

57

Scharner fires an effort over the bar at the other end

54

Muamba's cross is gathered by Kirkland again

53

Another Palacious strike is wayward but Blues continue to probe for a second goal

51

De Ridder wastes a free-kick for Birmingham

50

Scharner heads another Valencia cross straight at Taylor as Wigan break on the counter

48

Wilson Palacios' shot from at least 25 yards is off target

47

Birmingham have begun the second half on the front foot

Second half
 

The second period begins

Half time
 

Kapo's penalty has cancelled out Bent's opener in what has been an entertaining half at St Andrews

44

Birmingham have been in the ascendancy again in the last few minutes but half-time beckons

41

Another De Ridder cross is claimed well by Kirkland

39

Wigan hit back though and Valencia, who has been lively, sees his cross cleared by Rafael Schmitz

36

Stephen Kelly's cross is gathered by Kirkland this time as Blues continue to press

35

De Ridder is involved again and forces Chris Kirkland into a good save

33

Birmingham have regained the upper hand after that Wigan equaliser with De Ridder particularly impressive

31

De Ridder tries his luck from distance but it flies over

28

Wigan will claim Scharner had no option but the ball clearly hit his hand in the box from a Blues corner

26
Goal
 

Kapo steps up and slots home to equalise

26

Blues have a penalty after Scharner handles in the area

24

Birmingham's defending was not up to the standard needed there and Bent had time to pick his spot to put the visitors in front

23
Goal
 

Marcus Bent races onto a long ball and powers a shot past Maik Taylor to put Wigan in front

20

It's been an entertaining start but not many clear-cut chances so far

17
Yellow Card
 

Scharner picks up the first booking of the game for dissent

17

Wigan have a foothold in the game now after an initial poor start from them

16

Valencia does well again and this time his cross is diverted over his own goal by Liam Ridgewell

14

Valencia breaks well and his cross is aimed at Koumas but Paul Scharner gets there first and the chance goes begging

13

Wigan manage to get on the ball a bit at last as the early City pressure subsides

11

Fabrice Muamba brings down Jason Koumas to hand Wigan a free-kick and some respite

10

Wigan are asleep so far in this game and it's Birmingham in charge early on

7

Jerome's cross is dealt with by Andreas Granqvist for Wigan and he can clear the danger

6

Birmingham have been impressive in the opening spell here

4

Jerome is in the thick of it again but wastes another early opportunity for the home side

3

Cameron Jerome drags a shot wide as Blues start well

2

Antonio Valencia fouls Olivier Kapo as Birmingham win an early free-kick

Kickoff
 

The game gets underway at St Andrews

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Daniel De Ridder gets a first start for Birmingham in place of Gary McSheffrey while Wigan make two changes - Mario Melchiot and Antonio Valencia replacing Michael Brown and Emmerson Boyce