Birmingham City 1 Stoke City 0: Nikola Zigic gives Potters the Blues with late winner

Nikola Zigic continued his goodscoring run to claim a dramatic stoppage-time winner that easedBirmingham away from relegation. The home side's hopes of securingtheir Premier League future looked bleak after slumping to a 5-0defeat at Manchester United three weeks ago but Zigic's late headermoved them clear of the bottom three. They have now claimed seven points from their last three league games. On the ball: Brimingham's Obafemi Martins battles with Stoke's Rory Delap (right) Striker Zigic, who had looked set toleave Birmingham for Racing Santander in the transfer window, claimedhis third goal in as many games as he headed home Cameron Jerome's chipinto the six-yard box after Stoke keeper Aasmir Begovic had spilledDavid Bentley's low drive. 'He has become a fixture in the team as become more aggressive,' said delighted Birmingham boss Alex McLeish. 'We know he's capable of finishingand, if we get that type of delivery to him in the box, there aren't alot of defenders who can live with a guy that size.' Nor-way through: Stoke's John Carew holds off Birmingham's Barry FergusonMATCH FACTS BIRMINGHAM (4-4-2): Foster; Carr, Johnson, Jiranek, Ridgewell; Larsson, Ferguson, Gardner, Bentley; Zigic,Martins (Jerome 75min). Subs (not used): Doyle, Bowyer, Phillips, Fahey, Beausejour, Davies. Booked: Jiranek.STOKE (4-4-2): Begovic; Wilson, Shawcross, Huth, Pugh;Pennant (Whelan 78), Delap, Whitehead, Walters; Carew, Jones (Fuller 81). Subs (not used): Sorensen, Higginbotham, Collins, Diao, Wilkinson.Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire). Stoke boss Tony Pulis wasunderstandably dejected at conceding the late winner and blamed hisgoalkeeper, insisting: 'Asmir really should stop it - it has justbobbled out of his hands. 'I don't think they've had a real shot orchance for 90 minutes. 'I don't think we deserved to lose the game and it's disappointing.' Until Zigic's intervention, thisscrappy encounter looked likely to end in a stalemate, with both sidesstruggling to create clear-cut chances. Zigic enjoyed possibly the bestchance in the first half, heading over Seb Larsson's third-minute crossfrom the right flank, while Jermaine Pennant provided Stoke's mostpotent threat, whistling a 30th-minute free-kick just wide. Knees-up: Birmingham's Roger Johnson challenges Stoke's John Carew (right)Stoke claimed Roger Johnson had handled in the area midway through the second half, while former Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins, making his Birmingham debut after signing on loan from Russian club Rubin Kazam, believed Ryan Shawcross had pushed him. Possibly the biggest penalty appeal was dismissed by referee Mark Halsey when Bentley's full-blooded shot hit defender Robert Huth's raised arm, but he won a reprieve after immediately clutching his face.  All the action from today's Barclays Premier League matchesMcLeish concentrating on relegation battle as Carling Cup final loomsBIRMINGHAM CITY FC

Source: Daily_Mail