Jay Tabb returned to midfield at the expense of Michael Doyle who dropped to the bench with Freddie Eastwood who made way for Leon Best. With Jay Tabb returning to the squad Ben Turner dropped out altogether.

Disinterest, it would seem, is not only Coventry phenomenon as a slim travelling support rolled up to a sparsely populated St Andrews. Alex McLeish gave a debut to secured on-loan on-the-day Bolton defender Nicky Hunt as he making three changes from the side which lost 1-0 to QPR in an injury ravaged Blues defence.

But it was to be the Sky Blues who created the first chance in the 3rd minute of a lively opening period of the televised game when Aron Gunnarsson crossed from the left flank but Leon Best could only direct his header straight at goalkeeper Maik Taylor from close range.

Not to be out-done the Blues immediately hit on the counter-attack with Larsson forcing a smart save from the well placed Westwood at the near post.

After 12 minutes Larsson flicked a corner towards the ever dangerous Phillips at the far post, which seemed to take the striker by surprise bouncing off his chest to nicely fall at Westwood's feet on the line.

Both sides looked increasingly keen to make the first impact and the Sky Blues were desperately unlucky when Clinton Morrison, playing against his old club, struck the crossbar moments later with a thunderous strike after some good work by Tabb setting him up 10 yards out following Mifsud's low cross from the right.

After a flowing opening period the game then got bogged down in sterile midfield football as both sides closed down the gaps in the centre of the field, before the Sky Blues had a cast iron bolt on penalty denied by Mr. Bates.

Eight minutes before the half-time interval, Liam Ridgewell blatantly put an arm across Morrison impeding his powerful well-timed run, but Mr. Bates waved away the appeals of the Sky Blues players for an obvious spot kick much to the relief of Blues players and fans alike with Chris Coleman furious on the touchline!

As it was the two teams went in level at half time in a keenly contested, but never dirty game that had created a number of decent chances for both sides in the opening period.

Birmingham 0-0 Coventry.

The Sky Blues picked up where they left off in the first half and earnt a corner on the right on 53 minutes that was taken by Fox, finally finding a decent ball into the box it was flicked on at the near post by Beuzelin to Morrison who headed in impressively against his former club to give the Sky Blues a deserved lead for his 3rd of the season in successive games.

Ridgewell made up for his earlier, unpunished, faux-pas when he almost levelled three minutes later with a similar chance to the City goal when McFadden flicked on but Westwood made a fine save to palm the ball to safety.

With City beginning to play deeper, they almost invited the Blues on to score and McFadden stung the fingers of Westwood with a swerving shot from distance in the 68th minute.

A minute later Larsson curls in a delightful ball behind the City defence that Marcus Bent just can't get a touch on from six yards out as The Sky Blues evaded the growing Blues threat.

However the Sky Blues weren't all done yet as in the 77th minute a Coventry break, on the counter attack, in a flowing passing move forward with lightning pace, produced a cross by Best that was neatly flicked on by Beuzlin to Tabb, who blazed over the bar!

A minute later and it was Birmingham's turn to push up the heat, with men forward as they break and the cross is bound for an unmarked Bent at the far post who, thankfully, headed into the side netting as the Sky Blues breathed again.

With Birmingham pumping up the pressure in search of the illusive equaliser, a Jaidi header was well saved by Westwood.

With 7 minutes of normal time remaining and the second big talking point of the game was produced by Mr Bates as The Blues thought they claimed an equaliser in front of an increasingly restless crowd. From another Birmingham corner the ball deflected off Queudrue went through Westwoods legs as he was dropping to collect, but he had the presence of mind to scoop the ball back off the line as it appeared to all but cross the line but Westwood gathered and the assistant referee ruled in Citys' favour to recoup all those bad decisions against us so far this season. I think that one evened them all out...

The Blues continued to press in the dying stages and Larsson was guilty of missing a good chance as the The REAL City held on to claim only our second away win of the season to put some breathing space between us and the relegation zone.

Having been two points and four places of that position before the games start the unlikely win moves City up to 14th just 2 points off 7th, with a zero goal difference, in a tight league that will see the fired up Morrison face another former club in Crystal Palace, who's to beat he won't make it four in a row!

Chris Coleman: "That is three points against a very good side and that's the best win I've had since I've been at the club, so I'm delighted with it."

"Birmingham threw everything at us, but it was just our night tonight."

"It's not just Clinton's goals, it's his all-round play, and he linked-up well with Leon Best throughout the game."

Alex McLeish: "I think we deserved a point from the game. But I'm disappointed with our final ball, we were lacking some inspiration.

"We've lost to a set-piece and we could have had five from set-pieces ourselves tonight.

"Our chance at the end, I couldn't see if it was over the line and the assistant probably couldn't see it either, so he couldn't really give it."

Sky Blues: Westwood, Osbourne, Ward, Dann, Fox, Mifsud, Beuzelin, Gunnarsson, Tabb (Hall 89), Best (Simpson 86), Morrison (Eastwood 81).

Subs Not Used: Marshall, Doyle.

Booked: Dann, Tabb.

Goal: Morrison 53.

Birmingham: Maik Taylor, Hunt, Jaidi, Ridgewell, Queudrue, Larsson, Carsley, Agustien (Quashie 60), McFadden, Phillips (Bent 65), Jerome (Owusu-Abeyie 70).

Subs Not Used: Doyle, Martin Taylor.

Booked: None.

Goals: None

Att: 17,215

Ref: Tony Bates (Staffordshire). 6/10

Man of The Match: : Westwood.

Do you go to the game?

Want to write a match report or preview to this or any other game?

Have an article to publish?

Have your say on GMK!

Mail us at:

gmkadmin@hotmail.co.uk