Birmingham City 2-1 Bolton Wanderers: Phillips and Gardner lift Blues out of bottom three

Craig Gardner of Birmingham City (Getty Images)

Related Links

Teams

Birmingham secured a vital three points with a 2-1 victory over Bolton at St Andrews, a in that lifts them out of the bottom three.

Goals from Kevin Phillips and Craig Gardner won the day for the home side who clung on despite Johan Elmander grabbing a goal back for the visitors.

Alex McLeish made three changes to his starting line-up from the side that lost to Wigan last time out. Stuart Parnaby replaced Martin Jiranek in defence, Lee Bowyer was preferred in midfield to Jordan Mutch and there was a recall for Kevin Phillips to partner Cameron Jerome up front at the expense of Jean Beausejour.

After defeat to Manchester United two weeks ago there were two changes to the Bolton line-up.  The first was a forced change for Owen Coyle as Tamir Cohen started in midfield in place of Stuart Holden who picked up a knee injury at Old Trafford, the second change saw Marcos Alonso replace Paul Robinson at left back.

And Phillips’ selection by McLeish was justified after just four minutes when the experienced striker gave Birmingham the lead from 15 yards with a low strike. The build up to the goal started with Marcos Alonso losing possession cheaply, Barry Ferguson chipped a pass to Phillips who controlled the ball for Craig Gardner to strike but his shot was blocked for a corner. The resulting set piece missed everyone in the six yard box but it fell to Phillips who fired through a crowd to give the home side the lead.

Bolton’s first sight of goal came in the 15th minute when Daniel Sturridge came close to levelling the scores. A neat build up down the Bolton left between Alonso and Petrov released Sturridge, he jinked his way into the box but his right foot shot sailed over Foster’s crossbar.

The home side had an excellent chance to double their lead in the 26th minute through Bowyer but he was unable to test Jaaskelainen. A long ball out of defence was headed down by Jerome to Phillips, he flicked the ball back to Larsson who’s shot was blocked but it ricocheted to Bowyer at the back post but he couldn’t get over the ball and fired harmlessly over.

Bolton were sluggish and struggling to put any serious possession together, however a minute later they had an excellent opportunity to equalise. Martin Petrov was released down the left wing and he sent a deep cross to the back post where Davies volleyed the ball back into the penalty area but there was no white shirt there to get on the end of it and Birmingham cleared.

That chance lifted the spirits of the visitors and chances started to come there way but Ben Foster was in no mood to concede a goal. In the 33rd minute Kevin Davies flicked a long ball from defence on to Sturridge, he found some room before firing a low left foot shot towards goal but Foster saved brilliantly with his outstretched right hand.

With the half coming to a close it was the visitors who were piling on the pressure, a dangerous cross from Petrov finds Davies at the back post but the striker’s shot on the half volley sailed over the bar.

Birmingham had a fantastic chance to double their lead in the 40th minute but Jerome was unable to beat Jaaskelainen. Larsson released the striker in behind the Bolton defence but with only the goalkeeper to beat he miscued his shot and it rolled harmslessly wide.

It was then back to the Foster v Sturridge show and the England goalkeeper was in excellent form. With three minutes of the half left a long ball forward was controlled by Davies into the path of sturridge but his left foot shot was held by Foster.

And a minute later Foster pulled off an even better save to deny the striker. Sturridge again combined with Davies before sending a left foot shot arrowing towards the bottom corner only for Foster to get his fingertips to it and push the shot wide.

Mr Reliable| Phillips celebrates opening the scoring after just four minutes

Birmingham began the second half the brighter and were nearly rewarded for their attacking display with a second goal on 55 minutes but Jaaskelainen made a fantastic save from Roger Johnson. A corner fell to Jerome who headed the call to Johnson but his curling left foot shot was palmed away by Jaaskelainen at full stretch.

However four minutes later they did have their second goal and it came from local boy Craig Gardner. The midfielder played a neat one two with Jerome on the edge of the penalty area before firing past Jaaskelainen and in off the post to send the home crowd delirious.

With Birmingham seemingly in control they were shocked with 20 minutes to go as Johan Elmander struck to bring Bolton back into the game. A long ball from Steinsson was controlled brilliantly by Davies on his chest for Elmander, and the Swede volleyed his first goal since Boxing Day past Foster.

Nerves began to set in around St Andrews as Bolton pushed forward but a resolute Blues defence, and the excellent Foster kept them at bay despite the visitors having four strikers on the pitch at the end of the game. The keeper made two fantastic saves late on which were out of the top draw, particularly from a close range Steinsson header.