Birmingham 0-0 Sheffield Wednesday

Jack Butland's brilliant early save from defender Miguel Llera helped earn Birmingham a point against fellow strugglers Sheffield Wednesday. The England keeper, sold to Stoke last month but back at St Andrew's on loan until the summer, clawed out Llera's header from a Danny Pugh corner. Striker Nikola Zigic missed a great second-half chance for Blues. But neither side could break through, the draw ensuring both avoided slipping closer to the bottom three. Wednesday, who have lost only one of their last 11 league games, are two points clear of the drop zone. Butland's stop from Llera was crucial as Birmingham, who started and finished the night four points clear of the relegation zone, kept a first clean sheet in 18 league matches. But they might have been celebrating a victory had Zigic been more ruthless in front of goal.

Birmingham City 0-4 Watford

Watford boosted their hopes of automatic promotion and moved back to third in the table with another excellent showing on their travels as they thrashed Birmingham City 4-0 at St Andrew’s. The Hornets were comfortably the more dangerous side in the first half and Troy Deeney, Almen Abdi and Matej Vydra all had opportunities to make the breakthrough before Deeney headed in an Ikechi Anya cross in the 38th minute. Anya then doubled the lead a minute before the break when after being given the freedom of the right side, he came inside and showed quick feet to fire past Jack Butland. The visitors had to withstand a few edgy moments at the start of the second half as the Blues sought a way back into the contest but 17 minutes after the restart the points were effectively sealed as Deeney tucked away his second at the end of the Hornets’ latest devastating counter-attacking move. It was left to Abdi to complete another very pleasing afternoon’s work when he fired home the fourth from the edge of the area with two minutes remaining as the Hornets made it nine wins on the road this season and sent their superb travelling 2,454-strong support home very happy. Gianfranco Zola made three changes from the side that drew 2-2 with Crystal Palace as the Hornets went into the game with their defensive resources somewhat stretched. Joel Ekstrand was still sidelined with a knee problem and he was joined in the treatment room by Tommie Hoban and Fitz Hall. This meant Marco Cassetti moved back into defence, alongside Nyron Nosworthy, who missed the last match as he was returning from international duty with Jamaica. Cassetti’s enforced change of position saw Anya come in at right wing-back, while Cristian Battocchio was preferred to Jonathan Hogg in the centre of the park. Birmingham also drew their last outing, 1-1 at Charlton Athletic, and boss Lee Clark made two changes to his line-up. Vicarage Road old boy and top scorer Marlon King was ruled out through injury, while Callum Reilly dropped to the bench. Their places went to the new-look strike partnership of Wes Thomas and Peter Lovenkrands, while another familiar face, Paul Robinson, was also in the starting line-up. Interestingly, Cassetti started on the left side of the central defensive trio but it was his team who had the first opening after a minute when Deeney latched on to a poor Morgaro Gomis pass and drove at the defence, beating Steven Caldwell on the outside but as the striker got to the by-line to the right of goal, he sliced a shot from an acute angle behind. The visitors had the better of the opening exchanges and had the first on-target effort of the afternoon when Butland dropped to his right to hold an Anya drive from a Vydra pass after good work by Deeney, who had made a lively start against the team he supports. Birmingham’s first effort came in the 12th minute when Gomis fired harmlessly high and wide from distance. But six minutes later came perhaps one of least surprising outcomes of the match when Robinson was rightly booked for a late challenge on Abdi, leaving the Hornets favourite the prospect of coping with the pace of Anya for the next 70 or so minutes on a booking. Watford continued to be in the ascendency though, and Vydra had the next effort when he curled a right-footed shot over from 20 yards before the Czech striker saw another strike from outside the area deflected behind. From Abdi’s resultant corner on the left, the Hornets were inches away from taking the lead as Deeney glanced a downward header narrowly wide of the far post. Zola’s men went close again in the 25th minute when after some playing some neat keep ball near their left-hand corner flag, Battocchio spread a cross-field ball out to Anya. He took on and beat Robinson on the outside before laying the ball inside to Vydra, who hit a right-footed half-volley on the turn which was straight at Butland and the keeper managed to grab the ball at the second attempt as Deeney closed in. Chris Burke threatened to unhinge the Hornets backline when he attacked the right side of the penalty area and left Daniel Pudil on the ground but the winger’s low delivery was put behind for a corner. But Watford were soon testing Butland again as the England international did well to keep out a firmly struck Abdi shot from the left side of the area after Vydra had laid a Pudil ball from the left into the Swiss midfielder. Butland had to be alert again in the 33rd minute to deal with a Vydra free-kick from close to 30 yards, although the keeper was not unduly tested. However, Clark’s side then had a decent little spell which saw Nosworthy forced to head behind a dangerous Caldwell header and Manuel Almunia deal with an awkward free-kick before Thomas did well to cut back on his left foot on the edge of the area before curling a shot over. But the goal Watford had been threatening did arrive in the 38th minute and it would have given the scorer particular pleasure. Nathaniel Chalobah and Abdi combined in midfield and found Anya on the right and he delivered a pin-point cross for Deeney to rise and plant a header down and beyond Butland to make it 1-0 with his 13th of the campaign. Anya almost created another opening three minutes later when he was again picked out by Abdi in plenty of space but his delivery was too close to the Blues keeper on this occasion, although Deeney was again waiting to pounce. But Anya was to make no mistake the next time he received the ball a minute before the interval. The space the winger initially had after receiving Chalobah’s pass was bordering on the ridiculous but after coming inside and looking for an passing opportunity, he toyed with the Birmingham defence before showing quick feet and slamming a right-footed shot inside Butland’s near post to give the Hornets a two-goal cushion going into the break. Unsurprisingly, the home side were quickly out of the blocks at the start of the second half and it took some smart defensive work by Cassetti to prevent Lovenkrands from getting a clear head on the end of a Burke cross. The former Newcastle United man also had a shot block before a combination of Almunia and Nosworthy prevented him from getting on the end of a bouncing ball inside the six-yard box following more useful work by Burke. After Watford had temporarily eased the pressure by forcing two corners, the Blues won two of their own, the second of which came after Almunia failed to deal with the initial set piece and some more last-gasp defending deflected another Lovenkrands strike behind. The Hornets though, had been sloppy at times since the restart and they were fortunate not to be punished when the overlapping Paul Caddis was able to play in a low cross from the right which the stretching Thomas was inches away from connecting with. Watford were also not too far away soon after when, following a short corner on the left, Abdi struck a curling cross-cum-shot narrowly wide of Butland’s far post. Clark then decided to make his first change on the hour, bringing on Nathan Redmond for Rob Hall. In the 62nd minute though, came the latest example of the visitors’ sometimes supreme counter-attacking ability. The Hornets found themselves with the freedom of the opposition right when a Blues attack broke down and Robinson was caught upfield. Vydra the led charge and slipped in Anya to his right after he had made up plenty of ground to get up in support. The right midfielder then squared the ball across the area to Deeney, who tucked away his second of the afternoon high into the roof of the net to make it 3-0. Both sides made a change three minutes later as Adam Thompson came on for Pudil and Robinson’s tough afternoon was ended when he was replaced by Mitch Hancox. Watford were soon back on the attack though, with Vydra firing over from the left side of the area after being found by Lloyd Doyley, who was now operating as left wing-back following the substitution. The Blues weren’t too far away from a consolation in the 73rd minute when a Burke cross found Redmond in space at the far post and he headed down but the wrong side of Almunia’s right-hand upright. A limping Anya’s fine contribution then came to an enforced end when he had to make way for Sean Murray. To their credit, the hosts were still refusing to lie down though, and Curtis Davies wasn’t too far away with a low shot after popping up in the Hornets area. Lovenkrands was closer still when an outstretched leg somewhat inadvertently connected with the ball on the edge of the six-yard box after nobody had been able to get a head on a Burke cross, but Almunia was able to get across and make the save. Lovenkrands was booked for dissent after overly protesting when referee Craig Pawson refused to buy his appeals for a penalty after going down under Thompson’s strong challenge. Vydra made way for Hogg with six minutes remaining and four minutes later they made it 4-0. Battocchio nicked the ball away from Redmond in midfield and tried to play in Deeney but the ball ran to Abdi. His first shot was partially blocked and initially it looked like Battocchio would be able to round Butland and tuck the ball away. However, his follow-up was also blocked but only as far back as Abdi, who emphatically fired in his third goal in as many games from the edge of the area to round off another fine awayday.

Match Report :Blackpool 1 Birmingham 0

Curtis Davies' unfortunate own goal gave Blackpool a slender 1-0 advantage over Birmingham in the first leg of their npower Championship play-off semi-final. Gary Taylor-Fletcher prodded home from an offside position for the hosts, while Davies headed off target at the other end in a frenetic opening. Marlon King might have done better when his shot from Chris Burke's cutback clipped the top of the bar at the end of a clinical 40th-minute counter attack. The hosts broke the deadlock 44 minutes into an evenly-matched first half when Tom Ince's speculative low drive took a significant deflection off Blues captain Davies. Ian Holloway introduced Nouha Dicko and and Kevin Phillips in a straight swap for forwards Stephen Dobbie and Taylor-Fletcher and the latter thought he had made an instant impact against his former club, only to be flagged offside after heading home a right-wing cross from namesake Matt. King was agonisingly close to levelling the tie in the first minute of stoppage time, stretching to steer Wade Elliott's knockdown against the woodwork.

Birmingham and Cardiff chase Ben Turner

Birmingham could be set to fight it out with Cardiff over the capture of Coventry defender Ben Turner ahead of Wednesday's transfer deadline.Turner was Coventry's stand-out performer over the opening months of last season before having to undergo a knee ligament operation which has sidelined him ever since.The Birmingham-born 23-year-old is now close to making his long-awaited return after the serious injury, but it could be that it does not come in the sky blue of Coventry.Cardiff are already in discussions with the cash-strapped club, with Bluebirds boss Malky Mackay telling the Western Mail: "It is something we are trying to get done and we are in talks with Coventry."The Welsh outfit have reportedly offered £750,000 as well as striker Jon Parkin in exchange for Turner, but their interest may well be rivalled by that of Birmingham, who have been monitoring the highly-rated centre-back for some time.Scott Dann appears likely to depart St Andrew's before Wednesday's deadline and some of the money gained would be ploughed back into a move for Turner, who came through the ranks at Coventry.

Match Report:Birmingham 1 Coventry 0

Keith Fahey’s lone strike 18 minutes from time earned Birmingham their first win of the season.The Republic of Ireland smashed home substitute Adam Rooney’s low cross, just seconds after the striker had struck the post with a well-placed header.The goal also owed much to manager Chris Hughton’s own decision-making, as it came just three minutes after Rooney replaced Chris Wood up front.The Blues boss only made one change from last Saturday’s opening day defeat to Derby County, with Albion loanee Wood handed his first start for Blues at Rooney’s expense, and it paid off with his first win in charge.Hughton kept faith with the same 4-5-1 formation Blues started with at Pride Park.On the bench, new signing Jonathan Spector replaced Nathan Redmond while Scott Dann was named as a substitute for the second game running.Notable absences for Blues were Marlon King, Nikola Zigic and Cameron Jerome all still injured.For the visitors, former Blues favourite Gary McSheffrey made the starting line-up for Coventry and received a warm reception in appreciation for his four year stint at St Andrew’s from 2006 to 2010.Blues created a good chance just two minutes in, when Burke and Carr combined well down the right wing.Carr’s cross was tucked into Morgaro Gomis’ path by Wood and only a last ditch tackle prevented him opening the scoring from deep inside the box.At the other end, Blues had Curtis Davies to thank for heroically blocking Lukas Jutkiewicz’s effort, after the ball had fallen invitingly from Sammy Clingan’s right wing corner.Blues dominated the early possession but Jutkiewicz missed a golden opportunity with 19 minutes gone, firing wide of the left hand post.Goalkeeper Boaz Myhill then showed his agility to tip away Sammy Clingan’s well-struck long-range free-kick, which appeared to be creeping into the bottom right hand corner, half an hour in.McSheffrey was next to test Myhill from distance but the Wales international acrobatically turned the winger’s 30-yard effort behind for a corner five minutes before the break.Fahey won a corner in stoppage time when his own long-range effort was deflected wide by Clingan, but neither side could feel aggrieved by the blank score sheet at half time.But Blues improved after the break and Beausejour fired wide from Stephen Carr’s cross, five minutes after the re-start.Wood should have opened the scoring barely 90 seconds later, but could only Beausejour’s low left-wing cross over the bar from less than six yards out.Clingan did well to block Burke’s effort from Carr’s cutback and Gomis forced a corner, when his 25-yard drive was turned behind from distance by Murphy, as the home side increased the pressure.Wood then miscued Gomis’ cutback, albeit under pressure, with just over 25 minutes remaining, but McSheffrey fizzed a curling drive just over at the other end of the pitch.
With the game headed for a stalemate, Rooney replaced Wood and it worked almost immediately.Rooney headed Ridgewell’s deep cross against the post, but managed to turn the rebound into Fahey’s path for the opening goal 18 minutes from time.The Irishman then pulled a poor attempt well wide 12 minutes from time, as Blues pushed forward in a bid to rubber stamp victory.Steven Caldwell nodded Carr’s cross over the bat with 10 minutes remaining, after McSheffrey’s foul on the edge of the box.Blues suffered a late scare when Jutkiewicz headed over from a good position with two minutes left from Clingan’s corner, but they held on for a vital win.

Gardner closing on St Andrews switch

Anthony Gardner is poised to join Championship outfit Birmingham.The defender is currently out of contract and available as a free agent.He severed ties with Hull City at the end of last season, having seen out the campaign on loan at Crystal Palace.The Eagles were keen to take him back to Selhurst Park, but discussions regarding a deal have come to nothing.Nottingham Forest were also linked with the former England international at one stage, but they too have been unable to reach an agreement.That has left the door open for Birmingham to make their move for the towering centre-half.Gardner is understood to be due in the Midlands on Tuesday for a medical, before putting the finishing touches to a deal with the Blues.
Birmingham boss Chris Hughton has been in the market for a centre-half after offloading Roger Johnson to Wolves and seeing speculation mount regarding the future of Scott Dann.

Match Report:Derby 2 Birmingham 1

Birmingham's bid to secure an immediate return to the Barclays Premier League made a stuttering start as they slipped to an opening-day npower Championship defeat at Derby.Chris Hughton's men had gone in front through defender Curtis Davies' header at Pride Park but were quickly pegged back by Jason Shackell's equaliser.Nigel Clough's side then capitalised on their momentum as Steve Davies fired them in front before the break and the hosts held on for three points against an unfamiliar Birmingham side who created plenty of chances but are clearly yet to really gel.
Hughton's side are bidding for a quick return to the top flight this season but have been weakened by a player exodus this summer which has seen the likes of Craig Gardner, Sebastian Larsson, Barry Ferguson, Roger Johnson and Ben Foster all leave.Five of the visitors' starting XI were new faces with former Inverness striker Adam Rooney on his own up front. Derby had plenty of new recruits involved too, among them Frankie Fielding, in goal, as well as Jamie Ward, Shackell, Kevin Kilbane and Craig Bryson.Derby started well and after Lee Croft came close in the first minute, settled into the game nicely.Birmingham had a bit more going forward, though, and at the other end Keith Fahey headed wide wastefully from Chris Burke's cross while Jordon Mutch rattled the bar with a header from Jean Beausejour's cross.

The opening goal came in the 19th minute through Davies, as the former Aston Villa centre-half leapt to head home from Mutch's corner.