Birmingham City 2 Bolton Wanderers 3: match report

Birmingham City 2 Bolton Wanderers 3: match report

Read a full match report on the FA Cup quarter-final game between Birmingham City and Bolton Wanderers at St Andrew's on Saturday 12 March.

Late show: Chung-Yong Lee scored in the final minute to hand Bolton victory in their FA Cup match against Birmingham City Photo: GETTY IMAGES

By Sandy Macaskill, St Andrew's 3:02PM GMT 12 Mar 2011

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Apparently the romance of the FA Cup is a guttering flame, but if that is the case, Bolton Wanderers are doing their bit to keep it alive.

True, Birmingham City’s bid for a cup double this season would have been quite a story, but so is Bolton’s desire to pay tribute to Nat Lofthouse, the former captain who lifted their last FA Cup in 1958 and who died in January aged 85.

The club have dedicated their Cup campaign to the memory of Lofthouse and appropriately one of his pallbearers, Kevin Davies, spearheaded the route to Wembley, scoring once and setting up Lee Chung-Yong in the final minute.

“We are all conscious of Nat,” said manager Owen Coyle. “It would be fitting if we did it, but we need to overcome the obstacles in our way.”

Birmingham might be drained but the Carling Cup champions still represented a significant hurdle. Though vanquished, they deserved to drag themselves from the pitch with pride after a second half that opened up better than a Grand Cru claret.

Three shouts for penalties, one given, a struck post, an incredible strike by Kevin Phillips, and a goal at the death: the crowd got value for money.

The Birmingham contingent will be distraught by a result that ends their improbable dream of a twin success, but perhaps that is for the best. They can now concentrate on the relegation battle; safety should be easily won if they turn in performances like this each week.

Seb Larsson was exceptional, Jordan Mutch showed real promise and Cameron Jerome took his first-half goal superbly. Yet Alex McLeish’s side are beginning to creak. He had to make two enforced substitutions before the half-hour mark. “It is a concern,” he said.

McLeish’s competitive instincts would not allow him to sacrifice this competition for the greater good. Rooted to the edge of his technical area, collar of his black trenchcoat turned up, the bottoms flaring out in the breeze, he fumed as Bolton went ahead when a high ball was smacked forward by Jussi Jaaskelainen.

After some aerial ping pong, Fabrice Muamba won possession and headed to Ivan Klasnic. He flicked on first time to Johan Elmander, who breezed past David Murphy and confidently beat Ben Foster. It looked simple, but the finish was clinical and no more than Bolton deserved.

Eight minutes later Birmingham were in even more of a pickle. Martin Jiranek was replaced by Liam Ridgewell after Stuart Holden stepped on his ankle. Barry Ferguson, already playing with a broken rib, was substituted a minute later with a dead leg. His replacement was Nathan Redmond, a 17 year-old recently recalled from duties in League Two with Burton Albion.

With his side coming apart at the seams McLeish must have been shocked when David Wheater’s hacked clearance went straight at Jerome on the edge of the area, and the striker, at his best when given no time to dither, controlled the ball with his instep and drove a half-volley past Jaaskelainen’s near post.

An engaging first half maybe, but this match exploded after the resumption.

Curtis Davies prompted it, slapping the ball with a flailing hand in the area. Phil Dowd gave the defender a free kick, signalling that he had been pushed by Gary Cahill. Coyle, wearing a Respect badge on his lapel, decided the referee needed some assistance but was deterred when Dowd put his hand to his pocket in threat of retribution.

The incident ignited the fuse. Dowd was back at the centre of things when Jerome went down under pressure from Jaaskelainen. The Birmingham supporters rose in appeal, but the Bolton goalkeeper had kicked the ball clear, and Dowd’s signal for a corner was correct. “He was spot on with that one,” McLeish, also wearing a Respect badge, admitted. “Well done the referee.”

There was more scope for controversy when Kevin Davies scored before being ruled offside. This time Coyle clapped, showing appreciation for the move. His mood improved sharply a minute later when Davies was brought down in the area by his Birmingham namesake. The Bolton striker calmly beat Foster from the spot.

In response, Phillips struck the post after Jaaskelainen had kept the ball out. In the 80th minute, Curtis Davies headed long down the pitch and Redmond nodded it on. Somehow Phillips swivelled, scissor-kicking a volley from outside the area over the head of Jaaskelainen and in. You won’t see a more instinctive goal all season.

McLeish went for broke, removing Murphy for his striker Matt Derbyshire. “The old SAS motto came out there,” McLeish said. But as recent events in Libya have demonstrated, those who dare don’t always win.

Birmingham were left open at the back and in the final minute Kevin Davies headed across goal for Lee. Brought on for Klasnic, the South Korean’s first touch had been a clearance off the line. This one was equally important, a header sent past Foster that rewards Bolton with a trip to Wembley.

’s improbable dream of the Carling Cup and FA Cup double was ended by Lee Chung-Yong’s last-minute header, which sent through to the semi-finals of the FA Cup after a scintillating second half at St Andrew’s which opened up better than a Grand Cru claret.

Three shouts for penalties, one given, a struck post, an incredible strike by Kevin Phillips, and a goal at the death: this 23,699 crowd – finally, this competition got the turnout it deserves – were certainly given value for money.

The Birmingham section will be distraught by the result, but perhaps it is for the best. They can now concentrate on the relegation battle.

If they turn in performances like this each week, safety should be simple. Seb Larsson was exceptional. Jordan Mutch showed real promise.

Jerome took his goal superbly. Yet Alex McLeish’s side are beginning to rattle. He had to make two enforced substitutions before the half hour mark had been reached. Another Cup match must surely have been a stretch too far.

Bolton have no such problems. Owen Coyle’s side took the lead when a high ball was smacked forward, and after some aerial to-ing and fro-ing. Muamba won possession, heading to Ivan Klasnic, who flicked it on first time for Elmander as he breezed past David Murphy and through on goal. The Swede picked his moment, and confidently passed Foster. It was a simple move but clinically taken, and no more than Bolton deserved.

Eight minutes later Birmingham were in even more of a pickle. Martin Jiranek had his ankle trodden on by Stuart Holden. He could only soldier on for so long before being replaced by Liam Ridgewell.

Barry Ferguson, already playing with a broken rib, was called off a minute later with a thigh strain, his replacement Nathan Redmond, a 17 year-old recently recalled from duties in League Two with Burton Albion, with just two appearances for Birmingham under his belt.

With his side coming apart at the seams no one was more surprised than McLeish when Birmingham equalised. David Wheater’s hack clear went straight at Jerome on the edge of the area, and the striker, at his best when given no time to confuse himself, controlled the ball with his instep and then drove off the half volley past Jussi Jaaskelainen’s near post.

It was after the resumption that this match really exploded into action. Curtis Davies started it, slapping the ball with a flailing hand in the area. Dowd gave the defender a free-kick, signalling that he had been pushed by Gary Cahill and Coyle clearly decided the referee needed some assistance, his torrent of Celt only cut off when Dowd put his hand to his pocket and threatened retribution.

Dowd was back at the centre of things minutes later when Jerome appeared to have been cut down by Jaaskelainen in the area. In fact, the Bolton goalkeeper had kicked the ball clear in the process, and Dowd’s signal for a corner was correct.

Coyle made two changes, removing Muamba for Mark Davies and bringing on Chung-Yong for Klasnic. The South Korean’s first touch was a clearance off the line when a Birmingham corner was scrambled goalwards. More was to come. Davies scored at the other end, but was ruled offside, but a minute later he was brought down by his Birmingham namesake, and the Bolton striker calmly beat Foster from the spot.

In answer, Phillips struck the post. Then, in the 80th minute, Curtis Davies headed long down the pitch, Redmond nodded it on, and somehow Phillips scissor kicked the ball from outside the area, lobbing Jaaskelainen. You won’t see a more instinctive goal all season.

McLeish went for broke, removing Murphy for his striker Matt Derbyshire. But Kevin Davies headed across goal in the final minute for Chung-Yong to nod past Foster.
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