Blackpool 1 - 2 Birmingham

Scott Dann's late winner lifted Birmingham City out of the Premier League relegation zone after a pulsating encounter with Blackpool. Dann latched on to a header from his central defensive partner Roger Johnson before slotting past Richard Kingson. The visitors had taken a first-half lead when Stephen Crainey's error gifted a goal to Alexander Hleb. A DJ Campbell volley looked to have salvaged a point for the hosts before Dann's 89th-minute winner. The goal handed Birmingham their first away league win of the season and catapulted them four places up the table to 15th. But it was cruel on Blackpool, who had more than played their part in a riveting match in which both sides created countless chances, with the visitors striking the woodwork twice and the hosts once. (BBC Sport)

Birmingham 2 - 0 Blackpool

Birmingham earned their first Premier League victory since August after outclassing Blackpool at St Andrew's. Liam Ridgewell gave the hosts the lead just before the break, nodding home from two yards after Nikola Zigic's header came back off the crossbar. Star midfielder Charlie Adam then gave the ball away in his own six-yard box and allowed Zigic to double the lead.
Blackpool were enterprising but lacked a cutting edge as the home side closed out a comfortable win. The Seasiders went into the match with the best away record in the Premier League and must have had hopes of further success on the road with Birmingham struggling to repeat the form which saw them go unbeaten for so long last season. But the resilience and belief that inspired Ian Holloway's side to wins at Wigan, Newcastle and Liverpool never really materialised at a soggy St Andrew's. Holloway had made headlines in the build-up to the match with a tirade about player power, the Bosman ruling and a lack of video technology in the game. But even if the latter had been in place, it would have had no bearing on a game in which Birmingham finally began to find some much-needed home form. Holloway's decision to go for an attacking formation should be commended, although the colourful boss might have had second thoughts as the Blues controlled the opening stages....read more...