Yann Kermorgant silenced the jeers of the Leicester fans by firing Charlton to their first npower Championship win of the season, 2-1, against one of the favourites for promotion.

Blackpool sealed a showdown with West Ham in the npower Championship play-off final after an absorbing semi-final second leg with Birmingham at St Andrew’s last night.

Birmingham 2 Blackpool 2 (Blackpool win 3-2 on aggregate)

Birmingham 3 Middlesbrough 0

Rickie Lambert struck his fourth hat-trick of the season as Southampton staged a late fightback to defeat Millwall and remain top of the npower Championship standings.

The King is dead, long live the king. That was how Ken Bates, Chelsea’s controversial former chairman, greeted the arrival of Ruud Gullit as manager when Glenn Hoddle left to take over the England team nearly 15 years ago.

Birmingham 0 Chelsea 2

Birmingham boss Chris Hughton is backing under-fire FA Cup rival Andre Villa-Boas to stamp his own mark on Chelsea and revive their fortunes – if given time to do so.

Millwall 0 Birmingham 6

Birmingham 2 Ipswich 1

Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish insists the club’s record signing Darren Bent will not be for sale during the January transfer window.

BIRMINGHAM paid the price for Nikola Zigic’s early saved penalty as a narrow defeat in Braga left them facing an uphill battle in their bid to progress to the knockout stages of the Europa League.

Birmingham 2 Burnley 1

Richard Dunne is determined the success he has enjoyed with the Republic of Ireland will continue for Aston Villa during a testing period – starting with tomorrow’s clash at Tottenham.

Club Brugge 1 Birmingham 2

Jonathan Spector has become Birmingham’s sixth free transfer signing of the summer.

BIRMINGHAM CITY boss Chris Hughton says Irish striker Adam Rooney “has a great opportunity” with Blues but he can thank the manager of bitter rivals Aston Villa for his chance to play in the Championship.

Striker Nikola Zigic looks set to become the latest high-profile player to leave Birmingham following their relegation from the Premier League.

Chairman Peter Pannu insists Birmingham will not sell any of their leading players on the cheap following relegation from the Barclays Premier League.

Birmingham will be without leading scorer Craig Gardner and defender Liam Ridgewell through suspension for Sunday’s Barclays Premier League clash with Fulham at St Andrew’s.

Birmingham will be without leading scorer Craig Gardner for Saturday’s Barclays Premier League clash with Newcastle at St James’ Park.

Birmingham striker Nikola Zigic could return for the Premier League derby with relegation rivals Wolves at St Andrew’s on Sunday.

Birmingham will be boosted by the return from injury of central defender Martin Jiranek for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash with Liverpool at Anfield.

Blackburn 1 Birmingham 1

Birmingham winger David Bentley and defender Martin Jiranek have been ruled out of tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash at Blackburn.

Birmingham 2 Bolton 1

Birmingham’s leading scorer Nikola Zigic and midfielder Lee Bowyer are poised to return for tomorrow’s home Barclays Premier League clash with Bolton.

Birmingham defender Martin Jiranek has undergone a toe operation and is rated doubtful for Saturday's home Barclays Premier League clash with Bolton.

Johnny Gorman made his first competitive start for Northern Ireland as Nigel Worthington’s side attempted to extend their unbeaten run in Group C to four matches in a deserted Crvena Zvezda Stadium.

Striker Hugo Rodallega has been named among the Wigan substitutes for the crunch match against fellow Premier League strugglers Birmingham.

Birmingham’s injury crisis has eased ahead of the Premier League relegation battle at Wigan on Saturday.

DAVID MURPHY is dreaming of playing at Wembley in the FA Cup for Birmingham — a year after fearing his career could be over.

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish will check on the fitness of a host of players before naming his side for tomorrow's FA Cup quarter-final with Bolton at St Andrew’s.

Birmingham midfielder Barry Ferguson could return to action in Saturday’s home FA Cup quarter-final with Bolton – less then two weeks after suffering a broken rib.

BIRMINGHAM moved out of the Barclays Premier League relegation zone after holding Everton to a draw at Goodison Park last night.

Everton 1 Birmingham 1

Birmingham defender Martin Jiranek is set to return for the Barclays Premier League clash with Everton at Goodison Park tomorrow evening.

ROY HODGSON believes West Brom have the “discipline, organisation and guts” needed alongside their other qualities to survive in the Premier League.

ARSENAL midfielder Jack Wilshere has hit out at Birmingham’s Barry Ferguson for allegedly slapping Laurent Koscielny on the head after Obafemi Martins’ late Carling Cup final winner.

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has hit out at Birmingham’s Barry Ferguson for allegedly slapping Laurent Koscielny on the head after Obafemi Martins’ late Carling Cup final winner.

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas urged his team-mates to focus on the “great targets” still ahead of them after the bitter disappointment of Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Birmingham in the Carling Cup final at Wembley.

Birmingham’s on-loan striker Obafemi Martins admits he is in “dreamland” after scoring the last gasp Carling Cup final winner over Arsenal at Wembley.

IT’S hard to imagine a player less likely to match Arsene Wenger’s template of a modern footballer than Nikola Zigic.

IF YOU had told Arsene Wenger back in the summer that his side would miss out on the Carling Cup this season, the Arsenal manager would not have lost much sleep.