Bruce hails Forssell's 'perfect 10' as Birmingham win

Stoke 0 Birmingham 1

The striker fired the Premiership strugglers into the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time in 22 years.

Forssell pounced a minute after the break, nodding home the only goal of a 1-0 fifth-round victory against Stoke at the Britannia Stadium, after Martin Latka had flicked on a Jermaine Pennant corner.

It was the Finland international's sixth goal of the domestic season and his fourth in his last seven matches, with three of those coming in each round of the FA Cup.

Overall, Forssell has now scored 10 goals in 10 starts in the competition over the years and Bruce said: "In the FA Cup, it's about getting through and we have done that.

"The goal will do Mikael's confidence the world of good because in the best part of two years he has played just five 90 minutes. He has had an horrific time of it because of injury, and I was worried about starting him because he was physically tired after playing in the reserves the other night.

"But his record in the FA Cup shows what kind of goal-scorer he is. We just have to keep him on the park, but then I could say that about most players I have out at the moment."

Bruce was without 11 first-team players through injury, with Chris Sutton and Kenny Cunningham the latest to fall by the wayside with groin problems. It meant Bruce again struggled for bodies, which is why in some respects he had no qualms in recalling Nicky Butt.

The midfielder suffered a fit of pique last week after being left out of the side ahead of the 3-0 defeat at West Ham, walking out on the squad. Butt eventually offered his apologies and as far as Bruce is concerned the incident is now "water under the bridge".

"I thought he responded like a man. There were no frills about it, but he played his part and I was pleased for him and with his performance. As far as I am concerned, I never hold a grudge - not very often anyway!"

Birmingham struggled throughout the first half and but for goalkeeper Maik Taylor, who produced two superb saves either side of the break, it would have been Coca-Cola Championship side Stoke who went through to the last eight.

"With 11 players missing I was delighted with the effort and endeavour of those involved because they rolled up their sleeves," insisted Bruce.

"I feel we have done remarkably well to get through. We are now in the last eight and if we get a home draw - and we are due one - then you never know what could happen. At this stage you can almost smell the hot dogs."

It was credit to Stoke's strikers Sammy Bangoura and Mamady Sidibe that they played despite breaking a hand and nose respectively in Tuesday's goalless home draw with Plymouth. Bangoura wore a cast on his left hand, while Sidibe sported a mask to protect his face, yet their bravery failed to yield a goal and it is now more than six hours since Stoke last scored.

Assistant manager Jan De Koning said: "I don't think we should have had a replay - I think we should have won the game. But the only thing we are not doing at the moment is scoring goals, and that's a worry."

STOKE: Simonsen, Hoefkens, Hill, Duberry, Broomes (Rooney 86), Chadwick, Brammer, Junior, Sweeney (Sigurdsson 70), Sidibe, Bangoura.

BIRMINGHAM: Maik Taylor, Melchiot, Bruce, Latka, Gray, Johnson, Butt, Clemence, Pennant (Clapham 88), Forssell (Jarosik 76), Heskey.

Referee: M Dan (Wirral).