Blues get the nod from Grey

JULIAN GRAY headed Birmingham into the fifth round of the FA Cup after Steve Bruce’s side took advantage of the fact that promotion-chasing Reading was resting most of its first-team players.

Mikael Forssell bundled in an opener on the half-hour mark at St Andrews, but Stephen Hunt levelled for the Coca-Cola Championship leaders with a spectacular volley.

With extra-time to settle the replay looming, Gray, hitherto a peripheral figure in the game, headed home from close range after Jiri Jarosik had found him with a deft cross.

Blues boss Bruce admitted it had been a tough evening's work under the circumstances, with poor weather affecting the match.

“I’m delighted for the young lads, it was a horrible night and the ball was swerving all over the place in atrocious conditions,” he said.

“I thought the reaction was terrific after Reading equalised.”

While Reading can now concentrate on securing promotion to the top flight, Birmingham have the distraction of a cup run as they battle against relegation.

Birmingham were able to establish a foothold in the untidy encounter, and went ahead on 30 minutes through Forssell, who showed perseverance to score with his side’s first real chance.

The Finland striker received the ball on the edge of the area before bundling past Ivar Ingimarsson and Sonko. Graham Stack saved the initial effort but Forssell tapped in the rebound after the ball rebounded off John Halls.

The visitors offered an immediate riposte and should have been level a minute later when Sidwell crashed a volley off the base of the post, with Taylor defying Kitson with a stunning reflex save from the rebound.

Coppell’s were level within five minutes of the restart, after Stephen Hunt chased a hopeful punt forward, took advantage when Bruce misjudged the bounce, nodded past Mario Melchiot and crashed his volley off the crossbar and into the net.

Jarosik, who consistently tried his luck from long distance at every opportunity, could have restored the lead after 55 minutes when Pennant played him through, but the Czech Republic international saw his effort saved by Stack.

Julian Gray, who had struggled to impose himself on the game, when he atoned for his earlier miss by heading in, after 66 minutes.

Jarosik had found room on the right before checking back to cross and Gray applied the simple finish from close range.

BIRMINGHAM: Maik Taylor, Melchiot, Bruce, Painter, Gray, Pennant, Clemence, Clapham, Birley, Forssell, Jarosik.

READING: Stack, Halls, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Makin, Oster, Sidwell, Gunnarsson, Hunt, Kitson, Long. Subs: Federici, Cox, Golbourne, Osano, Sinnott.

Referee: P Walton.