Savage strike helps Blues to bury 'Boro

ROBBIE SAVAGE was at the centre of controversy but had the last word as his stunning free-kick helped Birmingham to victory over the Carling Cup finalists.

Birmingham 3 Middlesbrough 1

Savage was lucky to escape with a yellow card after a reckless first-half challenge on Boro defender Danny Mills that incensed Boro players but then showed another side with a stunning 20-yard free kick.

Martin Taylor and leading scorer Mikael Forssell sealed the victory which lifted Birmingham into seventh place in the Premiership. Victory against Bolton on Saturday would put them level on points with fourth-placed Newcastle.

To complete an unhappy night for the visitors midfielder Bolo Zenden was sent off in the closing stages after collecting his second yellow card of the evening.

Boro manager Steve McClaren made three changes from his victorious Carling Cup final line-up, resting Gaizka Mendieta and Juninho and leaving Doriva on the substitutes' bench and introducing Michael Ricketts, Jonathan Greening and Stewart Downing.

Bruce gave a first start to Taylor since his £1.5million move from Blackburn during the January transfer window and he joined the fit-again Matthew Upson in a rejigged defence with Jeff Kenna and Darren Purse relegated to the bench. Stephen Clemence was back in midfield.

The home side, without Dunn and Stan Lazaridis, were pinned back early on as Boro started to hit form.

Then both Savage and Mills were yellow-carded by referee Rob Styles after a touchline bust-up.

After 23 minutes Birmingham went ahead when Savage's quickly taken free-kick found Hughes in space on the left flank and he had time to cut the ball back into the path of leading scorer Forssell.

The Finn let fly with a powerful shot from 12 yards out but the ball took a wicked deflection off the back of Taylor before flying past Mark Schwarzer and it was Taylor who received the congratulations.

Savage doubled the home side's lead with his stunning 56th-minute free-kick as Boateng was made to pay a heavy price for showing dissent.

The former Aston Villa player argued with referee Styles after he awarded a foul against Doriva for a challenge 30 yards out on Clemence.

Styles yellow carded Boateng and then moved the ball 10 yards forward to the edge of the Boro penalty area and Savage curled his free-kick over the wall and into the roof of the net.

But with 16 minutes remaining Nemeth gave Boro a lifeline when the Slovakian international gave Maik Taylor no chance with a low shot from 20 yards out after Cunningham's header had fallen to him.

But within four minutes Birmingham had restored their two-goal lead via Forssell's 13th goal of the campaign.

BIRMINGHAM: Maik Taylor, Tebily, Cunningham, Martin Taylor, Upson, Johnson, Savage (Kenna 90), Clemence, Hughes, Forssell (John 83), Morrison (Carter 88).

MIDDLESBROUGH: Schwarzer, Mills, Ehiogu, Southgate, Queudrue, Downing (Doriva 45), Zenden, Boateng, Greening (Nemeth 63), Ricketts, Job (Maccarone 45).

Ref: R Styles (Hampshire).