Birmingham eye Europe after victory

Birmingham 2 Bolton 0

Birmingham are on course for a European spot as goals from Mikael Forssell and Bryan Hughes moved them level on points with fourth-placed Newcastle.

They comfortably disposed of a Bolton side which looked to be suffering from a hangover after their Carling Cup final loss last weekend.

It was the perfect way for Steve Bruce to celebrate his 100th game in charge at St Andrews and Birmingham are now unbeaten in eight league games since early January.

To make matters worse for Bolton, Jay-Jay Okocha walked straight down the players’ tunnel after being substituted mid-way through the second half.

He was an ineffective figure as were the remainder of his team-mates but that should not detract from the efforts of City.

They are looking capable of challenging for a UEFA Cup spot and the Champions League is not completely out of the equation.

Birmingham controlled matters from the first whistle with Damien Johnson a constant threat on the right flank and Clinton Morrison posing all sorts of problems for the Bolton defence.

The Republic of Ireland striker did everything but score the goal his overall performance deserved.

In contrast Sam Allardyce will be concerned that his side do not go into freefall in the Premiership and they will have to make sure this lethargic showing is a one-off.

Blues were soon on the offensive and Anthony Barness did well to block tackle an effort from Johnson and a left-footed drive from Robbie Savage was charged down by Bruno N’Gotty.

Bolton were indebted to a fine save from Jussi Jaaskelainen to prevent Blues from taking the lead through the hard-working Morrison.

Johnson’s chip found the Republic of Ireland striker in space on the right of the area and his powerful dipping cross-shot was turned around the post at full stretch by the Finnish keeper.

Johnson was an influential figure in the early stages and one dangerous run ended with a pass out to Hughes on the left but, after cutting inside, his curling shot was comfortably dealt with by Jaaskelainen.

Then after 23 minutes Forssell gave Birmingham the lead with his 14th goal of the campaign.

Savage played the ball into the right-hand channel and Morrison turned past Charlton before finding Forssell.

He flicked the ball over N’Gotty and then mishit his left-foot shot – but it still bobbled into the net despite Jaaskelainen getting a hand to his effort.

Barness tried his luck from just outside the Blues penalty box in a rare Bolton raid but his shot curled across goal and out of play.

Allardyce made a substitution after four minutes of the second half, replacing Youri Djorkaeff with Henrik Pedersen.

The first save of note of the second period came from Jaaskelainen who went down low to his left to cling onto a left-footed drive from Morrison after Johnson had threaded the ball into his path.

Birmingham had now regained the upper hand and the vociferous 28,000 crowd were scenting a second goal with Hughes directing a header just off target from a Morrison centre.

Bolton still looked out of sorts and after 69 minutes Hughes doubled Birmingham’s lead. He was completely unmarked at the far post as he headed home a Johnson cross.

Bolton threatened a brief revival and Maik Taylor produced a superb close- range save to prevent Simon Charlton from reducing the arrears.

But Blues were soon back on the attack and Forssell was denied by the feet of Jaaskelainen after the bubbly Savage – later to be booked for a challenge on Ivan Campo – had supplied the decisive pass.