Winning start for Finnish star

Tuomas Haapala celebrated his first appearance in Manchester City colours with a reserve team win over Birmingham last night.

The Finnish midfielder is hoping to earn a permanent contract with the Blues after signing a short-term contract for the remainder of the season.

Haapala will have been delighted to get through the full 90 minutes at Solihull Borough, although a side also containing Lee Croft, Bradley Wright-Phillips and David Sommeil required an early Ishmael Miller goal to give them a 1-0 triumph.