Super substitute Bruce Dyer masterminded Barnsley's amazing triumph over shell-shocked Birmingham in the first leg of the First Division play-offs at St. Andrews.

Dyer, the first teenager to cost £1million, made a big impact on the game but was in no small way assisted by a Birmingham defence which fell apart well before the final whistle.

Barnsley, beaten 3-1 at St. Andrews earlier in the season, could hardly believe their good fortune as they took full advantage of a Birmingham side committed to attack.

The result was that the Blues conceded four goals for the first time this season and their hopes of Premiership status disappeared.

Boss Trevor Francis could hardly believe how they collapsed as in their previous 10 league games they had only conceded five goals and the basis of their progress into the play-offs had been a solid defence.

But it was not to be on this occasion as Barnsley resolutely refused to capitulate under pressure in the opening stages.

And they responded in most positive fashion in the 12th minute when Neil Shipperley opened their account for his 15th goal of the season.

Darren Purse attempted to work the ball along the edge of the area but lost possession to Darren Barnard who slotted the ball into the path of Shipperley.

And he needed no second invitation in firing home with a low shot which hit the post before careering into the net.

The game became a little untidy in the middle of the first half and the two captains, Barnsley's Nicky Eaden and Birmingham's Martin O'Connor, were booked in the space of just two minutes as tempers rose.

But the game itself turned on a tactical decision by Blues boss Francis which badly misfired.

Francis decided to send on two strikers, Peter Ndlovu and Marcelo, in an attempt to wipe out Barnsley's lead but within three minutes the Blues' hopes were in tatters following yet another defensive blunder.

Chris Morgan headed the ball down the centre of the pitch but indecision from Gary Rowett and David Holdsworth let in Dyer, who had replaced another substitute Geoff Thomas, and he raced between the two Birmingham defenders to slot the ball home.

Dyer was again on the mark in the 60th minute when he picked up a pass from Eric Tinkler and casually stroked home the Tykes' third from 15 yards.

At this point Birmingham were in total disarray and it was no surprise when Craig Hignett completed the scoring six minutes from time.

Man-of-the-match Dyer created the opening with a cross from the left which the unmarked Hignett collected before firing his shot past Myhre to send the travelling Barnsley fans into dreamland.

Teams:

Birmingham: Myhre, Rowett, Purse (Ndlovu 46), Holdsworth, O'Connor, Grainger, Hughes, M. Johnson, Lazaridis, A. Johnson (Marcelo 46), Furlong (Adebola 74).

Subs Not Used: Bass, Gill.

Booked: O'Connor, Lazaridis, Grainger.

Barnsley: Miller, Chettle, Brown, Morgan, Eaden, Barnard (Barker 88), Tinkler, Appleby, Hignett, Van Der Laan (Thomas 2), Shipperley, Thomas (Dyer 30).

Subs Not Used: Sheron, M. Bullock.

Booked: Eaden, Appleby.

Goals: Shipperley 12, Dyer 48, 60, Hignett 84.

Att: 26,492

Ref: M Halsey (Welwyn Garden City).