Finland striker Shefki Kuqi sent out an ominous warning to Sven-Goran
Eriksson's England ahead of next week's World Cup qualifier as he scored both
Stockport goals to clinch a vital three points in the battle against relegation.
But Birmingham's second defeat of the week could prove to be a setback in
their hunt for an automatic promotion place.
Kuqi showed that he has adapted well to English football, making it three
goals in two games with headers after 40 and 82 minutes and putting in a
barnstorming display that panicked the Blues defence.
And the victory was a sweet tonic for County boss Andy Kilner in a week when
he has had to sell star midfielder Kevin Cooper and resisted chairman Brendan
Elwood's plans to bring in former Liverpool boss Roy Evans into the club as an
'advisor'.
County started strongly and Glynn Hurst, making his full home debut after his
move from Ayr United, could have made himself a fans' favourite after just one
minute, but his header from Shane Nicholson's free-kick drifted wide.
But promotion-chasing City suddenly sparked into life after 14 minutes when
Martyn Grainger curled a dangerous free-kick from 25 yards narrowly wide with
County goalkeeper Andy Dibble scrambling frantically across his goal. And less
than a minute later Dibble had to save well at the feet of Horsfield after the
former Fulham man linked well with Johnson in the box.
Horsfield returned the favour to Johnson after 24 minutes when he headed on
for the youngster to run in on goal but he dragged his shot wide. But a good
spell of County pressure after 33 minutes saw Hurst go close twice as he first
headed over the crossbar after Flynn headed a Nicholson corner back across goal.
And just a minute later his looping header from Nicholson's cross just cleared
the crossbar with Ian Bennett back-pedalling furiously. The pressure finally
told after 40 minutes when Kuqi rose highest to power home an Ali Gibb corner
cored to send the Edgeley Park faithful wild.
But the first half ended on a sour note with Johnson stretchered from the
field with a head injury after an off-the-ball clash that was missed by the
referee. The young striker lay motionless for several minutes and was attended
to be physios, ambulance staff and a concerned Trevor Francis.
Both sides truggled for dominance at the start of the second half but Kuqi
almost doubled the lead after 54 minutes when his flying header was cleared off
the line by Curtis Woodhouse.
And from the clearance Simon Grayson saw his goalbound shot deflected narrowly
wide by Darren Purse. It was all County and Bennett had to race from his line to
dive bravely at Kuqi's feet after another Nicholson corner had caused panic in
the Birmingham defence.
Mass confusion in the Birmingham defence almost gifted County a second when
Darren Purse attempted a suicidal header back to his goalkeeper after Bennett
had sliced his clearance. Aaron Wilbraham raced in but his athletic attempt to
lob the ball over Bennett drifted wide.
But City were still a threat and Horsfield saw his snap shot on the turn take
a deflection and drift agonisingly wide before from the resulting corner
Nicholson cleared David Holdsworth's header off the line.
And after 70 minutes Dibble saved spectacularly as Grainger met Jon McCarthy's
long cross on the volley just eight yards from goal. But Kuqi struck again after
82 minutes to make the game safe as he met Nicholson's free-kick with a flying
header at the back post that gave Bennett no chance.
Teams
Stockport: Dibble, Nicholson, Flynn, Fradin, Roget, Grayson,
Gibb, Clare, Hurst (Carrigan 87), Wilbraham, Kuqi.
Subs not used: Jones, Clark, Woodthorpe, Bergersen.
Booked: Roget, Wilbraham.
Goals: Kuqi 41, 83.
Birmingham: Bennett, Atherton, Purse, Holdsworth, Grainger,
Eaden (McCarthy 45), Woodhouse, Pollock (Gill 86), Hughes,
Horsfield, Andrew Johnson (Furlong 45).
Subs not used: Poole, Bass.
Booked: Purse.
Att: 7,176
Ref: G Cain (Bootle).
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