Birmingham secured their Premiership future as goals from Christophe Dugarry,
Stephen Clemence and Stan Lazaridis earned their fourth successive win against
uninspired Middlesbrough at St Andrews.
Steve Bruce's side had been written off as no-hopers by the bookmakers at the
start of the campaign and made odds-on favourites to make an instant return to
Division One.
But Steve Bruce bought shrewdly last summer with the likes of Kenny Cunningham
and Robbie Savage making massive impacts throughout the campaign.
And then in the January transfer window he was given funds to revive an
injury-ravaged squad and invested in Dugarry, Matthew Upson, Clemence and Jamie
Clapham, who became key components in the final third of the season.
Dugarry has brought the Midas touch to the Midlands, first with his
performances and now with a run of crucial goals - five in the last four
matches.
Bruce will move heaven and earth to try and keep the on-loan Bordeaux player
at the club on a permanent basis and he has become an instant folk hero with the
Blues fans.
Birmingham were worthy winners and they stamped their authority on the game
from the first whistle to continue a sequence of seven wins in nine matches.
Dugarry was inspirational in the first 45 minutes, scoring the first goal and
helping create the second, while Robbie Savage and Stephen Clemence were
dominant figures in the centre of the park.
Boro in contrast looked like a side who cannot wait for the season to end
after fizzling out following a promising start.
The Blues looked full of confidence in the early stages as they aimed to build
on a run of six wins in eight matches
Dugarry got on the end of an in-swinging Clemence free-kick but his downward
header was easily dealt with by Boro goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.
Savage reacted angrily after being chopped down by George Boateng and there
was a running feud between the duo throughout the 90 minutes.
City won a succession of early free-kicks and did most of the early pressing
with Dugarry showing off his full repetoire of tricks.
In a Boro breakaway Michael Ricketts failed to make proper contact with a low
cross from Stuart Parnaby which Ian Bennett was able to collect.
But after 18 minutes Dugarry broke the deadlock as he hit the target for the
fourth successive match.
Clemence supplied the telling pass for the France international who beat the
offside trap, brought the ball down on his knee and volleyed low past
Schwarzer.
Savage was then brought down on the edge of the box by Boateng in a similar
position to where Dugarry had scored a stunning free-kick against Southampton on
Monday.
But this time he opted for a low, curling effort in an attempt to outfox
Schwarzer who saved comfortably at his feet.
Boro tried to force their way back into a game which had lost much of its
early sparkle but the Blues rearguard was experiencing few problems.
Then after 40 minutes City gave themselves breathing space as Clemence scored
his second goal for the club since his January move from Tottenham.
Dugarry was chopped down some 20 yards from goal and Clemence drilled a low
effort past the dive of Schwarzer.
Bryan Hughes protected City's two-goal lead when he headed an effort from
Ricketts off the line in stoppage time following an inswinging corner by Frank
Queudrue.
Boro manager Steve McClaren made a half-time substitution, bringing on Doriva
for central defender Colin Cooper as they reverted to a 4-4-2 system.
The visitors needed to make a quickfire impact if they were to force their way
back into the contest and they enjoyed a spell of early possession.
But Savage, who has stated his desire to stay at St Andrews for the rest of
his career, shook off a knock on his ankle towards the interval and he appeared
to be covering every blade of grass.
Hughes and Boateng were both yellow-carded after a touch-line flare-up before
Bennett was extended for the first time after 65 minutes.
He did well to beat away a rising effort from Malcolm Christie and, when the
former Derby striker sent the ball back across the area, Boateng headed over the
bar.
The contest was all over with 10 minutes left when Blues substitute Stan
Lazaridis headed home at the far post from a deep Savage cross.
Teams
Birmingham: Bennett, Kenna, Cunningham, Upson, Clapham,
Damien Johnson, Savage, Clemence, Hughes (Lazaridis 70),
Dugarry (John 81), Horsfield (Devlin 75).
Subs Not Used: Marriott, Purse.
Booked: Hughes.
Goals: Dugarry 18, Clemence 40, Lazaridis 80.
Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Parnaby, Ehiogu, Cooper (Doriva 45),
Southgate, Queudrue, Job (Maccarone 78), Boateng, Greening,
Christie, Ricketts (Nemeth 67).
Subs Not Used: Jones, Stockdale.
Booked: Boateng, Maccarone.
Att: 28,821
Ref: M Dean (Wirral).
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