As a shock tactic, Wayne Rooney sure takes some stopping as he grabbed the crucial second half winner to give resurgent Everton their third win in four Premiership matches.

It was his third goal in four matches to bring his tally for the season to four and his short Everton career haul to 10.

The only time Rooney has started a match in Everton's last four games - on Boxing Day at Manchester United - he has been booked and substituted.

So boss David Moyes' policy of using him carefully from the bench is really benefiting Everton now, as well as giving the 18-year-old some breathing space and limiting the expectation that surrounds him.

Rooney has come off the bench now to grab vital goals in his last three appearances as substitute, and once again he was confronted with a tiring defence who just could not handle him.

Birmingham, who produced precious little all afternoon in terms of attacking ideas, could complain that their goalkeeper Maik Taylor was impeded in the build-up to the 69th minute Rooney goal, but Everton will not be too bothered about that.

Referee Rob Styles refereed a bruising match with old fashioned versions of several laws, and Everton were the ones to benefit.

Everton chief David Moyes left out Tobias Linderoth, Li Tie and Kevin Campbell from the defeat at Old Trafford.

Duncan Ferguson, a scoring substitute on Boxing Day, started the match this time alongside Tomasz Radzinski.

Birmingham were missing David Dunn and Clinton Morrison, who both picked up leg injuries in the Boxing Day win over Manchester City. Bryan Hughes and Stern John took their places.

The action came fast and furious initially, but soon deteriorated into a messy game of poor technique and control.

Ferguson did have the ball in the net inside the first minute, diving forward to send a header crashing past Maik Taylor from Gary Naysmith's deep cross. But a linesman's late flag brought the celebrations to a speedy end.

Then Hughes forced his way down the left, nutmegged Tony Hibbert and surged on into the area to force Nigel Martyn into a save, and John climbed above Dave Unsworth and Gary Naysmith to send a Stan Lazaridis cross just over the bar.

Radzinski had seen a 20 yarder well saved by Taylor before almost breaking the deadlock when he got a toe to an Alex Nyarko drive, forcing Taylor into a stretching save to his right.

Birmingham struggled to contain Ferguson in the air and another Naysmith long cross was met by the towering Scot, but his header deflected into the arms of Taylor off an unsuspecting Matthew Upson.

The game needed a boost and it came with the half time arrival of Rooney in place of Carsley, and taking up that right-sided role he occupied with limited success at Old Trafford.

Birmingham made their attacking change on 53 minutes, bringing on Morrison for John.

But there was still precious little for either 'keeper to do but pull down high crosses and field back passes.

Martyn did have to clear with his feet when Lazaridis' touch put Morrison clear in the box, but his reactions were not quick enough to worry the home 'keeper unduly.

Ferguson, Radzinski and Rooney all had headed chances before Taylor was forced into a fine save at the foot of a post after Hibbert and Rooney had set up Kevin Kilbane for a clever flicked shot.

Then Damien Johnson kicked the ball away from Ferguson as the Scot lunged at the near post for a Radzinski cross, Everton now slowly building their pressure.

And the goal Everton deserved arrived on 69 minutes, and that boy Rooney did the trick. Naysmith's corner swirled into the box, Ferguson and Alan Stubbs went up with Taylor and many referees would have penalised them - but not Mr Styles who allowed the ball to bounce down for Rooney to lash home.

Straight after his goal, Rooney appeared on the right flank to lash a ferocious shot in from 25 yards, Taylor forced into a flying save to beat the ball away.

Two more right wing runs and fierce cross-shots showed how much Rooney was in the mood. Clearly the difference between the sides.

Teams

Everton Martyn, Hibbert, Stubbs, Unsworth, Naysmith, Carsley (Rooney 45), Nyarko (Yobo 85), Gravesen, Kilbane, Radzinski (Jeffers 78), Ferguson.

Subs Not Used: Simonsen, McFadden.

Goals: Rooney 69.

Birmingham Taylor, Kenna (Kirovski 78), Cunningham, Upson, Lazaridis, Johnson, Savage, Clemence, Hughes (Cisse 67), Forssell, John (Morrison 54).

Subs Not Used: Bennett, Purse.

Att: 39,631

Ref: R Styles (Hampshire).