Birmingham City – Leeds United

1. Join us at 12.30pm UK time on Saturday for all the action from St Andrews as Birmingham take on Leeds in a crunch game for both Premiership teams.

2. The Birmingham side: Maik Taylor, Martin Taylor, Upson, Cunningham, Grainger, Johnson, Hughes, Clemence, Lazaridis, Forssell, Morrison. Subs: Bennett, John, Cisse, Carter, Tebily.

3. And for Leeds: Robinson, Kelly, Caldwell, Matteo, Domi, Pennant, McPhail, Seth Johnson, Milner, Viduka, Smith. Subs: Carson, Harte, Radebe, Keegan, Simon Johnson.

4. The players have taken the field and are preparing for kick-off. Leeds are off the bottom after that win against Manchester City earlier this week and Birmingham, well they are on the charge for a European place and will fancy themselves to get the win today.

5. And we're underway...

6. Early exchanges and a bit of head tennis, offside given against Birmingham

7. 1'

   James Milner tries to work it down the right flank for Leeds

8. 1'

   The ball gets to Alan Smith in the penalty area and directs it to Mark Viduka who unleashes a fierce volley which Maik Taylor in the City net turns out for a corner

9. 2'

   The corner comes to nothing and Birmingham clear

10. 2'

    Goal to Leeds!!

11. 3'

    Mark Viduka fires Leeds ahead after collecting a great ball from Jermaine Pennant. Viduka kept himself onside, ran towards goal and stuck it neatly past the out-rushing keeper. Great goal

12. 4'

    Birmingham on the back foot as Leeds press - they have the bit between their teeth!

13. 5'

    Stan Lazaridis drives into the Leeds penalty area on a run which ends in poor ball - danger signs for Leeds, they better watch out for the quick break

14. 6'

    Martin Taylor wins a corner for Birmingham off Milner

15. 7'

    Martin Grainger whips the ball in but Paul Robinson gathers after initially spilling it under pressure from Matthew Upson

16. 8'

    Stat fans might be interested to learn that Leeds have not lost this season when Viduka has scored. So the signs are there for Leeds today - but with over 80 minutes to play there is time for that rule to be broken

17. 9'

    Birmingham under pressure with Viduka and Smith putting the City backline under pressure and they don't like it one bit

18. 10'

    Another chance for Viduka but he puts the ball into the side netting!

19. 11'

    Goal for Birmingham!!!

20. 12'

    Terrible defending from Leeds. All the defenders were sucked to the near post to cut out Clinton Morrison's cross and in the disarray that followed Bryan Hughes side-footed into the net for one of the easiest goals he'll ever score! 1-1.

21. 13'

    What must Viduka be thinking?! After squandering a chance to put Leeds 2-0 up the home side punish his miss with the equaliser!

22. 14'

    And no its Birmingham with the bit between their teeth - they have a corner and Leeds are under the cosh

23. 15'

    Grainger whips the dead ball in and Martin Taylor connects, but the header is poor and loops out of play

24. 16'

    Leeds left-back Gary Kelly tidies up a loose pass and sends a probing ball up the pitch

25. 17'

    Thoughtless clearance by Leeds skipper Dominic Matteo he just clobbered the ball into the stands when under no pressure - he just squandered possession. Stupid.

26. 18'

    Taylor tries and fails to play his way out of danger after Smith and Viduka again hussle the City defenders

27. 18'

    Robinson rolls the ball out to Matteo and Leeds look to build from the back

28. 18'

    More sloppy passing from Leeds allows Lazaridis to break free. He races towards the box and dives looking for a penalty. The tackle from Stephen Caldwell was well-timed and outside the area but that didn't stop Stan from trying his luck - the ref was not conned though!

29. 19'

    City win a corner.

30. 20'

    Again Grainger crosses in and again Leeds struggle to deal with the threat from City?s centre-halves

31. 21'

    Smith goes to ground under a challenge from Upson

32. 22'

    Didier Domi slips the ball to Caldwell who threads it to Viduka who himself forces a corner

33. 23'

    The ball lands and Smith's head who gets it to Pennant, but he is forced back

34. 24'

    City striker Morrison flagged offside

35. 25'

    Lucky escape for City who once again try to play their way out of danger and Viduka nearly made them pay after charging down a clearance

36. 26'

    Leeds force another corner after more dogged battling

37. 26'

    The cross is drifted into the very back of the penalty area to Domi who lashes a volley spectacularly high and wide - that must have been a training ground routine, but it didn't work well today!

38. 28'

    Well played Seth Johnson (don't write that often). He was quick to pounce on a mis-control from Morrisson and snaffled the ball and stopped the danger

39. 29'

    Kelly fluffs an easy clearance and could have been left blushing but for Morrison's poor control down the right wing

40. 30'

    Robinson launches a huge clearance aimed at Smith who nods it to Viduka, but he's tackled - route one footy, but nearly fruitful for Leeds

41. 32'

    There is a great hunger about Viduka so far today - he is making a nuisance of himself, hussling defenders, chasing lost causes and in football parlance: 'generally putting himself about a bit'

42. 32'

    Hughes tries a shot from range but Robinson saves with ease

43. 33'

    Smith wins Leeds a freekick after Smith got collared by Kenny Cunnigham.

44. 34'

    Pennant, however, sees fit to deliver quite the worst freekick I've seen this season - utter rubbish straight out of play. He teammates are far from delighted

45. 35'

    Great spell from Birmingham who have a shot cleared of the line by Domi! Mikael Forssell, who has been quiet in the game so far, fired two shots in quick succession but Leeds managed to keep both out

46. 36'

    Corner for City as they turn up the heat

47. 37'

    Again Taylor is the target but Caldwell has him marked tightly and does enough to put off the City defender

48. 39'

    Dangerous for Leeds as Caldwell gives away a freekick in a central position just outside the penalty area

49. 40'

    A fabulous freekick from Grainger hit the post. The ball had bend and dip and was deserving of a goal. After hitting the woodwork it rebounded to Taylor but he could only shoot straight at Robinson who saved!

50. 40'

    This has been a very strong spell for Birmingham who have thrown everything at Leeds.

51. 41'

    Another corner to City, but Leeds clear comfortably - for once

52. 42'

    Leeds have defended resolutely against a considerable onslaught

53. 43'

    Damien Johnson connects with a cross and he heads it goalwards, but it was a difficult chance and he failed to make Robinson work

54. 43'

    The game has been very open and to prove that point Leeds have a corner of their own

55. 44'

    Leeds take it short and try and work an opening, but there is nothing on and Viduka is tackled and the ball his hooked clear

56. 45'

    And that's halftime. A great half of football comes to an end with the scores equal.

57. 45'

    Misses at both ends, goals at both ends and some open free-flowing football. Viduka and Leeds had the best of the opening stages but the home side finished much the stronger. We should have a thrilling second 45minutes coming up so keep it here!

58. 45'

    And we're back underway. A draw not really good enough for either side so we can expect some goal-mouth action this half, especially after the exciting first period

59. 46'

    Caldwell concedes a corner and Grainger prepares to take

60. 46'

    Forssell hits a difficult ball towards the goal but he never really got hold of it

61. 47'

    A lightening quick break for Leeds and Viduka climbs high to meet a Milner cross from the left but Maik Taylor gets across his goal to catch the header

62. 48'

    Leeds scramble a dangerous ball clear and escape but City should have done better and at least had a shot on target

63. 49'

    Leeds press and Milner tries his luck from range after a positive run. he linked well with Smith and the 30 yard drive was on target but Maik Taylor took it comfortably

64. 50'

    Again Milner has the ball and is running at the Birmingham defenders, this time Upson tackles him but Domi picks up the loose ball

65. 51'

    Leeds unhappy with a whistle from the ref against Viduka - once again he and Smith were challenging City's defenders and putting them under pressure

66. 52'

    A half-chance for Birmingham. Forssell held the ball up well for Grainger after a short freekick, but the final ball into the box was poor and Leeds escape

67. 53'

    Lazaridis passes sweetly to Forssell, but Caldwell tackles on the edge of the area.

68. 54'

    Kenny Cunningham slides in on Milner stopping the shot, but it drops to Viduka who tries an overhead kick, but the power is lacking

69. 56'

    Maik Taylor concedes a corner kick after completely missing the ball after it was passed back by Cunningham. Smith was chasing back the lost cause and did just enough to force Taylor to try and clear first time.

70. 57'

    Terrible corner from Leeds. Wasted opportunity.

71. 58'

    Pennant crosses into the box from the right but it is too long, even for Milner on the other flank. But a good spell from Leeds with Smith and Viduka still looking dangerous

72. 59'

    Milner works it down the left flank and whips in a cross towards Viduka, but Cunningham does enough and its a goalkick

73. 60'

    Upson fells Smith and Smith is unhappy

74. 61'

    Leeds work the freekick at speed and a low shot flies in, Taylor spills at first but gathers at the second time just ahead of Milner

75. 62'

    Now Birmingham are on the ball after soaking up Leeds attacks

76. 63'

    Morrison shows his strength to hold up the ball and then slips a pass to Forssell but Matteo time his tackle perfectly

77. 63'

    Viduka tries a snapshot from outside the box, again Taylor snaffles it

78. 64'

    Great opening to the half from Leeds, but if the second period mirrors the first Birmingham might end it the brighter side

79. 65'

    A half-chance for Forssell. Again good strength from Morrisson who fed Forssell, he dribbled past Matteo and Caldwell in the box but put the shot wide

80. 66'

    Goal for Birmingham !!

81. 67'

    Stan Lazaridis shielded the ball in the Leeds box after collecting a long ball before sliding a pass to the on-rushing Bryan Hughes who again was only required to pass the ball home. A well-worked goal and Leeds are 2-1 down.

82. 68'

    Another for Birmingham!!

83. 68'

    Forsesll springs the offside trap after Leeds lost possession in their own half. A nothing ball was pumped forwards and Forssell latched on to it, raced clear and fired home clinically

84. 70'

    Hughes lifts a neat ball into the box looking for Forssell, but his improvised back-header is weak and Robinson has it

85. 71'

    Leeds have been made to pay for failing to transfer their pressure into goal and now the game looks beyond them

86. 72'

    Domi loses the ball by kicking it against the ref and failing to take the re-bound. The Leeds side look shot, bereft of confidence

87. 73'

    Pennant wins a corner of Lazaridis and Stephen McPhail will take it

88. 74'

    Stephen Clemence is on the floor getting some treatment after taking a whack from Caldwell

89. 75'

    Clemence has got a cut under his left eye but is happy to continue

90. 76'

    Lazaridis, who has had a great game, once again collects the ball and moves it forward with purpose

91. 77'

    A change for Leeds Simon Johnson comes on for James Milner who looked tired out after giving a good account of himself today

92. 79'

    Penalty given to Birmingham

93. 80'

    And Forssell sticks it in by hitting it hard and to the left of the net. 4-1. Oh dear Leeds.

94. 81'

    Hughes asked Forssell to let him take the spot kick in order to try and get a Premiership hattrick, but Forssell was having none of that and took the kick himself. Ah, comradeship!

95. 82'

    Another change. This time Morrisson leaves the pitch for City with Stern John on in his place. And also off goes Forssell and Olivier Tebily is on in his place

96. 83'

    Viduka and Smith still scrapping in true Leeds style, but they are seeing so little of the ball that they are really fighting a losing battle

97. 84'

    Approaching five minutes to go and Eddie Gray the Leeds coach looks crestfallen

98. 85'

    Freekick given against an over-zealous Smith

99. 86'

    Lazaridis is clobbered by Kelly - freekick on the right wing

100. 87'

     Lazaridis has it and floats in a good ball looking for Hughes who has now pushed up into an attacking role

101. 88'

     Smith again deemed to have fouled Upson and he looks less than pleased, as you might expect

102. 89'

     Hughes passed to John who tried his luck from outside the box, but his shot was well wide

103. 90'

     Pennant tries to conjure something up but his run comes to nothing wide on the right

104. 91'

     And that's it: Full-time

105. 91'

     The scoreline does not really do justice to Leeds who played well in the opening period of both halves, but they just did not convert their chances. How Viduka must be rueing that miss in the first half which could have put them 2-0 up. While the result flatters City they were the better team and deserved the points.

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