Mooney penalises Palace

Birmingham City 1 Crystal Palace

With Steve Bruce waiting in the wings ahead of his expected appointment as manager today, Birmingham denied former manager Trevor Francis a triumphant return to his old stamping ground when Tommy Mooney's second-half penalty provided a scrappy contest with its decisive moment.

The former Watford striker drove home his eighth goal in a Birmingham shirt after Stan Lazaridis had been brought down. That and a red card for the Palace substitute Tommy Black spoiled the night for Francis, who had been given a hero's welcome as he walked to the dug-out before the start.

Francis was dismissed by Birmingham two months ago but his return to St Andrews so early in his Palace reign was only one element in the sub-plot to last night's game, which marked the end of the Bruce saga almost seven weeks after the former Manchester United captain offered his resignation from the job Francis now occupies. His attempt to quit Selhurst Park in early November was rejected by the Palace chairman, Simon Jordan, who suspended him from his duties while threatening to hold him to the nine-months notice period written into his contract, obtaining a High Court injunction for good measure.

That bizarre stand-off was always likely to be ended once compensation terms with Birmingham were agreed and, a deal having been met, last night's meeting of new and former employers was the only bridge to be crossed before Bruce could be placed in charge at St Andrews with the consent of all parties. He takes over with his new side well in contention after winning five and drawing four of the 12 matches since Francis departed. Jim Barron and Mick Mills, the interim management team, will hear today if they are to have jobs under the new regime.

Palace, suffering in the absence of injured top scorer Clint Morrison, fell behind after 63 minutes when the penalty was awarded against Christian Edwards. Despite the background to the match, tempers stayed under control until Black's foul on Mooney prompted referee Tony Leake to show the red card.

Birmingham City (4-4-2): Bennett; Fleming, Purse, Vickers, Burrows; Eaden, O'Connor (Hyde, h-t), Luntala, Lazaridis; Marcelo, Mooney. Substitutes not used: Vaesen (gk), Grainger, Horsfield, A Johnson.

Crystal Palace (3-4-3): Kolinko; Edwards, Symons, Mullins; Smith (Austin, 85), Riihilahti, Rodger (Black, 72), Gray; Kabba (Thompson, 61), Kirovski, Freedman. Substitutes not used: Hateley (gk), Harrison.

Referee: A Leake (Lancs).