Dugarry ensures Blues' survival with timely arrival

Birmingham City 3 Middlesbrough

A fifth goal in four matches from Christophe Dugarry was the catalyst as Birmingham City earned the point that ensured Premiership football next season, and how they would want to play Middlesbrough every week.

Minor mitigation for Boro's ineptitude was Juninho's absence with a hamstring injury. Michael Ricketts and Malcolm Christie began up front for Steve McClaren's side.

Birmingham's Steve Bruce kept faith with the line-up responsible for Monday's 3-2 home win over Southampton, with midfielder Robbie Savage and central defender Kenny Cunningham recovered from ankle and groin problems respectively.

The Blues began full of confidence,Dugarry parading his repertoire of tricks, though he should have done better with an early header, saved easily by Mark Schwarzer, as might Savage have done with a wild volley from 20 yards.

Then, on 18 minutes, pressure turned into a tangible asset as Dugarry struck, beating the offside trap to run onto a pass from Stephen Clemence. He took the ball down on his knee and volleyed low past Schwarzer into the corner of the net.

Boro's riposte was as misplaced as much of their passing, as George Boateng – booed at every opportunity by home fans along with former Aston Villa colleagues Gareth Southgate and Ugo Ehiogu – crudely challenged Dugarry, yet escaped a yellow card.

Joseph-Desiré Job tried to slip the ball into Ricketts' path as Boro embarked on a rare attack, but Ian Bennett was quickly out to gather.

Moments later, five minutes before the break, City were two up. Dugarry was chopped down 20 yards from goal and Clemence drilled the free-kick low past Schwarzer for his second goal for the club.

Save for a Ricketts effort headed off the line by Bryan Hughes in first-half stoppage time, Boro had provided their fans with famine rations.

Little changed after the break. Bennett was called into action on just one occasion, beating out Christie's shot. Boateng's header from the resulting cross sailed over.

All that was left was for Stan Lazaridis to seal Blues' win with an 80th-minute far-post header from Savage's cross.

With 21 points from nine matches Birmingham are five points ahead of Villa with two games to play. Happy times indeed at St Andrew's.

Birmingham City 3 Middlesbrough 0
Dugarry 18, Clemence 40, Lazaridis 80

Half-time 2-0 Attendance: 28,821