At St. Andrews

18th November 2000

Att: 19,641

An inspirational double substitution from manager Trevor Francis transformed the match and enabled Birmingham to chalk up a much-needed win to keep them in the promotion hunt.

With only five points from their previous five games Birmingham were desperate for a win, but Burnley were lively opposition for the entire 90 minutes.

With a little more luck Burnley could have built up a first-half lead. However, they were torpedoed by the half-time introduction of Dele Adebola and Stan Lazaridis.

It was Lazaridis who cleverly created the opening goal after 47 minutes with a low pass into the six-yard box which the waiting Adebola stroked home unchallenged.

Boosted by this goal, Birmingham struck again three minutes later.

On this occasion it was skipper Martin O'Connor who found himself unmarked near the penalty spot. He calmly chested down a high cross from newcomer Richard Edghill and slotted the ball into the net.

The Clarets, who had moved up to fourth place, were obviously put out of their stride but they quickly regrouped and, following four successive corners, defender Ian Cox headed home his first goal of the season in the 61st minute following a cross from Micky Mellon.

Birmingham should have sealed the win when big- money signing Geoff Horsfield carelessly blasted his shot wide after being put clear by Bryan Hughes.

But in the 85th minute a glancing header from the ever-dangerous Adebola opened up Burnley's defence and the on-loan Mark Burchill blasted a left-footed shot into the roof of the net.

Burnley kept plugging away and two minutes from time substitute Paul Weller nonchalantly chipped home after Paul Robinson's shot had been blocked.