At McAlpine Stadium

6th May 2001

Att: 19,290

Woodhouse twice stole in unannounced and unmarked in the first half to ensure that Birmingham would take somne good form into the play-offs, where they now meet Preston.

Ian Bennett's 85th minute block from point-blank range denied Andy Booth a second goal of the game and confirmed Huddersfield's demotion.

His first came after 21 minutes in which the visitors had barely had the ball in the Huddersfield half. In Stan Lazaridis Birmingham have an ever-potent attacking threat, and his great run inside from the left took out two defenders. The Aussie's clever pass found Woodhouse ghosting in at the edge of the area and the former Sheffield United midfielder had time to compose himself before clipping the ball over Nico Vaesen.

Huddersfield then hit the woodwork twice as they worked hard for an equaliser.

Good play for Craig Armstrong, who hurried an error out of Woodhouse, gave Simon Baldry then chance to measure a cross that fell invitingly at the back post for Thornley who cracked his effort against the post from six yards.

The former Manchester United winger has not scored for 18 months, and when Booth's stretched to head against the post from a long diagonal cross from Thomas Heary one wondered whether Town could find a way to score.

How they did score, just before the break, was through the predictable route. Booth, an aerial threat all afternoon, stooping to touch home at the back post after another great cross from the inconsistent Baldry.

With that being the supposedly ideal time to score, the Terriers fatally relaxed. Out of little danger Woodhouse again appeared on the scene to head home a fine first-time cross from the right by Andrew Johnson.

Within the first minute of the second half Booth headed just wide - again not picked up by either of the two Birmingham centre-backs as Thornley picked him out 12 yards from goal.

Bryan Hughes did well to make a chance for himself after an hour, only for Town goalkeeper Nico Vaesen to cling on to the low shot from 18 yards.

Dean Gorre and Kevin Gallen came on as substitutes, but Huddersfield's lack of creativity continually let them down and Bennett was rarely threatened in the second half. David Holdsworth and Darren Purse ensured that Booth would get no more aerial joy, and in midfield Woodhouse kept snapping away at the Terriers hells.

Hughes did well to track back to deny former Blues man Chris Holland his first of the season after good interplay with Baldry after 82 minutes, and Gorre flashed a volley over from the resultant corner.

As news filtered through of Palace's late winner, panic set in and despite a number of long balls towards the big men into the Birmingham box it was not to be for Huddersfield.