Grainger - 43

                      Stewart - 57

    Horsfield - 56, 103

    A. Johnson - 116

Blues win 4 - 2 on agg. after extra time.

At St Andrews

31st January 2001

Att: 28,624

At last Midlands football takes centre stage. Birmingham City have reached their first major cup final for 38 years.

Birmingham City will face Liverpool in the Worthington Cup Final on February 25 at Cardiff's Millenium Stadium and are one game away from a place in Europe.

No doubt about it this was a stunning performance by the Blues who outplayed their high-flying Premiership rivals to overcome a 1-0 deficit from the first leg of this semi-final.

But if teams could win matches on the basis of their support, Birmingham City would never have to worry again.

In this second-leg match of the Worthington Cup semi-final against Ipswich, the atmosphere was electric.

The noise from Kop Corner seemed to add an extra Blues man to the pitch - whatever it was, Blues took the early initiative and stunned the Premiership outfit early on with an attacking onslaught.

In the first half, Birmingham were the better team by a mile.

In only the second minute Nicky Eaden shot over the bar following a free-kick from goalkeeper Ian Bennett.

Ipswich, beaten in four of their last five away games, had to soak up a great deal of pressure and they were often indebted to some sterling work by their defender Mark Venus.

But they could count themselves fortunate to keep their first leg goal intact when a looping cross found Stan Lazaridis at the far post.

The in-form Australian headed the ball back towards Adebola but Jim Magilton intercepted and in the process gave away a corner.

With such a hectic start, tempers quickly became frayed as a result of some reckless tackling.

Ipswich's Richard Naylor was booked by referee Jeff Winter in the fifth minute for a late challenge on Darren Purse.

Shortly afterwards Dele Adebola, Blues' cup hero in earlier rounds, wasted his opportunity after being put into a clear scoring position by the industrious Eaden.

On a pitch which was cutting up badly Blues continued to pressurise Ipswich in their attempt for the goal which would get them back into the tie.

Hail Martin Grainger, Blues' goal-scoring hero against Division One leaders Fulham on Saturday, scored a well-deserved goal in the 43rd minute.

The second half exploded in dramatic fashion after some intensive attacking play from Ipswich.

Unlike the first half, the visitors switched to attack in an attempt to grab the upper hand.

But the tactic backfired in the 55th minute when striker Geoff Horsfield sent the home fans wild with delight with the Blues' second goal of the game.

Once again the goalmaker was the powerfully built Adebola who cleverly put Horsfield in position.

The former Fulham striker hit a low shot which was blocked by the advancing Richard Wright.

But the Birmingham striker coolly hit another low left footed shot into the net in the 55th minute to put the home side into the lead for the first time in the two legs.

However, Birmingham's joy was short lived as Ipswich, showing great character, immediately hit back to snatch a vital goal and to go ahead on the away goal advantage.

Marcus Stewart who scored the only goal in the first leg from the penalty spot, smashed a shot against Ian Bennett and from the rebound the Ipswich substitute James Scowcroft netted from about eight yards.

This was a body blow for brave Birmingham and for a spell they were obviously deflated as Ipswich, boosted by the goal and the prospect of making the final against Liverpool, began to play in a more cultured and confident style.

Blues gallantly attempted to progress into the final with a concentrated attacking spell in the final 10 minutes of normal time.

Horsfield agonisingly watched an angled shot from the left hit the cross bar and seconds later the Birmingham striker forced Richard Wright to make a point blank save to keep Ipswich in the game.

The game was on for a nail-biting finish as extra time approached.

Striker Geoff Horsfield had not quite lived up to fans' expectations since his transfer from Fulham last summer, but his second goal in the first period of extra time must surely have endeared him to the Bluenoses.

What an important time to score and it still wasn't finished. Blues found the passion and energy to wrap the tie. 

And when Andrew Johnson tapped the ball in to the back of the net after it bobbled badly for Wright with only three minutes to go, the Brummies were home and dry.

Bring on the Reds!