At St. Andrews

12th December 2000

Att: 22,911

Sonner, released by the cash-strapped Owls after relegation from the Premiership, saved his best performance in a City shirt for the visit of his old club. He scored his second Birmingham goal after 28 minutes and gave the sort of dominant midfield display that will be needed for the semi-final against either Manchester City or Ipswich.

When Dele Adebola buried a perfect Stan Lazaridis cross 12 minutes into the second half, Birmingham had a lead that a limited-looking Wednesday side never looked like reducing. The home side were rarely second-best to a pass or tackle in a second 45 minutes which they thoroughly dominated.

That was not always the case in the first quarter of the game when there was plenty of goalmouth action to keep the fans warm, though 'Tango Man' and a Birmingham rival in the Main Stand appeared to believe that the topless look was appropriate on this sodden December evening.

The opening 25 minutes were an even affair with Wednesday unlucky not to score with two headed opportunities as well as from Derek Geary's low 25-yard free-kick which Bennett held onto away to his left.

Andy Booth was a physical threat and his eight-minute header was well tipped-over by Blues' goalkeeper Ian Bennett. Ashley Westwood also came close with his near-post header before Birmingham began to take a stranglehold on the game.

After 17 minutes the on-loan Mark Burchill glanced a Lazaridis left-wing cross just wide of the far post with his head as Birmingham used both flanks wisely.

Burchill continues to be the darling of the St Andrews' faithful, and his pace gave Birmingham a different option once Geoff Horsfield was ruled out before kick-off with a groin injury.

The first goal followed, predictably from the wing. Burchill cleverly found his captain Martin O'Connor whose well-flighted cross was ideal for Sonner to climb to head home with a perfect header from 10 yards.

Twice more Birmingham came close to doubling the lead in the first-half. A low corner found Darren Purse 12 yards out but Aaron Lescott was the bodyguard at the far post.

A minute before the break Burchill was well aware of strike-partner Adebola's position and Kevin Pressman saved very well at his near post.

Owls boss Paul Jewell was sent away from his dugout position in first half stoppage time after protesting following the booking of Wednesday midfielder Gerald Sibon as the tackles flew in.

Birmingham came out with fire in the bellies in the second half and barely allowed Wednesday a second on the ball.

Pressman, inconvenienced by a groin injury, had enough presence to psyche out Nicky Eaden after the midfielder was released on goal by Burchill's pass.

Referee Jeff Winter was a busy man. Eaden and the competitive Derek Geary were both cautioned for a 53rd minute fracas, and a minute later Lazaridis became the seventh player to be booked for his reaction to another Geary tackle. Winter booked nine players in all.

Sonner really had the eye for goal and a 66th minute free-kick was tapped to him fully 35 yards out. The Northern Ireland international's drive was hit beautifully but flew inches wide.

For both clubs there are massive derby games coming up at the weekend but neither held back on an energy-sapping surface, until the last quarter when both realised that the result was already set.