Eaden - 45

           Hughes - 78

At St Andrews

2nd February 2001

Att: 20,724

Match Report

Former Barnsley ace Nicky Eaden was the Blues' goal hero as he struck on the stroke of half-time to seal three points for his side which take them to within four points of second place Bolton.

And the midfielder played a part in Birmingham's crucial second goal twelve minutes from time when he crossed into the path of the inspirational Bryan Hughes, who superbly controlled the ball before sublimely firing past Espen Baardsen.

The win was no more than the Blues deserved after having the better of a scrappy encounter and ensured that the Nationwide Division One manager of the month award that Blues boss Francis has just been awarded did not come back to haunt him.

Worthington Cup fall-guy Andrew Johnson was the main thorn in Watford's side, although the 19-year-old striker will be wondering just how he failed to find the net after missing a string of chances.

Johnson's best chance came after 32 minutes when he found himself in acres of space in the Watford box, but blazed his shot wildly over the bar.

That came just minutes after Birmingham thought they should have had a penalty when Michael Johnson's right foot shot struck Watford captain Robert Page's arm, but their appeals were waived away.

Graham Taylor's side briefly threatened when former Middlesbrough star Neil Cox's 30-yard free-kick was tipped round the post by Blues keeper Ian Bennett on 23 minutes, but in truth they were well below their best.

Birmingham finally broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time when inspirational skipper Martin O'Connor played a ball back to Eaden eight yards out and the midfielder stroked the ball into the bottom left corner.

And the Blues almost doubled their lead after 55 minutes when O'Connor and Andrew Johnson combined well down the right, before Johnson flashed a low drive across the goal-face but no-one was on hand to get on the end of the cross.

The second half continued in the same manner with Birmingham taking the game to Graham Taylor's side and Andrew Johnson looked to have finally scored a well-deserved goal but he was agonisingly inches away from connecting with Hughes' low cross.

But the Blues didn't have to wait much longer to wrap up the points when Hughes brilliantly controlled an Eaden pass, before gliding past Page and calmly stroking the ball past Baardsen for his fifth goal of the season.

Despite the win Trevor Francis' side remain in fourth place but are now just four points behind Bolton with two games in hand, while Watford's defeat means they have now won just one of their last eight league games and leaves them clinging onto the last play-off place.