Birmingham City 1 Manchester City 0The much-maligned Emile Heskey went a long way towards endearing himself to his new club's supporters last night by scoring the goal that secured Birmingham's first win of the new season.
The strike, a header early in the game, also left Kevin Keegan's team without a victory to their name. Moreover, Manchester City's lacklustre display only strengthend the expectation that another season of struggle is in the offing.
There was such an air of the gung-ho about Birmingham's line-up that it appeared Steve Bruce had swapped dressing rooms with Kevin Keegan.
Two players, who began their careers as wingers, Stan Lazaridis and Julian Gray, were deployed down Birmingham's left flank, while another wide player, Damien Johnson, partnered Muzzy Izzet in central midfield.
But this was more a case of needs must for Bruce; injuries had deprived him of David Dunn and Jamie Clapham, while Robbie Savage was suspended. The ban for Savage removed what would have been an an intriguing and fractious sub-plot, given Danny Mills's presence for the opposition.
At least the absence of the Wales midfielder allowed Mills, who was playing in the centre of the visitors' defence, to concentrate fully on his job.
Birmingham went ahead with their first attack, but this was not before Nicolas Anelka squandered a straightforward chance to give Keegan's men the lead in the third minute. Set up by Shaun Wright-Phillips after England's latest midfielder had used his pace to take the ball to the byline before pulling it back into his path, Anelka responded with an air shot.
It was the type of error that, somewhat harshly, has become synonymous with Heskey. The Birmingham striker, however, exuded competence and confidence in putting his new club ahead after eight minutes.
Heskey, making light of Sylvain Distin's firm but futile attempt to knock him off balance, rose to head Lazardis's looping cross past David James. It was Heskey's first goal for Birmingham; the last time he was here, in May, he struck for Liverpool against his future team-mates.
John misseed the chance to increase his side's advantage. Put clear by Matthew Upson's clearance, and one on one with James, John's shot was poorly directed.
BIRMINGHAM CITY: Maik Taylor, Melchiot, Upson, Cunningham, Lazaridis (Clemence 59), Gronkjaer, Johnson, Izzet, Gray, Forssell (Tebily 79), Heskey (John 54). Subs Not Used: Bennett, Martin Taylor. Booked: Izzet. Goal: Heskey 8.
MANCHESTER CITY: James, Jihai, Mills, Distin, Thatcher, Wright-Phillips, Bosvelt (Barton 79), Reyna, Sibierski (Sinclair 57), Fowler (Macken 79), Anelka. Subs Not Used: Stuhr-Ellegaard, Bischoff. Booked: Mills.
Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire).
