Birmingham City 3 Middlesbrough 0

BORO slumped to their second defeat in five days as they lost again at St Andrews, where they have now won just once in 14 visits, writes GORDON COX.

Gareth Southgate made one change from the side which lost against West Ham as Fabio Rochemback returned from suspension to replace Adam Johnson.

Alex McLeish, unhappy with his team's performance in defeat at Bolton in their last match, kept his promise and made changes, three of them.

Out went Rafael Schmitz, Mathew Sadler and Johan Djourou, although the latter was on the bench. Back from suspension came Liam Ridgewell, in came former Boro star Franck Queudrue and striker Mikael Forssell.

Birmingham started at a brisk pace but showed little quality in their application and the first two chances fell to Boro, both to Jeremie Aliadiere.

With just over five minutes played the Frenchman shot low at Maik Taylor from 22 yards, but there was a good build-up to his next chance which came just a couple of minutes later. This time Stewart Downing and Emanuel Pogatetz linked well with Downing pulling a low ball back to Aliadierejust inside the box who again shot low at Taylor, this time from just inside the box.

Boro pressed again down the left and an excellent cross on the run from Downing was perfect for a striker, but no run had been made to match the winger's delivery.

Birmingham composed themselves and set about the task of creating a chance of their own. Fabrice Muamba threaded a low through pass between Boro's midfield and beyond the defence, but it curled out of harm's way, before Mark Schwarzer had to come to the edge of his penalty area to get to the ball just ahead of Muamba who had timed a run well.

The opening goal was scored by Boro with 21 minutes played, but sadly into the wrong net.

Cameron Jerome skipped down the Boro left and easily past Pogatetz, Julio Arca went across to cover but bundled over the Huddersfield-born striker and was shown the yellow card.

Gary McSheffrey swung over the free-kick from between the left-hand edge of the penalty area and the touchline and Stewart Downing sliced past Schwarzer at his near post from the left-hand edge of the six-yard box.

The City fans sang, "There's only one Stewart Downing" as his name was read out as the goalscorer and it was a difficult few minutes for the England man, who was then involved in an altercation after Muamba caught him with a poor challenge.

The way back was going to be difficult but Boro created a half chance when a Downing free-kick was flicked on by Woodgate just up from the edge if the City penalty area and David Wheater, under pressure, curled a low shot at Taylor.

The better football was being played by the Boro and they almost drew level 10 minutes from half-time when Pogatetz won a header in the City penalty area, Taylor was always going to be second best to the ball as Aliadiere won a header and Ridgewell cleared off the line.

Just over five minutes from the break Boro won a free-kick a yard in from the left-hand touchline 30 yards from the goal line. Rochemback swung over an excellent cross but Tuncay's header was straight at Taylor.

As the game switched back into Boro territory George Boateng was felled when a powerful shot 20 yards from goal caught him in a painful place. Possession was contested inside the penalty area and Forssell squeezed in a shot from a tight angle which went into the side netting.

In the final minute of the half, City grabbed a second when Jerome, on the edge of the six-yard box, flicked on a left-wing corner and Mikael Forssell tucked in from the edge of the six-yard box, just beating Arca, who was standing on the goal line. Boro, with all men back in the box, had been undone by Birmingham's seven.

Half-time: Birmingham City 2 Middlesbrough 0

Southgate made two changes during half-time as Wheater and Aliadiere were replaced by Robert Huth and Dong Gook Lee.

A great run from Rochemback deep in the Birmingham half took three players out of the game and his shot from just inside the penalty area was deflected for a corner. But City hit back to win two corners in quick succession.

Downing had switched to the right, with Arca wide left at the start of the second half. The pair caused problems on a quick break with Downing racing clear unmarked down the right. But it was Arca who had possession and he went for goal with a 22-yard drive just clearing the bar.

Twice in quick succession Arca created chances as first his cross intended for Pogatetz was headed behind for a corner, then a chipped ball into the middle was volleyed a yard over by Tuncay from eight yards out.

But Boro were almost caught out when Luke Young was late clearing and Sebastian Larsson pounced 30 yards from goal, skipped past Jonathan Woodgate and shot just wide from the edge of the box.

Downing then swept beyond Larsson just inside the City half and fed Boateng, whose deep cross was contested between Lee and Stephen Kelly, neither managing a touch.

Just past the mid-point of the second half Lee jumped to knock down to Tuncay 22 yards from goal and it took an excellent tip over from Taylor to prevent the Turk's well-struck, swerving effort from reducing the arrears.

City broke to win two corners in quick succession and from the second, Radhi Jaidi headed straight at Schwarzer from seven yards.

Boro hit back and Tuncay took a well-placed ball in his stride but cut back too far from the right, allowing a covering defender to block his shot.

Huth then saw two goalbound shots blocked, before Taylor again produced a fine save to tip over a header from the German.

In the first of three minutes of injury-time Downing saw a shot from inside the penalty area blocked and Lee headed wide just up from the edge of the six-yard box as City kept a clean sheet for the first time since September 22.

In the final minute of the game McSheffrey wriggled his way into the penalty area and was caught by Huth. Gary McSheffrey took the resultant penalty himself and scored with the second last touch of the game. There was just time to kick-off.

Birmingham City: Taylor; Kelly, Jaidi, Queudrue, Ridgewell, Larsson (Nafti 81), Johnson (Capt), Muamba, McSheffrey, Forssell (O'Connor 77), Jerome. Unused subs: Doyle (gk); Djourou, De Ridder.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer; Young, Woodgate, Wheater (Huth 46), Pogatetz, Boateng (Capt), Arca (Johnson 70), Rochemback, Downing, Aliadiere (Lee 46), Tuncay. Unused subs: Turnbull (gk); Shawky.

Referee Rob Styles, Waterlooville, Hampshire.

Bookings

Birmingham City: McSheffrey, 53, foul.

Middlesbrough: Arca, 21, foul; Woodgate, 71, foul.

Attendance: 24,094

Conditions: Cold, damp and still.

Website Boro Man of the Match: Julio Arca