Blues sink poor Boro

Action: Stewart Downing on the charge

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Birmingham City picked up three crucial points with a comfortable 3-0 win over Middlesbrough at St Andrews.

An own goal from Stewart Downing gifted Alex McLeish's side the lead and Mikael Forssell added to their woes with a second on the stroke of half-time after some dreadful defending.

Boro improved slightly after the break and Tuncay was denied by a spectacular full length save from Maik Taylor.

But Garry McSheffrey was brought down in added time by Robert Huth and the midfielder stepped up to slot in a third as Boro slipped to 16th spot in the table.

Opportunity

Gareth Southgate's side were actually the quickest to settle and it was they who created the first opportunity when Emanuel Pogatetz weaved his way into the box.

The ball was pulled back to Jeremie Aliadiere on the edge of the area but the Frenchman could only shoot tamely at Taylor.

After a slow start, Birmingham began to come into the game after a Sebastian Larsson free-kick forced George Boateng into an awkward clearance over his own bar.

Mark Schwarzer had a moment of alarm in the Boro goal when he lost the ball under pressure from Fabrice Muamba but recovered.

But there was nothing the Australian keeper could do as Birmingham claimed the lead after a McSheffrey free-kick in the 22nd minute.

Clumsy

Julio Arca was booked for a clumsy challenge on Cameron Jerome on the right and McSheffrey's resulting set-piece was diverted past Schwarzer by Downing.

Downing tried to make amends with a long-range shot after breaking clear down the left but Taylor was equal to his optimistic effort.

Tuncay, who worked tirelessly throughout, had Boro's best chance of the first half when he headed a Fabio Rochemback free-kick straight at Taylor.

Birmingham went close to a second just before the interval when Forssell fired into the side-netting after Boro missed several opportunities to clear.

But Boro failed to learn the lesson and Forssell turned in a second from close range after Jerome flicked a Larsson corner across the face of goal.

Forssell found the net again early in the second half but the Finn was ruled offside from a McSheffrey header.

McSheffrey caused the visiting defence a number of problems and Schwarzer needed to tip a tricky cross over his own bar.

Indecision

More indecision in the Boro box almost allowed the Blues in again but the ball fell kindly for Schwarzer.

Having struggled to make an impression, Boro at last started to enjoy a good spell midway through the second half although a shot by Arca flew well over.

Tuncay was unable to keep a shot down after good work from Arca on the edge of the box.

Larsson went close for Birmingham just before the hour as the referee played advantage following a push on Jerome by Woodgate but he fired woefully wide.

Tuncay then tested Taylor for the first time with an effort from 25 yards but the Northern Ireland goalkeeper spectacularly palmed over.

As chances began to open up at both ends, Jaidi got in a powerful header but Schwarzer caught well.

Taylor did well to tip over a header from Robert Huth but flapped at the resulting corner and had to depend on his defenders to clear.

Jaidi also survived a penalty claim as the ball flicked his arm during a clumsy attempt at a clearance.

Yet Birmingham were awarded a spot-kick after Huth and Rochemback combined to bring down McSheffrey in stoppage time. McSheffrey coolly finished the job with the last kick of the game.