Phillips late show stuns Swans

Birmingham snatch 3-2 win at Liberty Stadium

Last updated: 21st November 2008

kevin phillips birmingham

Phillips: At the double for Birmingham

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Birmingham kept the pressure on at the top of the Championship with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Swansea.

Jordi Gomez opened the scoring for the Swans after just two minutes, only for Marcus Bent to equalise in the 42nd minute.

A Radhi Jaidi own goal restored Swansea's advantage just before half-time, but Kevin Phillips came off the substitutes' bench to score twice in the final 20 minutes and seal the points for Birmingham.

Alex McLeish's side got off to the worst possible start when they went behind after two minutes.

Federico Bessone surged down the left before crossing to Gomez who stabbed the ball past goalkeeper Maik Taylor from close range for his fifth league goal of the season.

Taylor then had the woodwork to thank for keeping Gorka Pintado out after the Spaniard's header hit a post after 23 minutes.

Bodde blow

The Swans' efforts suffered a blow after 36 minutes when star midfielder Ferrie Bodde had to be carried off with an injury.

Birmingham then hit back through Bent with a close-range header from Nicky Hunt's cross with three minutes of the first half remaining.

But the hosts regained the lead in injury-time when Jaidi deflected an Angel Rangel cross into his own goal.

Swansea started the second period well and nearly increased their lead after 56 minutes but Mark Gower's 18-yard shot was blocked by Liam Ridgewell in the box.

Bent then sent a free-kick into the Swansea box where Sebastian Larsson headed straight at Dimitrios Konstantopoulos.

Impact

McLeish then brought on Phillips as he looked to give his side a more attacking edge and the striker made an immediate impact by levelling the scores after 74 minutes.

James McFadden, who played for Scotland against Argentina barely 48 hours ago, broke down the left and delivered a pin-point cross into the box where Phillips nodded home to pick up his seventh of the season.

Phillips' eighth of the campaign came five minutes later when he picked up a Bent pass to hammer home from 20 yards.

Martinez called on Jason Scotland as Swansea piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser.

The Trinidad and Tobago striker could not repeat the impression Phillips had made for Birmingham though, and City closed the game out to secure the vital win.