Pandiani heads Blues to win
Walter Pandiani scored his first Birmingham goal as they beat Southampton.
Walter Pandiani may not want to be in the West Midlands, but Birmingham City have cause to be glad he is. The Uruguayan took just 12 minutes to open his Blues account in a 2-1 win against Southampton.Steve Bruce's latest acquisition was joined on the scoresheet by his new strike partner, Robbie Blake, another January signing to score his first Birmingham goal before substitute Henri Camara's debut goal for Southampton.
And an injection of new blood ended a run of three defeats for Birmingham as well as extending their advantage over relegation-threatened Southampton to 11 points.
Notoriously poor travellers, Southampton have had more managers than points away from home this season but Pandiani, exiled from Deportivo la Coruna, adopted to different surroundings rather better.
Combining with his fellow debutant Jermaine Pennant, Pandiani swivelled to shoot wide after eight minutes. Southampton did not heed that warning and, with deadline day signing Olivier Bernard deserting his flank, Pennant motored unchecked down the right flank and crossed.
Pandiani is nicknamed 'the rifle', but it hardly required a bullet header from the unmarked Uruguayan to beat Antti Niemi.
Birmingham were buoyed. Both full backs ventured forward at will - Southampton scarcely occupied them defensively - and, but for the athleticism of Niemi, a beautiful half-volley would have brought Jamie Clapham a first Blues goal.
On the other flank, the marauding Mario Melchiot had already had one penalty appeal rejected when he was upended by Jamie Redknapp. Blake's 13th goal of the season was the consequence.
Birmingham have had a surplus of central midfielders for much of the season, but Pennant's arrival allowed Bruce to field two out-and-out wingers. Both he and Julian Gray had the pace to pose Southampton problems, but concentrated on cutting in to shoot, invariably over Southampton's bar.
Until half time, the visitors looked decidedly one-paced themselves. After a double deadline-day signing, Harry Redknapp may have been Camara-shy when selecting his side, but sent for the Senegalese striker at half time.
It wasn't quite within a flash, but seven minutes into his Southampton bow, Camara's rising shot left Maik Taylor flat-footed.
A one-man comeback was on the cards when a second well-struck effort went past the post a minute after and then when Camara had a goal disallowed, but Birmingham weathered a tense finale.
Had Stephen Clemence shown the finishing prowess of Pandiani after a defensive mix-up between Calum Davenport and Paul Telfer, they wouldn't, but the Uruguayan's remained the greatest impact. Perhaps Birmingham will not be so bad after all.
Click on fixture for player ratings
Birmingham v Southampton
| Birmingham City | Team Statistics | Southampton |
| 2 | Goals | 1 |
| 5 | Shots on Target | 2 |
| 7 | Shots off Target | 3 |
| 1 | Blocked Shots | 1 |
| 6 | Corners | 1 |
| 10 | Fouls | 18 |
| 1 | Offsides | 4 |
| 0 | Yellow Cards | 1 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 56% | Possession | 44% |
 | ||
