FA Cup 5th Round
Birmingham City v Sheffield Wednesday
St Andrews
19/2/2011
Blues Wembley Bound Again?
3 was the magic number as Birmingham disposed of visitors Sheffield Wednesday and head for the FA Cup quarter final.
It took just 6 minutes for Birmingham to dampen the traveling Yorkshire fans mood at St Andrews, as Jean Beausejour, unmarked at the back post, turned in Lee Bowyer's pulled back cross.
10 minutes later the Blues added a second, Obafemi Martins opening his account for the club after Alexander Hleb released the Nigerian international half way up the pitch before avoiding Michael Morrison's challenge and slotting home past a helpless Weaver.
The third and final blow came just after the break when Bowyer did just enough to prevent Weaver from collecting what should have been a routine corner, the lose ball being fired home by a waiting David Murphy
Birmingham swithched into curse control as the visitors pushed on in a vain attempt to bring themselves back from the brink. Neil Mellor had chances blocked either side of the break and sub Liam Palmer managed to fire one straight down the throat of Colin Doyle but this would be the most the Birmingham number 2 goalie would be called upon until the final touch of the game when Clinton Morrison's header flew past his left hand post.
The Blues could have finished the first half with three or four but Nicky Weaver in the Wednesday goal kept the Yorkshire men in the tie thanks to his save from Ireland international Keith Fahey's freekick, while Cameron Jerome continued his goal drought missing from 4 yards out after Lee Bowyer was ale to fire a low cross to the near post.
Birmingham didn't dominate the League One side, and a stronger opponent might have made them pay considering the amount of possession Wednesday had after Birmingham got their third, but the Blues will be pleased with this win that sees them ease into next round of the FA Cup.
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