Birmingham City 2-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers: Super-sub Kevin Phillips grabs late brace to give Blues victory

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Kevin Doyle had put Wolves ahead just before half time, but Phillips' late heroics were enough to give the Blues all three points in a fiery encounter at St. Andrew's.

These two promoted sides came into this Midlands derby wanting points for different reasons. After their superb recent run, Birmingham were looking for three points to take them back into the European picture, however Wolves began the match in the relegation zone and needed something from this game in their bid for survival.

Birmingham dominated the game in the early stages but just couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net.

James McFadden showed the home side's attacking intent by firing a shot goalwards in the opening minutes, but defender Stephen Ward was in the right place to head the ball clear.

After six minutes the lively McFadden delivered the ball into the penalty area, and after Marcus Hahnemann left himself in no man's land, Liam Ridgewell flicked the ball on for Cameron Jerome, but his goalbound effort was headed clear by Michael Mancienne.

The home side kept up the frantic pace of the match and clocked up six corners after just fifteen minutes. But their constant pressure was weathered well by Wolves who eventually managed to claim a foothold in the game.

Birmingham couldn't maintain the pressure and after a fiery opening to the half the game turned into a scrappy affair with both sides struggling to create any clear chances.

After all their early pressure Alex McLeish’s side were made to rue their poor finishing when Kevin Doyle broke the deadlock for Wolves after 42 minutes.

Matt Jarvis crossed a ball in from the left hand side which was only half blocked by Roger Johnson, the ball deflected off the defender and hit the foot of the post and landed kindly at the feet of Doyle, and the former Reading man made no mistake by prodding the ball home from close range to give the away side the lead.

Birmingham should have had the chance to level the match in first half stoppage time, but were denied a clear penalty after Ronald Zubar’s push on Liam Ridgewell was seen as a fair challenge by referee Lee Probert. Replays showed that Birmingham definitely had a case and were very unfortunate not to have a penalty.

Wolves were clearly buoyed by their lead as the second half began, goalscorer Doyle looking particularly lively by flashing a shot just wide of Hart's post.

It was a very open game with both sides having their own spells of attacking play, however McCarthy's side were stubborn in defence and were happy to soak up Birmingham's pressure and continue to play on the counter attack.

Striker Chucho Benitez limped off to be replaced by Kevin Phillips on the hour mark, after a crunching tackle from Hahnemann left the frontman in a lot of pain.

Even with a predator like Phillips on the pitch, the Blues simply weren't creating enough to get back in the game, as Wolves' defensive resistance continued to be superb.

It was in fact Wolves who looked the most likely to score the second goal of the game, with new signing Adiene Guedioura testing Joe Hart before unleashing a piledriver of a shot from 25 yards which flew inches over the crossbar.

After a majestic defensive performance for 80 minutes, Wolves defence finally crumbled as Phillips grabbed the equalising goal.

Keith Fahey's deep cross was met by new signing Craig Gardener, who headed the ball back across goal for the veteran Phillips who did what he has been doing his whole career, and turned the ball in from six yards, to the relief of St. Andrews.

It was all Birmingham now with ball after ball coming into the Wolves penalty area, and super -ub Phillips wasn't content with just one goal, and he gave Birmingham the lead with four minutes remaining.

Stephen Carr flew down the right hand side and picked out Phillips in the box, and in a crowded penalty area the striker somehow managed to cushion the ball down with his chest and volley the ball into the bottom left hand corner all in one swift movement.

An absolutely fantastic goal from the 36-year-old, which ensured Alex McLeish was wearing a cheeky smile during his celebration of the goal after a match-winning substitution.