Birmingham City 2-1 Blackburn Rovers: Cameron Jerome Double Gives Birmingham City Deserved Victory

A brace from Birmingham striker Cameron Jerome gave Alex McLeish's side a deserved victory over Blackburn in a tense encounter at St Andrews.

Jerome's goals looked to have tied up the game but a late Ryan Nelsen goal made Birmingham sweat, but they eventually held on for a vital three points.

Birmingham came into tonight’s match on a run of four straight league victories and showed their intent on extending that run by pressing Blackburn in the early stages, and were rewarded with a goal.

James Mcfadden played a short corner to Sebastian Larsson, who whipped a cross in from the right which eventually fell to the feet of Jerome who tapped in from close range to give the home side a deserved lead.

Blackburn couldn’t find any sort of rhythm and were restricted to half chances, with Nikola Kalinic and Jason Roberts both failing to find the target when well placed.

Alex McLeish’s side continued to dominate the play and thought they had extended their lead after 20 minutes. Stephen Carr fizzed in a cross which was poked home by Benitez, but his celebrations were cut short when he was correctly flagged offside.

Blues goalkeeper Joe Hart nearly undone all of his side's good work when he failed to clear El Hadji Diouf’s cross, but Carr was on hand to block Steven Nzonzi’s effort.

Sam Allardyce’s famous route one style was evident as his side bombarded the Birmingham backline with aerial balls, but Birmingham's defensive pairing of Roger Johnson and Liam Ridgewell dealt with them superbly and they went into half-time with a one goal advantage.

Birmingham began the second half much like the first and doubled their advantage on 48 minutes.

Larsson flicked the ball over his head for Carr, who cut the ball back for Jerome, and the Blues frontman finished beautifully by stroking the ball into the bottom right hand corner past Paul Robinson. The striker was booked in the aftermath for celebrating with the crowd behind the goal.

Birmingham were now in cruise control as Blackburn looked out of ideas, summed up by Christopher Samba's pass drifting harmlessly out of play when looking for substitute David Hoilett.

When Sam Allardyce is in charge though a set-piece can change a game at any moment, and thats what happened on 70 minutes.

Morten Gamst Pedersen's free kick was met by Pascal Chimbonda, his volley was well saved by Joe Hart only for Blackburn captain Ryan Nelsen to side foot home the rebound to give the away side some hope.

Allardyce brought on Benni McCarthy for Roberts immediately after the goal to try and freshen up his sides attacking options but with few chances after the goal it was Birmingham who should of put the game to bed on 87 minutes.

A superb counter attack ended with Benitez playing in Jerome who's shot was parried back to the striker by Robinson, Jerome picked out Benitez who somehow managed to hit the crossbar from six yards with the goal at his mercy. One of the misses of the season from the Ecuadorian who still hasn't scored at St Andrews.

Four minutes were added on by the fourth official and Blackburn nearly grabbed an undeserved equaliser. Kalinic met Pedersen's corner at the front post only to see his header hit Sebastian Larsson's face on the goal line.

A frantic finish ended with both sides attacking and Larsson had a shot saved by Robinson in the final seconds.

The final whistle was met with a sigh of relief from the crowd at St Andrews and their side now go up to sixth in the table, Blackburn drop one place to 13th.