FA Cup

[monks data]

FA Cup | Fourth Round

Jan 24, 2015 at 3pm UK

Birmingham Birmingham City
1-2
West Brom West Bromwich Albion

Grounds (45')

FT(HT: 1-2)

Anichebe (25', 35')

Half-Time Report: Victor Anichebe brace hands West Bromwich Albion advantage

By Kristian Johnson, Reporter | 24 January 2015

Victor Anichebe scores twice to hand West Browmich Albion a 2-1 half-time lead over local rivals Birmingham City in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Two goals from Victor Anichebe in the space of 10 first-half minutes have given West Bromwich Albion a 2-1 lead over Birmingham City at half time of their FA Cup fourth-round tie at St Andrew's.

Victor Anichebe of West Brom celebrates scoring the opening goal during the FA Cup Fourth Round match between Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion at St Andrews on January 24, 2015 © Getty Images

Saido Berahino, who scored four times in West Brom's 7-0 third-round win over Gateshead Town, almost broke the deadlock after 10 minutes, but his rising left-footed strike from the edge of the area flew narrowly wide of the near post.

David Cotterill then stung the hands of Boaz Myhill at the other end with a swerving strike from long range, having stepped in from the right flank.

West Brom took the lead in the 25th minute when Berahino slipped the ball through for Anichebe, who snuck the ball inside Darren Randolph's near post from 12 yards.

The forward then doubled his tally as he backed into his marker on the edge of the box before spinning and firing a shot inside the far post.

Anichebe spurned the chance to net a first-half hat-trick with a poor finish inside the area, and Birmingham grabbed a goal back on the stroke of half time when Jonathan Grounds flicked home Lloyd Dyer's left-wing cross.