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Birmingham logo
Championship
Oct 5, 2013 at 12.15pm UK
 
Bolton logo

1-2

Zigic (69')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Beckford (12'), Danns (64')

Live Commentary: Birmingham City 1-2 Bolton Wanderers - as it happened

Read how Bolton Wanderers picked up their first win of the season at the 11th attempt by beating Birmingham City 2-1.
2

Bolton Wanderers were still after their first win of the season when they travelled to Birmingham City in Saturday's lunchtime kickoff in the Championship.

Dougie Freedman's side finally picked up three points at the 11th attempt as two Birmingham errors were punished by the visitors. Nikola Zigic pulled one goal back but the Blues couldn't level.

Read how it all unfolded at St Andrew's in our minute-by-minute updates below.


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Morning all! The first game of the day in England is a battle of the Bs as Bolton travel south to Birmingham. Team news coming right up...

TEAM NEWS! Both managers have gone for unchanged XIs from the midweek round of matches. Full lineups:

Let's take a closer look at those lineups. The man who stands out for Birmingham is Manchester United loanee Jesse Lingard, who scored an incredible FOUR goals in just 53 minutes on his Blues debut against Wednesday. He will sit just behind summer signing Matt Green, who leads the line.

For the Trotters, Jermaine Beckford continues to start in attack while last year's player of the season Chris Eagles remains on the bench.

REFEREE WATCH! The man in charge today is David Coote, who handed out four yellows and a red at Elland Road during Leeds vs. Bournemouth on Tuesday.

Moving briefly away from the Championship, let me point you in the direction of our early Premier League commentary as unbeaten Everton travel to Manchester City. I recommend that you open this link in a new tab and follow Jack Prescott's updates on that one as well.

LAST TIME OUT: When Brum and Bolton met last season they notched a win apiece, with the home side coming out on top in September and December. Unsurprisingly, the Blues are again favourites today.

You can back the Blues at just over evens with the bookies while if you fancy an away upset, Bolton are available at about 23/10.

Going into the match, Bolton are 23rd in the table, only above Barnsley because of the Tykes' poorer goal difference. Birmingham's recent run of good form sees them 17th.

Bolton manager Dougie Freedman tells Sky Sports News that there has been plenty to suggest that their first win is just around the corner.

Birmingham come into this match on the crest of a wave after a dominant 4-0 win over a resurgent Millwall on Tuesday. Bolton, meanwhile, picked up their fifth draw of the season by playing out a stalemate with Blackpool.

PREDICTION TIME! Just five minutes until kickoff at St Andrew's so I best make my prediction. I'm torn between a home win and a draw and am going to side with the hosts to nick it 1-0. Sorry Bolton fans, I don't see that first win coming today.

Here come the two teams out of the tunnel at an overcast St Andrew's. Birmingham's kit this year is predominantly white at the front but blue at the back. Bolton are in their away 'infrared' orange-red kit. It's not great.

It's ever so sparse in the stadium. Bolton have only brought a couple of hundred or so fans.

KICKOFF! We're underway at St Andrew's.

Almost a big chance for Bolton early on as Baptiste bursts forward from left-back before feeding Danns. The midfielder gets his shot all wrong from inside the area but referee Coote had already blown for a foul. Replays show that Burke was tripped up by his own man. Very, very soft.

Play is halted as Adeyemi stays down in the middle. It looks like maybe his right calf is the problem area and he's shaking his head as if he may have to go off. Would be a blow for Clark as the big midfielder has been playing well of late.

Adeyemi has come back on and looks OK to continue.

Danns is brought down to give Bolton a free kick from 30-odd yards. It's laid off for Medo who blasts it powerfully but straight into the wall.

Brightest play of the match and it's great stuff from Burke as he weaves his way forward before squeezing off a shot from 20 yards that takes a nick behind for a corner.

Baptiste trips Burke on the right wing and this is now a great chance to put a good ball in the box. It will be the left foot of Murphy to take...

The left-back curls it towards the back stick where Bogdan could catch but elects to punch clear.

GOAL! BIRMINGHAM 0-1 BOLTON (BECKFORD)

It's a bad, bad goal for Birmingham to concede but Bolton won't care one jot! The Blues had been piling on the pressure in the last few minutes but a clearance is completely misjudged by Burn, allowing Beckford to sprint clear and finish low under Randolph for his first goal of the season.

Birmingham look to respond as Burke wins and then takes a corner that's headed away.

This is the first time I've seen Lingard this season and to be honest he's done very little. Both him and Green have seen hardly any of the ball, with Burke Birmingham's most dangerous player in the early stages.

As it stands, Bolton will be climbing out of the bottom three and up to 20th.

Spearing reverses the ball cleverly into Danns who turns and shoots instantly from 20 yards, but can't trouble Randolph as the ball flies over.

Burke whips over an awesome cross that is begging for Green to get a touch to. The Blues frontman doesn't commit to it though and can only watch as it flashes across the face of goal.

CHANCE! Best opening so far for Birmingham as Burke again crosses from the right to Green, who could go for goal but looks to head down for a teammate but nods it behind everyone. If the number 25 had left the cross completely then Shinnie was coming in behind to finish.

Big call from the referee there as says that Beckford wasn't tripped over on the edge of the area. It sure looked like Robinson clipped his heel and replays confirm that Beckford's back leg was clipped. Awful decision.

YELLOW! First booking of the match goes to Murphy for studding Medo's ankle after slightly overrunning the ball. Bit harsh, that.

They've just kicked off over in Manchester. Here's the link you need if you want to follow our updates on City vs. Everton. I'll bring you news of any goals that go in, don't worry.

Barely any noise coming from the stands at what is now a sunny St Andrew's. The fact that you can hear the managers screaming orders from the touchline is not a good thing.

SAVE! Much better from Birmingham as Burke cuts in from the right before letting Reilly take over. He shoots quickly and curls one towards the corner that Bogdan pushes wide.

Bolton counter instantly and perhaps should have a second. Feeney did brilliantly to charge up the field but didn't get his head up and find Beckford, who was completely unmarked on the right of the area.

Decent cross from the left by Murphy that's heading for Burke at the back post until Baptiste heads clear.

Three minutes added on at the end of the first half.

YELLOW! First Bolton man in the book is Pratley for a nasty challenge from behind on Burke.

UPDATE: Two quick goals at the Etihad means it City 1-1 Everton. Lukaku put the hosts ahead before Negredo instantly equalised. Follow here.

HALF TIME: BIRMINGHAM 0-1 BOLTON

A fairly mundane half comes to an end at St Andrew's with visiting Bolton leading thanks to Beckford's composed finish, his first goal of the season.

It was a horrible misjudgement from Burn that allowed Beckford to streak away. You could argue that Randolph should have done better in goal as well because the shot went in very centrally.

Birmingham tweet that today's attendance is 13,627, with 375 travelling Trotters.

My pre-game prediction of a 1-0 Blues win is already out of the window. I do expect Clark's side to come out firing in the second period though and would be surprised if Bolton manage to leave with the points.

Looking at the stats from the opening period, it was a very even half. Birmingham edged the possession with 55% while both teams had four attempts on goal. Beckford's was the only 'good' chance though and he took it. I do feel that Randolph should have done much better as the ball rolled in right in the middle of the goal.

The two sides are back out for the second half. Neither Clark or Freedman has made a change at the break.

We're now underway in the second period. Here's a snap from the first of Burke and Baptiste, who tussled regularly in the opening 45:

Birmingham's Chris Burke battles for possession with Bolton's Alex Baptiste on October 5, 2013© Getty Images

Burke's at the heart of all good things Birmingham produce. Again it's his excellent delivery from the right that causes problems, with Shinnie just unable to leap high enough to head at goal.

YELLOW! Mills is cautioned for taking out Lingard at full pelt looking to burst into the area. Free kick for the Blues in a great position, just left of centre...

Murphy, who scored a free kick in midweek, takes it but can't get it over the wall.

UPDATE: City have turned it around at the Etihad as Sergio Aguero puts them 2-1 up just before half time.

OFF THE BAR! This could be a huge moment in the match. Feeney cuts in from the right and floats a cross to Beckford, who had peeled off his man, and has a free header. He can only hit the bar though and Birmingham survive. Should have done better there.

BIRMINGHAM SUBS! The Blues instantly make a pair of changes, with strikes Lee Novak and Nikola Zigic on for Shinnie and Green.

AGAIN Burke curls over a great cross. Now he has the giant Croat Zigic in the middle and he meets this one but can't get any power on the header. Lingard picks up the loose ball and lays it off for Adeyemi but his shot is blocked.

GOAL! BIRMINGHAM 0-2 BOLTON (DANNS)

Dear oh dear, another horrible mistake from a Birmingham man gifts Bolton their second. This time it's keeper Randolph who fumbles Feeney's excellent cross to allow Danns the chance to nip and head the ball bravely into the net. Looks like Bolton will be notching their first win of the season at the 11th attempt.

GOAL! BIRMINGHAM 1-2 BOLTON (ZIGIC)

Instant response from the hosts as Burke's deep free kick is headed high by Zigic back over Bogdan and into the net. Novak was in there and may claim it but I think it was already over the line when the other substitute made contact.

BOLTON SUB: Freedman makes a change to shore up the backline with Zat Knight on for Pratley.



BOLTON SUB: Another change from Freedman sees Lee Chung-Yong take the place of Danns, whose goal separates the sides.

CHANCE! Feeney streaks clear down the Bolton right and fires over a low cross that Beckford can't quite reach. Lee keeps it in on the far side but can't carve out another chance and Birmingham survive.

BIRMINGHAM SUB: Clark takes off two-goal man from midweek Murphy for Paul Caddis. A little over 10 minutes for the home side to grab an equaliser.

Beckford has a glimpse of goal as he takes on a bouncing ball from 25 yards but can only volley high and wide of the goal.

BOLTON SUB: That's his last contribution as he limps off, with Craig Davies taking his place to spearhead the visitors' frontline.

Fine deep cross from Reilly that forces Baptiste into a safety-first clearance for a corner, which doesn't come to anything.

CHANCE! Burke has been man of the match so far today and does brilliantly again to beat his man and dink to the back post where Zigic heads at goal. It may not have beaten Bogdan but Baptiste clears it away anyway. Moments later the hosts want a penalty as Reilly's volley is clearly blocked by Feeney's arm. It was only a yard or so away but the Bolton man did have his arms well away from his body.

FOUR minutes of time added on for the Blues to snatch a leveller.

Bolton are seeing this one out just fine at the moment. There's been little to spark hope of a Blues comeback and we're moments away from a first win of the season for Freedman's men. (I think).

FULL TIME: BIRMINGHAM 1-2 BOLTON

Indeed it is a first maximum for the Trotters and what a relief to finally get it.

Three points see Bolton rise up to 20th in the table. Birmingham remain 17th but could tumble down if results go against them this afternoon.

Anyway, that's all we've got time for on this commentary. Make sure you stick around on site for a busy Saturday afternoon of footy. We have live coverage of every Premier League match while the feature game in the Championship sees Donny face Leicester. Updates on that one begin at 2.30pm so look out for that!

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Birmingham manager Lee Clark looks on during the match against Watford on August 3, 2013
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Preview: Birmingham vs. Bolton
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Wycombe WanderersWycombe14102232161632
2Birmingham CityBirmingham1393124121230
3Wrexham1584322111128
4Stockport CountyStockport167632617927
5Barnsley157532419526
6Lincoln CityLincoln157532117426
7Mansfield TownMansfield137332015524
8Huddersfield TownHuddersfield147252114723
9Exeter CityExeter147251410423
10Reading147252221123
11Bolton WanderersBolton147252224-223
12Peterborough UnitedPeterborough156363127421
13Charlton AthleticCharlton145451515019
14Bristol Rovers155371621-518
15Stevenage155371116-518
16Northampton TownNorthampton154561821-317
17Rotherham UnitedRotherham154561418-417
18Blackpool154562128-717
19Wigan AthleticWigan143561212014
20Leyton Orient144281418-414
21Crawley TownCrawley163491427-1313
22Cambridge UnitedCambridge143291324-1111
23Burton Albion141581525-108
24Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury1522111327-148


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