Derby 1 - 2 Birmingham

Posted Sunday, February 14, 2010 by BBC.com

Derby 1 - 2 Birmingham
Ridgewell tapped in his third goal of the season to win it at the death

Liam Ridgewell scored a 91st-minute winner as Birmingham came from behind to beat Derby and reach their first FA Cup quarter-final since 2006.

Cameron Jerome and Shaun Barker both went close to opening the scoring in a dour first half shaded by Derby.

After the interval Jay McEveley put the hosts ahead with a powerful effort that Joe Hart could only push into the net.

But Scott Dann headed James McFadden's corner home before Ridgewell poked in after Kevin Phillips had hit a post.

Birmingham had lost their previous two away games but bounced back in spirited fashion to maintain their unbeaten record at Pride Park and book a place in the last eight.

The two-time runners-up are now one win away from a first trip to the new Wembley Stadium, which hosts the semi-finals on 10 and 11 April and the final on 15 May.

Derby might be kicking themselves for failing to hold on to their lead but must quickly re-focus back to the Championship, with the visit of Preston on Tuesday and Swansea on Saturday.

They Rams arrived with only one defeat in their previous seven matches, a sequence in which they saw off Doncaster, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle without conceding a goal.

So it was hardly surprising that they set the tempo early on, knocking the ball around with confidence, putting the visitors on the back foot and probing for a route to goal.

But Birmingham's defence, so solid all season, held firm and as the half wore on the Blues began to look dangerous.

Blues boss Alex McLeish had recalled Sebastian Larsson, James McFadden and Christian Benitez, thus sending out the same line-up which went unchanged for 12 matches before Wednesday's 2-0 defeat at West Ham.

A Lee Bowyer drive was gathered by Stephen Bywater at the second attempt before Jerome's curling effort was expertly palmed around the post for a corner.

Birmingham looked the more likely scorers at that stage but Derby, inspired by former Blue Robbie Savage, were working hard to swing the momentum back in their direction. Derby 1 - 2 Birmingham

Joe Hart saved well at his near post to deny Stephen Pearson and Rob Hulse arrived too fractionally too late after Kris Commons produced a fine solo run and cross from the right.

Derby almost took the lead shortly before half-time when Shaun Barker headed a Robbie Savage free-kick towards goal from about four yards, only for Hart to scramble the ball clear.

But the England goalkeeper arguably should have done better with the goal - McEveley riding a couple of challenges before unleashing a fierce left-footed shot which he could only push into the roof of the net.

Derby, winners in 1946 and bidding to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 1996, went in search of a second but Birmingham kept their composure and repelled all that was thrown at them.

The Blues then set about restoring parity and, after substitute Phillips was superbly denied by Bywater, their reward arrived as Dann out-jumped Barker to power home McFadden's corner.

Birmingham were suddenly stirring and, urged on by their travelling support who heckled the superb Savage all match, they went for the winner.

Derby came under increasing pressure but looked like holding out for a replay until their hopes were dashed a minute into stoppage time.

Phillips controlled fellow-substitute Craig Gardner's scuffed free-kick and shot against the post. As the ball rolled along the goal line, Ridgewell arrived to stab it home and cue Birmingham's celebrations.

Savage went close with a 35-yard drive just before full-time but Derby boss Nigel Clough, whose father Brian Clough never won the FA Cup, will have to wait until next year for another crack of the whip.

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Derby manager Nigel Clough told BBC Radio Derby:
"I thought overall that we deserved at least a replay and we do feel slightly hard done by.

"Stephen Bywater did not have much to do and we created enough situations ourselves when 1-0 up and did not sit back.

"We were as comfortable as anyone can be when facing a team lying eighth in the Premier League but we were undone by two set plays. We look at the two goals and there was certainly an element of bad luck about them both."

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish:
"We looked as if we were on our way out of the Cup. Derby troubled us before half-time and we didn't really get going until we made some changes.

"But once again the team demonstrated the fantastic determination they have produced time and time again this season.

"What we have to do now is maintain our form. If you get cocky and complacent the roof can cave in but we have got a lot of leaders in that dressing room."