UNITED PUT PRESSURE ON BLUES

UNITED PUT PRESSURE ON BLUES

United record second away win on the bounce...

BIRMINGHAM 1 (Macheda 83), UNITED 3 (Smith 58, Pugh 60, Caddis og 78).

Birmingham: Randolph, Caddis, Spector, Thorpe (Gray 90), Hancox, Adeyemi, Reilly (Macheda 61), Huws, Burke, Zigic, Novak (Allan 69). Subs. Doyle, Martin, Lee, Shinnie.

United: Butland, Wootton, Lees, Pearce, Pugh (White 88), Murphy (Mowatt 57), Brown, Tonge, Austin, McCormack, Smith (Hunt 79). Subs. Cairns, Thompson, Stewart, Poleon.

Referee: G Eltringham

Booked: Pearce (Leeds).

Att: 19,861 (2,958 Leeds)

United boss Brian McDermott made two changes to his side for the final away trip of the season. The changes saw Danny Pugh and Matt Smith come into the side in the place of the injured Stephen Warnock and Noel Hunt was named on the bench.

The home side went into the game needing a win as the only thing separating them from the relegation zone was goal difference. The home crowd got behind their team and the first two chances of the match fell Birmingham's way. On five minutes a Lee Novak shot had Jack Butland worried but the ball went wide of the mark. Then, moments later Tom Adeyemi broke forward from midfield but his strike sailed over the crossbar.

The home side kept the pressure on United's back line and following an uncleared corner at the midway point of the half Adeyemi had another sight at goal, but the midfielder blazed his effort over the bar from close range.

Following the 30-minute mark United began to come into the game and enjoyed long spells of possession. United built through the midfield and striker Ross McCormack swung some nice crosses into the penalty area. But the chance of the half fell to Michael Tonge after good work from McCormack and Smith. McCormack played Tonge through but the midfielder's shot was saved well by Darren Randolph.

Although United finished the half as the better side it was Birmingham that had a great chance before the interval. Chris Burke was in space just inside the United box and the winger was only stopped thanks to a good block tackle from Jason Pearce.

The start to the second half was something of a slow burner. United had the better of the play without really threatening Birmingham's goal.

But on 58 minutes United took the lead through Smith. Following his introducing to the game Alex Mowatt spread the play to Tonge, who crossed a brilliant ball for Smith to head United in front.

Then, two minutes later United went further ahead through Pugh. The left sided wing-back capitalised on good build-up play and smashed the ball into the back of the net from inside Birmingham's penalty area.

United's two goals in two minutes left the away side in full control of the game. The home side did very little to get back into the contest and found themselves three goals behind in the 78th minute. McCormack broke forward after he was played through on goal, and instead of shooting himself he went to set up Smith but Birmingham defender Paul Caddis turned the ball into his own net.

Moments later Michael Brown latched onto a loose ball and was in space in the home penalty area, and with Randolph rushing towards him he went for the chip but the ball went just over the bar.

The home side managed to pull one back in the 83rd minute when Birmingham substitute Federico Macheda smashed the ball home to set up an interesting finale.

The home side looked like a different team after Macheda's strike but it proved to be nothing more than a consolation as United kept them at bay during the closing stages. The defeat left Birmingham in the bottom three at the close of play.

The game ended on a sour note as young United midfielder Mowatt had to leave the field on a stretcher.

X