Birmingham leave with Boxing Day points

Wednesday's grim Christmas period continued on Boxing Day when a 77th minute Geoff Horsfield goal allowed Birmingham to leave Hillsborough with all three points. Their league form of late has been dismal, despite having beaten Watford 4-0 to advance to the Semi-Finals of Worthington League Cup. Terry Yorath's side have now won just once in their last nine league encounters - and as a result the Owls now find themselves in the bottom three.

The Boxing Day result was a huge disappointment for the majority of the 24,355 crowd, Wednesday's biggest turnout since the Sheffield derby game back at the beginning of October.

Yorath drafted in new signing Marlon Broomes to play out of position at left-back, with Phil O'Donnell out injured. Ashley Westwood and Danny Maddix marshalled the centre of defence, whilst Irish youngster Derek Geary kept his place at right-back. The only other change from the team that took the field at The Hawthorns last week was Simon Donnelly starting instead of Paul McLaren.

It was nearly a nightmare start for Wednesday when Australian international Stan Lazaridis fired just over in the very first minute, after Kevin Pressman had failed to clear the ball properly first time around.

A minute later Pressman again had to be on his toes, this time it was former Sheffield United man Curtis Woodhouse who burst through the Owls defence, only to be thwarted by the veteran shot stopper. It was a quiet first half in general - Danny Maddix had a header blocked well by Blues keeper Ian Bennett in the 12th minute, whilst Nigerian striker Efan Ekoku would have been kicking himself at his miss five minutes later. The 'Chief' was put through on goal by Simon Donnelly but the 34 year old wasted the chance. It was to be an off day for the man who has nabbed six goals in 15 appearances so far this season.

Birmingham threatened to take the lead just before half-time when Horsfield turned defender Danny Maddix before setting up Tommy Mooney. However, the Blues' striker could only direct his shot straight at Pressman from a tight angle.

Half-time: Owls 0-0 Birmingham

The second half was a more lively affair but still there was a lack of goalmouth action at both ends. Jon McCarthy headed over from a Lazaridis cross, whilst Steven Haslam's 25 yard shot was saved easily by Bennett. The 21 year old is still looking for his first senior goal at the club, despite having made some 74 appearances for the Owls.

One goal was always going to be enough to win this one and with 13 minutes left on the clock Birmingham struck the killer blow. Tom Mooney picked out Geoff Horsfield, who turned Ashley Westwood inside out before side-footing the ball past Kevin Pressman.

The Owls threw men forward in the final ten minutes in search of an equaliser, but there was not one to be found. The closest they came was a lob by skipper Trond-Egil Soltvedt, whose shot landed on top of the net instead inside it.

Norwich City visit Hillsborough this Saturday in what will be Wednesday's last game of 2001 - three days later the Owls travel to Deepdale to play Preston North End in the first game of 2002.