BRAD FRIEDEL: Is there a better keeper in the Premiership right now? One save from Stern John in the second half was truly out of this world...8

LUCAS NEILL: A tidy performance from the former Millwall man. Solid enough defensively and never afraid to get forward when the opportunity arose...7

NISSA JOHANSSON: Another accomplished display from the newly-capped Swedish international. Looks at home as a full-back...7

CRAIG SHORT: Picked up where he left off against Sunderland as Rovers chalked up another clean sheet...7

MARTIN TAYLOR: Deserves an extended run in the team on this kind of form. Calm and assured in a hostile environment...7

TUGAY: Lacked his usual sparkle in midfield probably as a result of his international exertions in midweek...6

DAVID DUNN: Caught the eye in front of the watching Sven Goran Eriksson with a dynamic performance in midfield...7

GARRY FLITCROFT: Made a welcome return after injury, adding some much needed steel in the centre of the park...8

ANDY COLE: Could have had a hat-trick on another day but for once his magic touch in front of goal desserted him...6

DWIGHT YORKE: Silenced the Birmingham boo-boys with a clinical finish to cap an impressive afternoon's work...7

DAMIEN DUFF: Full of energy and invention on the left but could have done better with a couple of golden opportunities in front of goal...7

SUBS: BERG (for Tugay, 58) 6

NOT USED: Grabbi, Hignett, Unsal, Kelly (GK)

OPPOSITE CAMP:

VAESEN...Kept the Blues in the hunt 7

GRAINGER...Dead ball specialist 6

PURSE...A gritty competitor 7

CUNNINGHAM...Strapped for pace on occasions 6

TEBILY...Did okay against Duff 7

HUGHES...Failed to sparkle 6

CISSE...Good player in an average team 8

JOHNSON...Ran his heart out 7

CARTER...Fairly anonymous 5

HORSFIELD...Cart Hors 5

JOHN...Came closest to scoring 6

SUBS: LAZARIDIS (for Grainger, 82), MOONEY (for Horsfield, 85)

NOT USED: Bennett, Eaden, M Johnson

M

STATS:

Goal attempts: Rovers 14 Birmingham 14

Shots on target: Rovers 6 Birmingham 8

Woodwork: Rovers 0 Birmingham 0

Offsides: Rovers 4 Birmingham 6

Corners: Rovers 4 Birmingham 6

Free kicks: Rovers 13 Birmingham 10

REFEREE...Dermot Gallagher (Oxon) 8

Attendance: 27,563

Bookings:

YELLOW CARDS - Rovers: Johansson (foul), Berg (foul) Birmingham: Purse (foul)

RED CARDS - None

TIME FOR ACTION:

13 It's 1-0 as Dwight Yorke turns to fire home from close range after David Dunn's shot is deflected

18 Damien Duff races clear of the Blues defence but Nico Vaesen saves his right-foot shot

28 Stern John connects brilliantly with a corner but his goal-bound volley is blocked by a defender

29 Brad Friedel palms aside a fierce free kick by Martin Grainger

60 Henning Berg sends Stern John sprawling in the box but Dermot Gallagher waves away the Blues' penalty appeals

65 What a save! Friedel somehow claws away a John header which looks destined for the top corner

76 Vaesen makes a block from Andy Cole after the Rovers striker sprang the Blues offside trap

88 Cole fires wide again with only Vaesen to beat

90 Duff can't believe his luck as his right-footer flashes inches wide

TALKING TACTICS

GRAEME Souness recalled Garry Flitcroft in the centre and the skipper's extra physical presence gave Rovers the necessary muscle to seize control in midfield

KEY MOMENT

REFEREE Dermot Gallagher's decision to wave away the Blues penalty appeals when Henning Berg sent Stern John crashing to the floor