Birmingham 2 Wigan 0: Birmingham breathed new life into their Premiership survival fight with their biggest win of a sorry, sorry season.
The Blues emerged decisive and deserved victors thanks to a dogged performance illuminated by the silky skills of Jermaine Pennant. So often a frustrating presence on the right flank, Pennant ran Wigan ragged and even opened his Premiership account for the season to put Birmingham on the road to their success.
And, while the win has not lifted Steve Bruce's side out of the bottom three it at least provides some justification to the Blues boss' belief that with the right additions during this month's transfer window, top flight status can still be preserved.
Bruce must have hoped it was going to be his day when Matthew Upson was passed fit less than 48 hours after the England defender was ruled out for a month with a twisted ankle. Given their chronic lack of goals this season, Birmingham's defensive effort could hold the key to the Blues chances of maintaining their present lofty status and in the nervy early stages, Bruce was glad to have Upson around.
Once Birmingham had survived those opening wobbles as Henri Camara and Jason Roberts tried to outpace them as they have done to so many unsuspecting opponents this season, the hosts quickly grew into the game, and none more so than Pennant.
The former Arsenal winger's career has been littered with off-field problems and he is still to find the on-pitch consistency Arsene Wenger thought would eventually turn him into a top-class star. But Pennant definitely has talent and after bringing the home fans to the point of mutiny with one woeful free-kick which sailed high over the Wigan crossbar, he had them on their feet again after 20 minutes but this time for all the right reasons.
Jiri Jarosik's deep cross from the left flank was a good one but still left Pennant with plenty to do. Yet, after dropping away from the attentions of marker David Wright, Pennant rose to send an inch-perfect header back across goal which crashed in off the inside of Mike Pollitt's post.
The release of tension was palpable, not just in the stands but on the pitch as well. Suddenly, Birmingham were playing with a freedom absent from their game for so long.
Crucially, a semblance of good fortune also returned. On most occasions this season, when Muzzy Izzet fired a shot goalwards after Wigan had failed to clear a corner, the deflection would have gone either out of play or straight to a member of the visiting line-up. This time, it arrived at Mario Melchiot's feet and from five yards the injury-plagued Dutchman, who failed to re-appear for the second period, prodded home his first goal of the season.
Birmingham should have had another before the break but Pennant failed to show the vision to match his speed and opted to race on alone rather than feeding Emile Heskey. The attack was ended by a sliding Josip Skoko tackle which television replays indicated warranted a penalty, although Pennant's appeals would have been more convincing had he not been so greedy.
Bruce must have feared a fast start to the second period from the visitors but instead was left worrying about a mounting number of missed chances as Pennant continued to weave his magic. The worst, by far, was Heskey's failure to make anything like a positive connection with a volley when substitute Martin Taylor nodded a Pennant free-kick into the burly striker's path when he was totally unmarked. It was almost embarrassing to watch Heskey swivel in despair as the ball bobbled forward lacking sufficient power even to reach the goalline. The miserable effort should really have roused Wigan to greater efforts but, after Saturday's comprehensive home defeat by Blackburn, it appears temporarily at least, the Latics have run out of steam.
It is a situation which will frustrate Paul Jewell, who is about to lose Camara to African Nations Cup duty, but, as he prepares for the struggle ahead, how Bruce must wish for the comfort Wigan have earned themselves with their amazing start to Premiership life.
