Steve Bruce's week of misery ended in predictable defeat at Manchester United as his old club nudged his current one another step nearer the dreaded drop.

The biggest crowd for 86 years to witness United in action at Old Trafford paid due homage to a man who served the Red Devils with such distinction but left knowing Birmingham are perilously close to losing their top flight status.

It was not so much the margin of defeat, which did not come close to the seven-goal mauling the Blues suffered at Liverpool's hands in midweek, more the lack of penetration and numerous defensive lapses that will concern Bruce the most.

Having gone in front after just two minutes courtesy of a Maik Taylor own goal, Alex Ferguson was probably disappointed United only added two more to their tally through Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney.

That they did not was more due to their own laxness in possession rather than any stout defensive work on Birmingham's part and if Emile Heskey continues to squander the type of chance he did late on, it is hard to see how Birmingham are going to escape.

The Blues have never scored a Premiership goal at Old Trafford, let alone managed a win, so given his side's perilous plight damage limitation must have been the name of the game for Bruce on his return to the ground where he enjoyed so much success during his playing days.

By the standards of their Liverpool humiliation, the wait of 130 seconds to concede a goal was something of an improvement for the Blues.

It was probably little consolation to Bruce though as he endured that familiar sinking feeling as Taylor's efforts to keep out Giggs' well-struck free-kick only saw him push the ball onto a post, from where it bounced back onto his head and into the net.

If anything, the goal seemed to unsettle United as Birmingham responded with admirable fortitude.

Had either Heskey or Dudley Campbell been able to find the net instead of Edwin van der Sar with close range opportunities, the outcome might have been different.

Instead, United escaped and Giggs — overshadowing long-time team-mate Gary Neville, who was making his 500th appearance for the club — netted his second and it just became a case of how many for the Red Devils.

The only blot on United's day as the interval whistle blew was the injury which forced Kieran Richardson out of the action.

The England man's departure, after a challenge from behind by Jiri Jarosik, heralded the arrival of Park Ji-sung rather than Ruud van Nistelrooy, who found himself on the bench for a fifth successive match.

He may be out of favour with his manager just now but Van Nistelrooy remains a hero among the United faithful and it was the prolific Dutchman's arrival for Saha 18 minutes from time which perked up a crowd that had become increasingly subdued as the second half wore on.

The reason was partly due to some sloppy play from the hosts but also because of the admirable resolve shown by Birmingham, who pressed forward enthusiastically if without an end product.

Heskey should have pulled a goal back late on but ballooned hopelessly over after being set up by Jiri Jarosik.

The blunder was punished immediately by Rooney, who made it third time lucky after latching onto Ronaldo's knock down and sprinting clear.

In scoreline terms at least, it was an improvement by Birmingham but then, it could hardly have been anything else. The tasks are not getting easier for them though. Chelsea are the visitors to St Andrews next weekend.