Stoke City vs Birmingham City

1. 97'

   Thanks for joining us here at ESPNsoccernet tonight. We hope you enjoyed the coverage. Be sure to stick around for all of the post-match reactions from the managers and players of both clubs.

2. 97'

   <b>FULL TIME:</b> It's all over at the Britannia! Stoke snap their four-match losing streak with a memorable 3-2 victory over Birmingham, who they now take over in the league standings. Dean Whitehead scored the fortunate winner five minutes from time, as Birmingham drop to 17th in the standings as a result of their disappointing performance.

3. 96'

   Birmingham win a throw in, as the referee allows play to continue. Ferguson's throw is poor though, and Stoke clear away. Sure;y Stoke have survived.

4. 95'

   Last roll of the dice for Birmingham, as they throw all of their numbers forward. Larsson and Ridgewell combine, but the latter sends a dismal ball across the face of goal, and that could be about it for the visitors tonight.

5. 94'

   <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Stoke make their final change of the night, as Fuller comes off to another rousing reception, for Walters.

6. 93'

   Not for the first time tonight, it's Huth who surges forward in menacing fashion. He charges at the Birmingham defence, and plays it to Wilson, who eventually wins a throw-in for Delap to take.

7. 92'

   Amazing ball from Ferguson wide to Carr, but the defender loses out as Stoke reclaim possession.

8. 91'

   There will be five minutes of stoppage time in the second half, much to the dismay of the Stoke fans.

9. 90'

   <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Pulis eats up some time, by introducing Wilson for Etherington, who comes off to a warm reception.

10. 89'

    Pennant has just been named as man of the match, but there still is time for one of the visiting players to be the saviour for his side, as Birmingham come forward again.

11. 88'

    Zigic looks to have done well to win the ball for his side, but the referee blows his whistle, and awards a free kick to Stoke.

12. 87'

    Birmingham have been all over Stoke since equalising, and will consider themselves desperately unlucky to have gone behind in that fashion. Extraordinary scenes at the Britannia, but there still is plenty of time for the visitors.

13. 86'

    Etehrington's ball across the face of goal is weak, but somehow manages to get through the legs of two defenders, before finding Whitehead. His shinned effort then incredibly gets through the grasp of Foster, and rolls into the back of the net. It's his first goal in the league for two years, and it may very well be the decisive one. But then again, who knows..

14. 85'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Whitehead scores, and Stoke are back in the lead!!

15. 84'

    Birmingham win a corner, but Larsson's ball in is poor. The visitors win the ball back, but Higginbotham does well to get a boot on it to clear away the danger.

16. 83'

    Wonderful work by Gardner to intercept a loose pass. He surges forward, dancing around a couple of opponents, before striking from long range, forcing Begovic to tap it away for a corner.

17. 82'

    Johnson is still down, and eventually comes from the field to discuss the situation with his manager.

18. 81'

    Johnson goes down with an injury of some sort to his face, and he is down receiving some treatment from the medical staff.

19. 80'

    Gardner goes for goal! Begovic is quick to react though, and takes it firmly.

20. 79'

    The visitors are playing with a real sense of confidence now, and there is clear belief that they can complete what would be a remarkable comeback performance.

21. 78'

    That's Jerome's sixth goal against Stoke in his last six games. And he is looking hungry to add another, as he combines with Zigic in attack.

22. 77'

    What a response by Birmingham. Jerome rises over Higginbotham, to head coolly head home a glorious ball in by Larsson. And for the second time in four days, the visitors have turned a two goal deficit into a 2-2 score line. And you just sense that this match isn't over yet.

23. 76'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Jerome scores!!!!! 2-2!

24. 75'

    Fahey capitalises on some poor defending by Higginbotham, to smash home an effort from close range, to score his first ever Premier League goal. 2-1 to Stoke now.

25. 74'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Fahey pulls one back for Birmingham!

Leaders

STKBIR

Total Shots

Ricardo Fuller

7

Craig Gardner

6

Accurate Passes

Dean Whitehead

37

Liam Ridgewell

39

Saves

Asmir Begovic

6

Roger Johnson

4