Sport

Jarosik's timely lift

Birmingham 1 Bolton Wanderers 0 Jiri Jarosik's moment of class against Bolton at St Andrews last night has put new life into…

Wed Apr 05 2006 - 01:00

Birmingham 1 Bolton Wanderers 0Jiri Jarosik's moment of class against Bolton at St Andrews last night has put new life into Birmingham's fight for survival.

The on-loan 28-year-old was ineligible at the weekend against his parent club Chelsea, but he returned to the starting XI in devastating style.

The draw against the English Premiership champions, along with three points against Bolton, has lifted Steve Bruce's side out of the relegation zone for the first time in six months, while denting the visitors' hopes of Champions League qualification.

Jarosik's goal was worthy of settling the scrappy encounter. Receiving the ball from Damien Johnson, he tricked his way past Jay-Jay Okocha with a shimmy and then unleashed a left-foot drive from 25 yards which comfortably beat goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen and found the corner of the net.

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By the end, Birmingham City looked a different side to the one hammered by Liverpool on the same ground last month.

Jarosik created his moment of magic to break the deadlock after 36 minutes - his inspiration leaving Jaaskelainen with no chance. And he almost doubled the lead five minutes from the break, taking advantage of an Emile Heskey dummy to bundle his way into the area only to shoot wide.

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce responded by taking off Joey O'Brien for Nicky Hunt at the break, and it almost had the desired effect. Hunt caused problems with his attacking on the right and the visitors had a penalty claim turned down when one of his crosses was partially cleared and Kevin Nolan fired straight at Mat Sadler.

However, with Kenny Cunningham shouting the orders, Birmingham withstood persistent Bolton pressure, with Allardyce's five-man midfield seeing plenty of the ball.

BIRMINGHAM CITY: Taylor; Tebily, Cunningham, Taylor, Sadler; Pennant, Johnson, Butt (Forssell, 30), Clemence (Lazaridis, 8; Dunn, 86); Jarosik; Heskey. Subs not used: Vaesen, Campbell.

BOLTON WANDERERS: Jaaskelainen; O'Brien (Hunt, half-time), Ben Haim, N'Gotty, Pedersen; Giannakopoulos, Faye, Nolan (Vaz Te, 86), Okocha, Diouf (Borgetti, 69); Davies. Subs not used: Walker, Nakata.

Referee: C Foy (Merseyside).