SOCCER English League Cup quarter-finals/ Birmingham City 1; Manchester United 3: Manchester United heaped the misery on old boy Steve Bruce with a ruthless victory over ailing Birmingham at St Andrews last night.
After a competitive opening period, the half-time introduction of Wayne Rooney triggered the visitors into life and three goals in 20 minutes booked their semi-final spot for the third time in four years.
A well-taken Louis Saha double sandwiched Park Ji-Sung's debut United strike to give the visitors a deserved triumph and prevent Bruce finding any respite from the pressure which ensures this will be anything but a happy Christmas at the midlands club.
It was stretching the imagination to believe Birmingham could possibly be as bad as they were at Manchester City on Saturday, especially with the sizeable presence of Emile Heskey restored to their starting line-up.
Nevertheless, United had it within their power to grab an early opener to expose the fragile confidence of a side anchored in the Premiership's bottom three and with only two wins on home soil in all competitions this term.
They should have managed it too, if not from Giuseppe Rossi's second-minute half-volley which cannoned back off the crossbar then from Saha shortly afterwards. The French striker must have been cursing his bad luck when he rose to meet Darren Fletcher's excellent far post cross but only nodded wide from point blank range.
The missed opportunities, which proved so costly for United in Europe, only served to galvanise Birmingham, who were able to exploit Rossi's lack of inches to dominate at the back and use Heskey's strength to cause trouble at the other end.
Heskey almost profited from Gary Neville's attempt to rob David Dunn, turning smartly and unleashing a thunderous 12-yard shot, only for Tim Howard, another man with a point to prove, to push it firmly away.
The visitors did finish the opening period on top, with Saha bringing a good save from Maik Taylor - who earlier had denied Cristiano Ronaldo - but there was enough encouragement for Bruce to feel his side had a chance of advancing into the last four.
What wrecked his hopes, indirectly at least, was Ferguson's decision to introduce Rooney for Rossi at the break. Although the England wonderboy was not involved in either of the goals, his mere presence seemed to induce a greater sense of urgency in the visitors' ranks.
Not only did Ronaldo respond well to his first start since his ill-advised 'one-fingered' departure from his club's Champions League exit in Lisbon, he also produced one of his more direct performances.
He also showed an increased willingness to move after he had passed the ball and after finding himself on the end of a flowing attack he started with a lay-off to Park, Ronaldo drilled over a low cross 40 seconds after the interval which Saha was on hand to finish off.
Before they had time to clear their heads, Birmingham were two down as Park finally netted for the first time since his summer arrival from PSV Eindhoven, driving into the box after taking Saha's pass in his stride, then beating Taylor with clinical efficiency. It was not long before Saha had scored his second, stepping inside Martin Taylor, then blasting into the top corner.
Jiri Jarosik bagged a late consolation for the hosts.
BIRMINGHAM CITY: Maik Taylor, Johnson, Martin Taylor, Upson, Painter, Pennant, Butt (Clapham 67), Clemence, Dunn (Kilkenny 66), Heskey (Forssell 82), Jarosik. Subs not used: Doyle, Pandiani. Booked: Johnson. Goal: Jarosik 75.
MANCHESTER UTD: Howard, Neville, Brown, Silvestre (Ferdinand 60), Richardson, Ronaldo, O'Shea (Jones 66), Fletcher, Park, Rossi (Rooney 45), Saha. Subs not used: Van der Sar, Bardsley. Booked: Silvestre, Richardson. Goals: Saha 46, Park 50, Saha 63.
Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire).
