By Aydan Anderson
December 19 2004

Blues made it two derby wins on the bounce with an easy four goal victory against sorry neighbours West Brom. The win puts Birmingham up to fourteenth place in the Premier League while it leaves the Albion rock bottom on Christmas Day.

Birmingham City 4 West Bromwich Albion 0

The blues recorded their highest ever victory in the Premier League against local rivals West Brom. Even though blues managed to score four goals for the first time since beating Blackburn in the FA Cup last season it was more a case of a very bad West Brom than a very good Birmingham.

But take nothing away from Steve Bruce's men who made the most of the chances they had and for the first time this season looked like a team that had a cutting edge, mainly thanks to David Dunn on the left of midfield.

Blues took the lead after just four minutes following ex-Blue Darren Purse's foul on Clinton Morrison. Robbie Savage stepped up and placed the ball to the right of the keeper to make it 1-0 blues.

Albion had their best chance shortly after when Clinton Morrison scuffed a clearance and Zolton Gera hit the bar with a shot from inside the area. But that was the only time West Brom ever looked like scoring past an impressive blues defence in which Matty Upson and Kenny Cunningham were superb.

Blues were 2-0 up soon after when David Dunns quick free kick released Darren Carter who squared the ball to Clinton Morrison who took one touch before knocking the ball past Russell Hoult to get his third goal in four games.

It was three on the half hour mark with David Dunn again the creator. Dunn put a clever pass into the path of Emile Heskey who hit it across the goal and into the corner of net. Game over. Blues eased up a little now and it became exhibition football with neither team threatning and blues happy to just contain albion and try and grab a fourth on the break.

Albion came out for the second half with a slight improvement and Neil Clement tested Maik Taylor with a decent free kick then Taylor nearly gifted West Brom a consolation goal when he scuffed his clearance into the path of Robert Earnshaw. But Earnshaw hit the ball straight back at the keeper and the score remained 3-0.

The entertainment was now coming from the stands with the blues fans in good voice baiting the away support with chants of 'We'll Meet Again', 'Boing, Boing going down' and 'There's only one Gary Megson'. The latter chant even got the Baggies fans joining in. Ex-Arsenal man Kanu was the next victim of the blues fans with a chorus of 'I'd rather have a speed boat than a Kanu' followed by 'I'd rather have a raft', 'I'd rather have a dinghy' and 'I'd rather have a Horse'.

Talking of the Horse, he was given a great reception by the fans but didn't get onto the pitch although the home fans were singing the former blues mans name throughout the second half. Horsfield will feel unlucky not to get on considering how bad Kanu actually was.

Blues made it 4-0 near the end with Darren Anderton scoring with his first touch. Anderton's free kcik took a deflection off Emile Heskey and ended up in the back of the net with Anderton claiming the goal although it still may be credited to the big man.

The final whistle went and the blues players left the pitch to a standing ovation after giving the fans the best Christmas present they could have asked for.