The Wales midfielder scored the decisive goal 14 minutes from time when he drove home from outside the box to send Chris Coleman's men through to the fourth round thanks largely in part to an inspired display from second-choice goalkeeper Mark Crossley.

Blues made a bright start and could have taken an early lead through Stephen Clemence, but his 18-yard shot was well saved by Mark Crossley, before Dwight Yorke tried his luck but his effort was well parried by the Fulham stopper.

Moments later, a header from Emile Heskey forced Crossley into another save, while the overworked goalkeeper was forced to tip a Jesper Gronkjaer effort around the post.

Jamie Clapham then fired narrowly wide with a dipping low shot, while Crossley was forced to race from his goal to deny Yorke, whose first touch was a bit too heavy.

Maik Taylor then made his first save of the half on the stroke of the interval when he collected a deflected effort from Pembridge.

However, it was the Cottagers who made the brighter start to the second period and Andy Cole could have opened the scoring but he fired over the bar after rounding Taylor, while the Blues keeper had to be alert to prevent a Claus Jensen effort creeping over the line.

The Cottagers' were growing in confidence and they made their pressure count when Papa Bouba Dioup's run down the right opened up the Birmingham defence and as everyone waited for the cross, he squared the ball to Pembridge who rifled a fine effort into the corner of the net for his first goal since March.

But still Birmingham pressed and Crossley produced the save of the match when he clawed a Heskey effort away from goal a minute from time to send the Cottagers through.

BluenosesOnline.Com Man Of The Match:
Jesper Gronkjaer, After all the stick he's received lately he produced possibly his best performance for the club until picking up a knock 10 minutes from full time.