Kevin Phillips, Marcus Bent and Cameron Jerome were all on target as Birmingham City came from behind to beat Watford.

Tamas Priskin gave Brendan Rodgers' side a seventh-minute lead with a cool finish across keeper Maik Taylor.

But Blues were level within a minute when Phillips headed in Nicky Hunt's cross after a neat passing move and Bent's 18-yard strike made it 2-1.

Jerome curled in a third late on but the Hornets ensured a frantic finale when Ross Jenkins volleyed home.

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish:
"We were hot and cold at times but we were down to our last 16 players due to injuries and a virus.

"A couple of players gave us the warning at half-time that they might not last but they had to go through it.

"I wasn't entirely delighted with the performance, but the 16 were there for us and they churned out another fantastic three points."

Watford manager Brendan Rodgers:

"But we need to become killers at the back in the nicest possible way. We need to be more ruthless.

"Unfortunately that was the area that was lacking but apart from that I thought we were very, very good."

Birmingham: Maik Taylor, Hunt, Jaidi, Martin Taylor, Queudrue (Parnaby 79), Larsson (Agustien 87), Carsley, Quashie, Owusu-Abeyie, Phillips, Bent (Jerome 73).
Subs Not Used: Doyle, Nafti.

Booked: Queudrue.

Goals: Phillips 8, Bent 18, Jerome 85.

Watford: Loach, Doyley, Bromby, Mariappa, Sadler (Hoskins 79), Jenkins, Eustace (McAnuff 46), Bridcutt (O'Toole 68), Harley, Priskin, Smith.
Subs Not Used: Lee, Robinson.

Goals: Priskin 7, Jenkins 89.

Att: 18,174

Ref: Scott Mathieson (Cheshire).

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version