Birmingham start brightly: David Beckham and Juan Sebastian Veron work hard to fight off the Blues' attack

The home side dominate the first-half: Veron (left) is forced to clear an early Christophe Dugarry chance

Man Utd wake up shortly before the break, Paul Scholes is denied when his thumping header hits the crossbar

But it's the reliable Ruud van Nistelrooy who breaks the deadlock, putting Man Utd 1-0 up shortly after half-time

Blues boss Steve Bruce urges his players on but it's disappointment for the Premiership strugglers