4:59pm Saturday 16th August 2008
Kevin Phillips came back to haunt his old club as he scored Birmingham's winner less than a minute after coming on a second half sub at St Mary's.
Phillips was part of the Saints squad that got relegated from the Premiership and was given a hostile reception by the St Mary's crowd.
But he silenced them pretty quickly as he scored with his first touch after coming on and secured Birmingham a 2-1 win.
Stern John thought he had given Saints the perfect start when he steered Lloyd James' cross from the right into the bottom corner on four minutes.
However, the linesman's flag was already up for offside and the goal was ruled out.
Saints were clearly trying to get balls in from out wide and John came agonisingly close to getting on the end of another, this time from Andrew Surman on the left while moments later James' low effort flew across the face of the six yard box without a touch.
Lee Holmes worked a short corner and charged into the area on ten minutes but his drilled low shot was held by Maik Taylor at the near post.
It was a really bright opening for Saints who looked slick and were pinning Birmingham back, pressuring them and forcing mistakes.
Birmingham created their first half chance on 15 minutes when Quincy Owusu-Abeyie's misdirected shot found the head of Gary O'Connor but with the ball arriving quickly he could only direct it over the bar.
For all their dominance Saints almost fell behind on 23 minutes when Owusu-Abeyie outpaced James down the right and got the by-line. His low cross deflected on to O'Connor who nudged the ball goalwards where Andrew Surman was waiting to clear off the line.
The Blues had an even better chance a minute later when Owusu-Abeyie squared to James McFadden who was under no pressure but he took an airshot from ten yards out and missed the ball entirely.
Kelvin Davis had his first action on 27 minutes when McFadden fired in a cross from the left that the Saints stopper palmed away.
Saints came so close to breaking the deadlock on the half hour mark as James' ball down the right found McGoldrick, he pulled back to Simon Gillett whose first time shot went like a bullet but straight at Maik Taylor who got down low to produce an excellent save.
Davis did really well to keep Birmingham out on 35 minutes. First he got down low to his right to stop McFadden's effort from 20 yards and then slid to tackle Owusu-Abeyie as he tried to make something of the rebound.
Birmingham were forced into their first change on 38 minutes with Medhi Nafti hobbling off to be replaced by Cameron Jerome who went to the right of midfield with Sebastian Larsson moving into the centre.
O'Connor made what looked to be a major error for Birmingham two minutes later. Owusu-Abeyie shot across goal towards the far corner and the ball looked to be heading in before O'Connor decided to make sure but he was in an offside position and it was ruled out.
Saints went straight up the other end and created a decent opening for Holmes he slashed his shot from 12 yards out for a throw.
But Saints did take the lead on 43 minutes when Holmes delivered a corner from the right into the danger area and Chris Perry burst through the crowd to head home to give Saints a highly satisfying 1-0 half time lead.
Saints started the second half in similar fashion and should have doubled their lead just two minutes after the restart.
McGoldrick whipped in a cross from the right that picked out the diving head of John but he steered wide of the target from eight yards.
And they paid the price when Birmingham equalised on 49 minutes.
Saints couldn't clear a cross into the box and it broke to the feet of O'Connor who had time to take a touch and slot low past Davis for 1-1.
It would have got even worse for Saints were it not for Davis.
On 53 minutes Jerome was taken out on the edge of the box but the referee played the advantage as McFadden picked it up, danced round a challenge but saw his low shot brilliantly saved by Davis diving at his feet.
Birmingham made a second change on 66 minutes with Marcus Bent replacing O'Connor.
The Blues tested Davis again a minute later as Owusu-Abeyi cut in from the left and drilled a low shot the Saints keeper blocked with his feet before the follow-up went wide.
Saints made their first switch on 69 minutes with Jake Thomson coming on for John. McGoldrick went up front with Thomson wide right.
There was a controversial moment five minutes later when Liam Ridgewell headed in Stuart Parnaby's cross from the right but it was ruled out for offside with the Birmingham players protesting to the referee and linesman.
Birmingham made their final change on 76 minutes with Kevin Phillips getting a hostile reception from the Saints crowd as he replaced Owusu-Abeyie.
Incredibly he scored a goal within seconds.
McFadden got down the left and lifted a cross to the far post, Bent's downwards header bounced up and hit the underside of the bar and Phillips was on hand to stab the ball in for 2-1.
It was now with John off and no attacking options on the bench that Poortvliet's squad looked a little exposed.
Birmingham changed their tactics from pushing forward to getting men behind the ball and making themselves difficult to break down.
Poortvliet was urging his team forward from the technical area but they didn't seem to have much more to give.
As the fourth official held up the board showing three minutes of stoppage time Michael Svensson was pushed on as a makeshift striker.
But it was to no avail as Saints failed to create another opening and despite two decent performances Poortvliet was still looking for his first point as Saints boss.
For match reaction don't miss Monday's Daily Echo.
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