Bolton Wanderers woes continued this afternoon as an in-form Birmingham City team brushed them aside to claim all three points in the Premiership clash at St Andrews.
Mikael Forssell and Bryan Hughes scored a goal in each half to give the Blues a 2-0 victory which moved them up to fifth position in the Premiership table and pushed them within the chasing pack for European Qualification. Bolton on the other hand where suffering from the effects of last week's Carling Cup Final defeat against Middlesbrough and where second best throughout the game.
Clinton Morrison could have given the home side an early lead but Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen pulled off a fantastic save to deny the Republic of Ireland international in the eighth minute.
A couple of minutes later Bolton top scorer Kevin Nolan blazed over the crossbar having found himself in space, the young Liverpudlian could not keep his shot on target to trouble Blues keeper Maik Taylor sufficiently.
Birmingham midfielders Damien Johnson and Bryan Hughes then saw their half chances collected with ease by Jaaskelainen in the Wanderers goal but on 24 minutes a spell of pressure by the home side paid off when Mikael Forssell gave them the lead. Welsh international Robbie Savage played the ball into the area which found it's way to Forssell and the on-loan Chelsea striker made no mistake at the second attempt.
The recalled Anthony Barness then had a chance to bring Bolton back into the game on the half hour mark but the former Charlton Athletic defender saw his effort sail wide of Maik Taylor's goal. Ivan Campo then saw his shot well saved by Taylor but in truth Bolton showed a very poor first half display.
On 38 minutes Jaaskelainen appeared to pick up a back pass by Barness but the Birmingham appeals for an indirect free kick where waved away by referee Andy D'Urso. The Blues continued to push for a second goal as Steve Bruce's side pinned the Wanderers in their own half.
D'Urso then blew for the half time interval much to the releif of the travelling Lancashire side. The start of the second half saw the afternoon go from bad to worse for the Wanderers who saw Youri Djorkaeff substituted due to injury, Henrik Pedersen came on to replace the former French international who limped out of the play.
Former Leicester City midfielder Savage had the opening chance of the second half but his free kick sailed aimlessly over Jussi Jaaskelainen's crossbar. Bryan Hughes then headed over following a good cross by striker Clinton Morrison who was causing Wanderers problems all afternoon.
On 65 minutes Bolton manager Sam Allardyce took drastic action in a bid to bring Wanderers back into the game by hauling off his captain Jay-Jay Okocha. The Nigerian did not look happy with the decision and stormed off down the tunnel. His replacement Ibrahim Ba seemed to take his opportunity with both hands but more worrying for Bolton is the implications of the Okocha incident which could have a bearing on whether or not the player commits to the club beyond this season.
Kevin Nolan then spurned a chance for Bolton on the 68th minute when he fired over the Birmingham crossbar and a minute later the home side increased their lead when Bryan Hughes rose superbly at the far post to head home Damien Johnson's cross past Jaaskelainen.
The impressive Northern Ireland goalkeeper Maik Taylor easily gathered a weak effort by substitute Ba and at the other end Johnson had a chance to score a third goal for the Blues but his shot flashed wide of the Bolton post.
With just over a quarter of an hour remaining former Blues defender Simon Charlton saw his shot at the far post saved from three yards by Taylor whilst strike duo Morrison and Forssell both wasted chances for the home side.
Substitute Stern John saw his effort curl beyond Jaaskelainen's post with a few minutes remaining and on reflection the home side deserved to win the match. Bolton now need to pick themselves up for next weekend's clash with Chelsea at the Reebok Stadium which sees the first of three games against top six sides over the coming weeks with Arsenal and Newcastle United also to face the Trotters.
Mikael Forssell and Bryan Hughes scored a goal in each half to give the Blues a 2-0 victory which moved them up to fifth position in the Premiership table and pushed them within the chasing pack for European Qualification. Bolton on the other hand where suffering from the effects of last week's Carling Cup Final defeat against Middlesbrough and where second best throughout the game.
Clinton Morrison could have given the home side an early lead but Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen pulled off a fantastic save to deny the Republic of Ireland international in the eighth minute.
A couple of minutes later Bolton top scorer Kevin Nolan blazed over the crossbar having found himself in space, the young Liverpudlian could not keep his shot on target to trouble Blues keeper Maik Taylor sufficiently.
Birmingham midfielders Damien Johnson and Bryan Hughes then saw their half chances collected with ease by Jaaskelainen in the Wanderers goal but on 24 minutes a spell of pressure by the home side paid off when Mikael Forssell gave them the lead. Welsh international Robbie Savage played the ball into the area which found it's way to Forssell and the on-loan Chelsea striker made no mistake at the second attempt.
The recalled Anthony Barness then had a chance to bring Bolton back into the game on the half hour mark but the former Charlton Athletic defender saw his effort sail wide of Maik Taylor's goal. Ivan Campo then saw his shot well saved by Taylor but in truth Bolton showed a very poor first half display.
On 38 minutes Jaaskelainen appeared to pick up a back pass by Barness but the Birmingham appeals for an indirect free kick where waved away by referee Andy D'Urso. The Blues continued to push for a second goal as Steve Bruce's side pinned the Wanderers in their own half.
D'Urso then blew for the half time interval much to the releif of the travelling Lancashire side. The start of the second half saw the afternoon go from bad to worse for the Wanderers who saw Youri Djorkaeff substituted due to injury, Henrik Pedersen came on to replace the former French international who limped out of the play.
Former Leicester City midfielder Savage had the opening chance of the second half but his free kick sailed aimlessly over Jussi Jaaskelainen's crossbar. Bryan Hughes then headed over following a good cross by striker Clinton Morrison who was causing Wanderers problems all afternoon.
On 65 minutes Bolton manager Sam Allardyce took drastic action in a bid to bring Wanderers back into the game by hauling off his captain Jay-Jay Okocha. The Nigerian did not look happy with the decision and stormed off down the tunnel. His replacement Ibrahim Ba seemed to take his opportunity with both hands but more worrying for Bolton is the implications of the Okocha incident which could have a bearing on whether or not the player commits to the club beyond this season.
Kevin Nolan then spurned a chance for Bolton on the 68th minute when he fired over the Birmingham crossbar and a minute later the home side increased their lead when Bryan Hughes rose superbly at the far post to head home Damien Johnson's cross past Jaaskelainen.
The impressive Northern Ireland goalkeeper Maik Taylor easily gathered a weak effort by substitute Ba and at the other end Johnson had a chance to score a third goal for the Blues but his shot flashed wide of the Bolton post.
With just over a quarter of an hour remaining former Blues defender Simon Charlton saw his shot at the far post saved from three yards by Taylor whilst strike duo Morrison and Forssell both wasted chances for the home side.
Substitute Stern John saw his effort curl beyond Jaaskelainen's post with a few minutes remaining and on reflection the home side deserved to win the match. Bolton now need to pick themselves up for next weekend's clash with Chelsea at the Reebok Stadium which sees the first of three games against top six sides over the coming weeks with Arsenal and Newcastle United also to face the Trotters.