Birmingham 2 - 1 Southampton

Birmingham 2-1 Southampton

Updated: February 2, 2005, 10:05 PM UK

Birmingham halted their worst sequence of defeats in the Premiership as goals from newcomers Walter Pandiani and Robbie Blake earned City a 2-1 win at home to Southampton.

• Bruce hails Pandiani's impact

Steve Bruce's took a major step to guaranteeing their own top-flight status for another season after dominating the opening 45 minutes.

But they were given a fright in the second half after Southampton substitute Henri Camara scored a superb goal on his debut.

The opening 45 minutes were one-sided with Birmingham, who had lost their previous four league games, in complete command from the first whistle.

Saints, who have the worst away record in the Premiership, could not cope with the runs and crosses of Jermaine Pennant and Julian Gray during that period.

Blake, only included in the side after Emile Heskey was injured in the warm-up, also impressed alongside Pandiani and inept Southampton looked ripe for a hammering.

But one of Birmingham's big failings this season has been an inability to produce sustained 90-minute performances.

And it was a different story after the break as Southampton - no doubt fired up by a half-time roasting from Harry Redknapp - posed more of a threat.

The catalyst to that was provided by Camara who has joined the Saints on loan from Wolves via Celtic and his superb goal meant Blues could not relax until the final whistle after a tense finale.

But for all their endeavours Southampton are now four points adrift of the safety mark and collected just two points out of 39 away from St Mary's.

Southampton midfielder David Prutton had the first half-chance but he scuffed his shot wide from the edge of the area - and after that it was one-way traffic towards the visitors goal.

Pandiani, nicknamed `the Rifle' in Spain, came within inches of scoring after eight minutes. Gray sent over a deep cross which was headed back across goal by Pennant to the Deportivo La Coruna player who volleyed just past the post.

But Pandiani was not to be denied and after 12 minutes he grabbed the opening goal. Blake found Pennant on the right flank and he delivered another superb cross.

This time the unmarked Uruguayan make no mistake with a powerful close-range header which flew past Antti Niemi into the corner of the net.

Southampton were struggling to cope with the pace and movement of the home side with Pandiani not afraid to shoot and one long-range powerful effort cannoned off Claus Lundekvam for a corner.

Then Niemi produced a superb save at full stretch to keep out Jamie Clapham's 29th-minute piledriver from fully 35 yards.

It was one-way traffic towards the Saints goal with Pennant a constant threat and the former England under-21 player was only just too high with a dipping effort after exchanging passes with Blake.

But after 40 minutes Blues deservedly doubled their lead with Blake's first goal for the club since his £1.25million move from Burnley.

Mario Melchiot was brought down in the penalty area by Jamie Redknapp and up stepped Blake to hammer the spot-kick high into the net.

Prutton was booked for a crude challenge on Jamie Clapham and incensed Blues boss Steve Bruce had to be restrained by the fourth official.

Camara came on in place of Kenwyn Jones for the second half. But Blake had the chance to add to Birmingham's lead within two minutes of the restart after seizing onto a low cross from Pandiani.

He turned sharply to create a clearcut opening for himself but from eight yards out drilled his shot just wide.

Then out of the blue Camara brought Southampton into the game with a stunning goal after 52 minutes.

Peter Crouch won the ball in the air and Camara seized on it and in one movement drilled an unstoppable left-footed shot past Maik Taylor into the roof of the net.

The home side suddenly looked vulnerable whenever Southampton attacked and a mistake by Clapham let in Prutton but he drove his shot wide.

Blues weathered the storm and Niemi denied Stephen Clemence at close range and Clapham's shot was deflected wide.

Bruce hails Pandiani's impact

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce believes new striker Walter Pandiani has already won over the St Andrews fans after scoring on his debut in tonight's win over Southampton.

Pandiani, signed on loan from Deportivo La Coruna for the rest of the season, only met up with his new team-mates three hours before the kick-off.

But he indicated his willingness to start the game and needed only 12 minutes to make his mark with a stunning header on the way to a 2-1 success.

Bruce also slammed Spanish media reports that the 28-year-old player was unhappy at making the move to Birmingham after the collapse of a proposed switch to Fiorentina on transfer deadline day .

Bruce said: 'The lad was distraught at stories coming up on the television saying that he didn't want to be here. Make no mistake, if he didn't want to be here, then he wouldn't be.

'I am so delighted that we got him at the death on deadline day. When I got the phone call saying he was available, I thought someone was taking the mickey.

'All the hard work was worth it tonight. His goalscoring record is excellent but what I Iike about him is his all-round commitment.

'I think the Birmingham City fans have already taken to him because of his attitude and he has scored goals all his career.

'Walter didn't even meet his team-mates until 5pm but he indicated that he wanted to play against Southampton and showed what he can bring.'

Bruce was also pleased with the contribution of another loan signing in Jermaine Pennant and added: 'I thought he did terrifically well for us.'

The only downside for Birmingham was the news that striker Emile Heskey had suffered an Achilles injury which he aggravated in the warm-up to the game.

But his replacement Robbie Blake had the satisfaction of scoring his first goal for the club since his £1.25million move from Burnley via the penalty spot.

Southampton manager Harry Redknapp urged his side to start producing 90-minute performances after an inept showing in the first half when they were penned in their own half for lengthy periods.

But he took heart from the second-half performance of substitute Henri Camara who has joined the Saints on loan from Wolves via Celtic.

Redknapp said: 'They battered us in the first half. They had a couple of new lads out there and were full of pace and did really well in that spell.

'We changed it around in the second half and scored a goal early enough to get back into the game and in the end they were hanging on.

'But it was the same against Newcastle and Manchester City when we played well in the second half. We've got to be like that for a full 90 minutes in games.'

Redknapp added: 'It was a fantastic goal from Camara, out of the top draw. To hit a half volley like that into the top corner of the net showed superb technique.

'Let's hope he can get a few more goals in the bag like that because I think we are going to need them.'