Sunday, May 2, 2010

Benitez scored when beat Burnley 2-1

BIRMINGHAM CITY 2
- Jensen (og) 29,
- Benitez 41

BURNLEY 1
- Thompson 87

**Birmingham profited from shambolic Burnley defending as they cruised to a comfortable 2-1 win in their final home game of the season.
There was an end of season feeling about the game from the very first whistle, but the Birmingham players almost provided the perfect start as Lee Bowyer missed a glorious chance inside the opening minute.

It took almost half an hour for the deadlock to be broken, as Sebastian Larsson cut the ball back from the byline but as Christian Benitez missed the ball at the near post it hit Tyrone Mears before bobbling into the back of the net off Brian Jensen.

If the scruffy nature of the opening goal did not sum up Burnley's season then the second, just before the break, most definitely did as Roger Johnson jogged to the far post unattended to head the ball across goal, where Benitez pounced unmarked to chest into the back of the net.

Brian Laws must have had something to say to his players at the break because Burnley emerged with renewed vigour and Steven Fletcher looked like a man on a mission as he sought to get his side back in the game.

In the end though it was his replacement Steven Thompson who grabbed an 87th minute consolation for the Clarets, but Birmingham should have been well clear by that point and the victory never looked in doubt.

A fine end to the campaign at home for Alex McLeish's side, who have cemented ninth place in the Premier League, but for Burnley it's a 17th away defeat of the season - a new Premier League record.




Squads:

Burnley: Jensen, Mears, Cort, Caldwell, Fox, Cork, Alexander, Nugent, Steven Fletcher, Paterson, Elliott. Subs: Weaver, Duff, MacDonald, Rodriguez, Blake, Bikey, Thompson

Birmingham: Hart, Parnaby, Johnson, Ridgewell, Vignal, Larsson, Bowyer, Ferguson, McFadden, Jerome, Benitez. Subs: Taylor, Murphy, Michel, Fahey, Carsley, Tainio, Redmond

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