By Neil Johnston BBC Sport

Adam Rooney ensured Birmingham ended their Group H campaign on a winning note - but the Championship club still bowed out of the Europa League.

Former Stoke man Rooney nodded home in the first half from a cross by Nathan Redmond, who hit the post late on.

Birmingham dominated the Slovenian league leaders with David Murphy and Nikola Zigic both going close.

But they were relying on victory by Portuguese side Braga, who could only draw with Club Brugge.

It was tough on Chris Hughton's battlers who dominated their unambitious opponents from start to finish.

Maribor boast a 15-point cushion at the top of the Slovenian top flight and eliminated Rangers from Europe back in August.

Yet they arrived in Birmingham with just one point in Europe after conceding 14 times in their opening five group games.

And they found themselves on the defensive from the start as Birmingham, who made nine changes to the side which defeated Doncaster at the weekend, settled quickly.

Redmond, the exciting 17-year-old winger, teased and tormented the visitors' defence and deservedly received a standing ovation when he was substituted in the closing stages.

The teenager was at the heart of his side's best attacks and it was his first-time flick which presented Zigic with a chance which keeper Jasmin Handanovic saved comfortably.

DID YOU KNOW?

This was NK Maribor's 12th European game this season having entered the Champions League qualifying rounds in July.

Murphy found the roof of the Maribor net with a deflected free-kick in the 13th minute, while Jovan Vidovic headed just wide from a corner in a rare Maribor attack.

Birmingham got the breakthrough their attacking play deserved when Rooney headed home from close range in the 24th minute - man-of-the-match Redmond supplying the cross for the Dublin-born player to score.

As good as Redmond was, Zigic was poor.

The Serbian striker was presented with a fine chance to double the lead after bursting through the Maribor defence before half-time, but his finish was disappointing.

Then the buoyant mood around St Andrew's was punctured when news filtered through that 10-man Braga had fallen behind in Belgium.

And the mood of Birmingham fans did not improve when Arghus was booked for an ugly challenge on Redmond with the Maribor player fortunate not to be sent off.

News of a Braga equaliser lifted the crowd - as well as Hughton's side.

Murphy had a goal-bound shot blocked by Aleksander Rajcevic while Curtis Davies narrowly failed to direct Redmond's corner into the net.

With Birmingham heading out of Europe, Zigic had a header deflected over the bar after more good wing play by the industrious Redmond.

And Redmond capped a delightful performance by rattling the Maribor post with a terrific volley four minutes from time as Birmingham bowed out on a high.

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (6)

Birmingham City

  • 13 Doyle
  • 03 Murphy Booked
  • 05 Pablo
  • 23 Spector
  • 24 Davies
  • 11 Beausejour
  • 14 Gomis Booked (N'daw - 73' )
  • 18 Fahey
  • 22 Redmond (Burke - 88' )
  • 17 Rooney (Mutch - 79' )
  • 19 Zigic

Substitutes

  • 01 Myhill
  • 04 Caldwell
  • 07 Burke
  • 08 N'daw
  • 12 Mutch
  • 15 Elliott
  • 39 Wood

NK Maribor

  • 33 J Handanovic
  • 04 Vidovic Booked
  • 22 Potokar
  • 26 Rajcevic
  • 44 Arghus Booked (Trajkovski - 75' )
  • 05 Filipovic
  • 08 Mezga
  • 20 Cvijanovic (Ibraimi - 67' )
  • 70 Mertelj
  • 09 Tavares (Velikonja - 71' )
  • 17 Volas

Substitutes

  • 13 Radan
  • 24 Trajkovski
  • 06 Milec
  • 31 Lesjak
  • 10 Ibraimi
  • 11 Velikonja
  • 32 Beric
Ref: Kever
Att: 21,436

Match Stats

Shots

10 8

On target

5 4

Corners

9 4

Fouls

9 12

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:48 Full time

Full Time The referee brings the game to a close.

90:00 +4:25

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Curtis Davies by Etien Velikonja. Direct free kick taken by Colin Doyle.

90:00 +4:03

The ball is delivered by Nejc Potokar, clearance made by Pablo Ibanez.

90:00 +3:10

The referee blows for offside against Dalibor Volas. Colin Doyle takes the free kick.

90:00 +2:28

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Chris Burke by Zeljko Filipovic. Colin Doyle restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +0:54

Zeljko Filipovic gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Nikola Zigic. Colin Doyle restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +0:47

Nejc Potokar produces a cross, clearance by Pablo Ibanez.

88:59

Unfair challenge on Ales Mertelj by Pablo Ibanez results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Dejan Mezga.

87:33 Substitution

Substitution (Birmingham) makes a substitution, with Chris Burke coming on for Nathan Redmond.

85:52

Effort from just inside the penalty area by Nathan Redmond strikes the post.

85:13

Nejc Potokar concedes a free kick for a foul on Jean Beausejour. Free kick taken by David Murphy.

84:03

Nejc Potokar challenges Jean Beausejour unfairly and gives away a free kick. Colin Doyle takes the free kick.

82:48

Unfair challenge on Jean Beausejour by Agim Ibraimi results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by David Murphy.

81:56

Dejan Mezga takes a inswinging corner.

81:46

Dejan Mezga produces a cross, blocked by Jonathan Spector.

80:40

Effort by Etien Velikonja from a long way out goes over the crossbar.

80:13

The ball is delivered by Nathan Redmond.

78:39 Substitution

Substitution Jordon Mutch replaces Adam Rooney.

76:46

Aleksander Rajcevic concedes a free kick for a foul on Adam Rooney. Free kick taken by Keith Fahey.

76:16

The ball is delivered by Nathan Redmond.

75:04

Jean Beausejour delivers the ball.

74:07 Substitution

Substitution (Maribor) makes a substitution, with Dejan Trajkovski coming on for Soares Arghus.

74:07

Outswinging corner taken by Nathan Redmond.

72:42

Corner taken by Nathan Redmond, Adam Rooney takes a shot. Save made by Jasmin Handanovic.

72:42 Substitution

Substitution Guirane N'Daw comes on in place of Morgaro Gomis.

72:33

A cross is delivered by Nathan Redmond, clearance made by Nejc Potokar.

71:05

Corner taken right-footed by Nathan Redmond from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Nejc Potokar.

69:54 Substitution

Substitution Etien Velikonja joins the action as a substitute, replacing Marcos Tavares.

69:54

Shot from just outside the penalty box by Dalibor Volas misses to the left of the target.

69:10

Aleksander Rajcevic takes the free kick.

69:10 Booking

Booking David Murphy receives a caution for unsporting behaviour.

69:10

Foul by David Murphy on Dejan Mezga, free kick awarded.

68:56

Keith Fahey takes a shot. Jovan Vidovic gets a block in.

68:28

Corner from the left by-line taken by Nathan Redmond, save by Jasmin Handanovic.

68:22

The ball is delivered by Nathan Redmond, Nejc Potokar makes a clearance.

66:41 Substitution

Substitution Agim Ibraimi on for Goran Cvijanovic.

65:53

Corner taken by Nathan Redmond from the left by-line.

65:37

David Murphy produces a drilled left-footed shot from 18 yards. Nejc Potokar gets a block in.

65:07

Jonathan Spector delivers the ball, clearance by Jovan Vidovic.

61:38

Free kick awarded for a foul by Adam Rooney on Jovan Vidovic. Ales Mertelj restarts play with the free kick.

60:10

Nikola Zigic is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Aleksander Rajcevic takes the free kick.

58:56

Nathan Redmond restarts play with the free kick.

58:56 Booking

Booking Soares Arghus booked.

58:45

Soares Arghus gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Nathan Redmond.

56:11

Free kick awarded for a foul by Curtis Davies on Dalibor Volas. Dejan Mezga crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, Jonathan Spector makes a clearance.

54:29

Nathan Redmond takes a shot. Save by Jasmin Handanovic.

53:06

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Dejan Mezga from the right by-line, clearance by Keith Fahey.

52:36

The ball is swung over by Dejan Mezga, blocked by David Murphy.

51:49

The ball is crossed by Jonathan Spector, comfortable save by Jasmin Handanovic.

50:52

Keith Fahey restarts play with the free kick.

50:52 Booking

Booking Jovan Vidovic goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.

50:48

Foul by Jovan Vidovic on Adam Rooney, free kick awarded.

50:37

Nejc Potokar sends in a cross, Jonathan Spector manages to make a clearance.

50:23

Morgaro Gomis challenges Dalibor Volas unfairly and gives away a free kick. Marcos Tavares takes the direct free kick.

49:49

The ball is sent over by Jonathan Spector, Aleksander Rajcevic manages to make a clearance.

47:49

Corner taken by Nathan Redmond from the left by-line to the near post.

46:52

The ball is delivered by David Murphy. Nejc Potokar is adjudged to have handled the ball. Nathan Redmond delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, clearance by Nejc Potokar.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:00 +1:14 Half time

Half Time The first half comes to an end.

45:00 +0:11

The ball is delivered by David Murphy, clearance made by Goran Cvijanovic.

44:21

Zeljko Filipovic takes a shot. Save by Colin Doyle.

44:01

Marcos Tavares takes a shot. Blocked by Curtis Davies.

42:12

The ball is delivered by Nejc Potokar, Curtis Davies manages to make a clearance.

41:56

Dejan Mezga takes a shot. David Murphy gets a block in.

39:32

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Nejc Potokar by Jean Beausejour. Direct free kick taken by Ales Mertelj.

37:23

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Dejan Mezga.

36:55

A cross is delivered by Nejc Potokar, Ales Mertelj produces a left-footed shot from outside the penalty box and misses right.

35:58

Effort from the edge of the area by Nikola Zigic goes wide of the left-hand post.

35:21

Nathan Redmond takes a shot from deep inside the box clearing the bar.

34:23

Foul by Jonathan Spector on Dalibor Volas, free kick awarded. Soares Arghus takes the direct free kick.

32:48

Dejan Mezga is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Colin Doyle takes the direct free kick.

32:19

Jean Beausejour produces a cross, save by Jasmin Handanovic.

30:26

Jean Beausejour delivers the ball, free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jovan Vidovic by Nikola Zigic. Jasmin Handanovic takes the free kick.

28:15

Corner taken by Nathan Redmond, save by Jasmin Handanovic.

28:00

The ball is delivered by Jean Beausejour.

27:09

Jean Beausejour crosses the ball, save made by Jasmin Handanovic.

23:40

Nathan Redmond provided the assist for the goal.

23:40 Goal scored

Goal - Adam Rooney - Birmingham 1 - 0 NK Maribor Adam Rooney finds the back of the net with a headed goal from close range. Birmingham 1-0 Maribor.

23:31

A cross is delivered by Nathan Redmond,

23:03

The ball is sent over by Soares Arghus, Colin Doyle makes a save.

22:17

Adam Rooney takes a shot. Jasmin Handanovic makes a save.

19:28

Corner taken by Nathan Redmond from the left by-line to the near post, Jasmin Handanovic makes a save.

19:16

The ball is sent over by Jean Beausejour, clearance made by Jovan Vidovic.

17:58

Corner taken right-footed by Dejan Mezga to the near post, Headed effort from close range by Jovan Vidovic goes wide left of the target.

16:41

The ball is delivered by Goran Cvijanovic.

15:47

Jean Beausejour fouled by Ales Mertelj, the ref awards a free kick. Morgaro Gomis takes the direct free kick.

15:08

Effort from 25 yards by Marcos Tavares. Save by Colin Doyle.

14:50

The ball is sent over by Jean Beausejour, save by Jasmin Handanovic.

12:12

Morgaro Gomis fouled by Ales Mertelj, the ref awards a free kick. David Murphy shoots direct from the free kick. Corner taken by Nathan Redmond.

12:00

The ball is swung over by Adam Rooney, clearance by Aleksander Rajcevic.

10:38

Free kick taken by Aleksander Rajcevic.

10:38 Booking

Booking Morgaro Gomis is booked.

10:28

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ales Mertelj by Morgaro Gomis.

9:03

The ball is sent over by Nikola Zigic, save by Jasmin Handanovic.

7:44

Free kick awarded for a foul by Nejc Potokar on Jean Beausejour. Direct free kick taken by David Murphy.

6:54

The ball is swung over by Nathan Redmond, clearance made by Nejc Potokar.

3:08

The ball is swung over by Nathan Redmond, Nejc Potokar manages to make a clearance.

2:47

A cross is delivered by Nathan Redmond, save by Jasmin Handanovic.

1:32

Jean Beausejour produces a cross.

1:20

The ball is crossed by Nathan Redmond, Aleksander Rajcevic manages to make a clearance.

0:00

The match has kicked off.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association