Wolves v Birmingham

Wolves 0

Birmingham 1

Elliott 74′

FT 90 +5
HT 0-0

Elliott forces the ball home in the second half to give Birmingham victory

By Jamie Lillywhite BBC Sport

Birmingham secured an FA Cup fourth-round trip to Sheffield United as Wade Elliott's late goal helped beat Wolves.

The visitors had the best first-half chance of the replay at Molineux, Adam Rooney hesitating when clean through.

But a prostrate Elliott scythed in the winner from three yards after his initial effort came back off a post.

Substitute Steven Fletcher almost took the game into extra-time but his shot was smothered by Colin Doyle, who then tipped Stephen Hunt's rebound over.

Much was made of the lack of quality in the first match between the teams , played on a pudding of a pitch at St Andrew's 11 days ago before a sparse crowd of 14,594.

There were many empty old gold seats at Molineux and numerous changes on both sides, but Birmingham's vociferous travelling contingent ensured a lively atmosphere.

However, despite a far better playing surface the majority of the action on the field was less than inspired once again.

Led Zeppelin maestro Robert Plant flew in from Texas especially for the match but found his beloved Wolves were not in the mood for long periods.

DID YOU KNOW?

Wolves are the only Premier League team to be eliminated by Championship opposition in this year's FA Cup third round

Christophe Berra, the only Wolves player to remain from Saturday's starting line-up in the 1-1 draw with Tottenham, made a key interception to clear David Murphy's cross as Birmingham started positively.

Adam Hammill provided some of the better moments for the home side down the right flank, and his fine early cross was met by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, but under pressure the burly striker headed wide from inside the six-yard box.

Hammill flashed another dangerous ball across the face of goal ahead of his team-mates, but even when Birmingham were briefly down to nine men following a clash of heads between Murphy and Jean Beausejour, Wolves could not provide a cutting edge.

Indeed it was the visitors, while still reduced to 10 men as Beausejour's treatment continued, who had the best chance of the half when Rooney raced clean through, only to take too long and allow George Elokobi to make a muscular challenge.

Curtis Davies forced Dorus De Vries into a low save to his left with a flick-on from Jordon Mutch's long free-kick, and Jonathan Spector's long-range drive from the right side fizzed inches wide of the left-hand post.

Birmingham, playing their 36th match of the season, continued to have the better of things in the early stages of the second-half, and Mutch tested De Vries with a low drive from 25 yards.

With such a lack of potency going forward, Wolves brought on their leading scorer Fletcher, who netted the opening goal at Spurs, with 20 minutes remaining.

“I am very disappointed, angry, and the game hinged on us not marking from a corner so I'm disappointed with that”

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy

Yet the chances continued at the other end, Beausejour's left-wing cross turned fractionally wide of his own post by Elokobi, and from the resulting corner the Blues were in front.

Elliott might have done better when he turned to meet the loose ball from close range, but his determination was evident as he forced home the rebound.

Fletcher looked set to save his team but was bravely met by Doyle as he slid in with his trademark left foot from inside the six-yard box.

Just as he had done late on in the first match, the Birmingham goalkeeper Doyle completed a fine double save, springing to his feet to keep out Hunt's volleyed follow-up, as the Blues earned a visit to Bramall Lane on 28 January.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy: "I am very disappointed, angry, and the game hinged on us not marking from a corner so I'm disappointed with that.

"I've loads of complaints, not with them but with us for not being good enough on the night. I've said my piece in the dressing room.

"I know winning games creates that winning mentality and I didn't want to lose tonight. I'm bitterly disappointed, I didn't want to lose. I'm angry about that.

"Yes, there are a lot of changes, some enforced, some my decision, but they are all Premier League players and the best of them was Matt Doherty, the one kid on the pitch.

"I know what they can all do individually but collectively they've not done it as well as we could have done. I'm livid we've gone out."

Birmingham boss Chris Hughton: "It was a satisfying result. Wolves made more changes than us but to come here and win was excellent.

"We had to defend very well at times and our two centre-halves Curtis Davies and Steven Caldwell were excellent and we needed them.

"But I thought we showed enough on the ball to be a real threat at times and in the end we just deserved it."

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (5)

Wolverhampton Wanderers

31 De Vries
03 Elokobi
05 Stearman
16 Berra Booked
30 Doherty (Ward - 83' )
12 Hunt
19 Hammill
20 Milijas
22 Jonsson (Guedioura - 67' )
09 Ebanks-Blake
29 Doyle (Fletcher - 72' )

Substitutes

01 Hennessey
11 Ward
08 Henry
34 Guedioura
37 Forde
10 Fletcher
21 Keogh

Birmingham City

13 Doyle
03 Murphy
04 Caldwell
23 Spector
24 Davies
11 Beausejour
12 Mutch
14 Gomis (Fahey - 90' )
15 Elliott
22 Redmond (Burke - 76' )
17 Rooney

Substitutes

26 Butland
07 Burke
18 Fahey
20 Valles Prat
34 Gnahore
09 King
19 Zigic

Ref: H Webb

Att: 10,153

Match Stats

Possession 48 52

Shots

11 7

On target

8 4

Corners

3 4

Fouls

10 8

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:38 Full time

Full Time The final whistle is blown by the referee.

89:58

The assistant referee flags for offside against Richard Stearman. Indirect free kick taken by Colin Doyle.

89:18 Substitution

Substitution Keith Fahey on for Morgaro Gomis.

88:15

Steven Fletcher takes a shot. Save made by Colin Doyle. Stephen Hunt takes a shot. Save by Colin Doyle. Corner from left by-line taken by Nenad Milijas.

85:47

Direct free kick taken by Colin Doyle.

85:47 Booking

Booking Christophe Berra receives a caution for unsporting behaviour.

85:36

Christophe Berra challenges Jean Beausejour unfairly and gives away a free kick.

84:22

Jean Beausejour takes a shot. Save by Dorus De Vries. Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Jordon Mutch, Steven Caldwell concedes a free kick for a foul on Richard Stearman. Free kick taken by Dorus De Vries.

83:16

Unfair challenge on Chris Burke by George Elokobi results in a free kick. Jonathan Spector takes the free kick.

81:58

Colin Doyle takes the indirect free kick.

81:58 Substitution

Substitution Stephen Ward joins the action as a substitute, replacing Matt Doherty.

81:58

The official flags Sylvan Ebanks-Blake offside.

80:35

Steven Fletcher is ruled offside. Colin Doyle restarts play with the free kick.

75:55 Substitution

Substitution Chris Burke replaces Nathan Redmond.

73:22 Goal scored

Goal - Wade Elliott - Wolves 0 - 1 Birmingham Wade Elliott fires in a goal from close range to the bottom right corner of the goal. Wolverhampton 0-1 Birmingham.

72:43

Outswinging corner taken by Jordon Mutch, Wade Elliott produces a right-footed shot from inside the box and strikes the post.

71:17 Substitution

Substitution Steven Fletcher is brought on as a substitute for Kevin Doyle.

70:02

The offside flag is raised against Sylvan Ebanks-Blake. Colin Doyle takes the free kick.

68:23

Adlene Guedioura produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the target.

66:35

Kevin Doyle takes the free kick. Sylvan Ebanks-Blake concedes a free kick for a foul on Curtis Davies. Free kick taken by Curtis Davies.

66:35 Substitution

Substitution Adlene Guedioura joins the action as a substitute, replacing Eggert Jonsson.