Birmingham City's survival chances are back on-track after a dramatic 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers last night.
Mikael Forssell came off the bench to score Birmingham's winner four minutes from time as they climbed out of the relegation zone.
Forssell controlled a cross from the excellent Julian Gray and slammed a fine left-foot shot into the corner.
Birmingham had gone ahead just after the hour mark when Gray crossed from the left and Nicky Butt converted.
Ex-Blues midfielder Robbie Savage levelled with a low shot past Maik Taylor before Forssell's late strike.
The tension-wracked finale leaves the Blues ahead of Portsmouth in the Premiership on goal difference, with only three games each left to play.
Birmingham manager Steve Bruce said afterwards: "Mikael has come off the bench and scored what could end up being the biggest goal for us for some time.
"We've kept it alive. A week ago I maybe thought we were dead and buried, but we've managed to dig out results.
"The players have been terrific and we've given ourselves an outstanding chance of staying up."
Blackburn boss Mark Hughes also said: "I'm very disappointed from our point of view. We had high hopes and wanted to win the game but it was a poor match from both sides.
"There wasn't a lot of quality on show and we didn't show enough cutting edge.
"At 1-1 we were in the ascendancy but then we switched off and didn't defend balls into the box. We're disappointed but we're still in the European mix."
Mikael Forssell came off the bench to score Birmingham's winner four minutes from time as they climbed out of the relegation zone.
Forssell controlled a cross from the excellent Julian Gray and slammed a fine left-foot shot into the corner.
Birmingham had gone ahead just after the hour mark when Gray crossed from the left and Nicky Butt converted.
Ex-Blues midfielder Robbie Savage levelled with a low shot past Maik Taylor before Forssell's late strike.
The tension-wracked finale leaves the Blues ahead of Portsmouth in the Premiership on goal difference, with only three games each left to play.
Birmingham manager Steve Bruce said afterwards: "Mikael has come off the bench and scored what could end up being the biggest goal for us for some time.
"We've kept it alive. A week ago I maybe thought we were dead and buried, but we've managed to dig out results.
"The players have been terrific and we've given ourselves an outstanding chance of staying up."
Blackburn boss Mark Hughes also said: "I'm very disappointed from our point of view. We had high hopes and wanted to win the game but it was a poor match from both sides.
"There wasn't a lot of quality on show and we didn't show enough cutting edge.
"At 1-1 we were in the ascendancy but then we switched off and didn't defend balls into the box. We're disappointed but we're still in the European mix."
