HARRY Redknapp made three changes to the side that recorded the historic win at Old Trafford at the weekend.

Jermain Defoe, Milan Baros and Pedro Mendes returned to the starting line-up in place of John Utaka, Kanu and Lassana Diarra who all dropped to the bench.

That meant a return to the diamond formation and a two-man strikeforce for Pompey.

Birmingham, meanwhile, left dangerous Scottish striker James McFadden on their bench as they sought to pack the midfield.

POMPEY: James, Johnson, Distin, Campbell, Hreidarsson, Diop (Diarra, 61), Muntari, Mendes, Kranjcar, Baros (Kanu, 72), Defoe (Lauren, 85). Unused subs: Ashdown, Utaka.

BIRMINGHAM: Taylor, Kelly, Ridgewell, Larsson, Forssell (Jerome, 72), McSheffrey, Murphy, Zarate (McFadden, 61), Johnson, Jaidi, Muamba. Unused subs: Doyle, Nafti, Parnaby.


00 - Kick-off.

04 - Lucky escape for Pompey as they are caught on the break. Sylvain Distin gets lucky with a heel to stop Mauro Zarate and

06 - GOAL - Milan Baros attacks the by-line, cuts back for Defoe but David Murphy sticks out an arm for a penalty. Defoe converts with minimal fuss.

08 - GOAL - Defoe makes in two in two minutes as Sulley Muntari tries his luck from range, Maik Taylor can only parry, Baros sees his follow-up blocked and Defoe taps in from a yard out.

09 - GOAL - Birmingham pull one back instantly as Fabrice Muamba tucks home from close range after Liam Ridgewell flicks on Larsson's corner. Anyone remember the Reading game....?

14 - City's Zarate is rightly yellow carded after a shocker of a dive in the box. Just minutes before, Damien Johnson gets away with a horror tackle on Mendes. Thankfully he's ok.

20 - It's pretty open here. Zarate races away and has a crack from distance that whistles just over the bar. But Baros really looks at it tonight and is causing the City defence all kinds of problems.

27 - It's calmed down a bit here after a frantic start. But it's a good open contest with both sides looking threatening on the attack. There should be more goals. Famous last words..

33 - Muntari swings in a free-kick to the far post and Taylor has to scramble across his line to keep it out.

40 - GOAL - It's 2-2 as Larsson curls home a peach of a free-kick from the edge of the box after Glen Johnson tripped Mikael Forssell. Pompey have blown a two-goal lead, but it's game on again.

45 - HALF TIME

46 - We're under way again. No changes from either side.

49 - GOAL - Pompey are back in front again as Hermann Hreidarsson taps in from close range after the City defence fails to deal with Muntari's searching free-kick from the right. Poor defending from Birmingham but the Icelandic defender doesn't care.

51 - Defoe should have completed his hat-trick there as a lucky ricochet lands at his feet in the box. He should have tanked that with his left foot, but he tries one with the outside of his right foot and it sails high and wide.

54 - Huge penalty appeal as Baros goes down after a supposed trip by Ridgewell. Numerous replays later and we still don't know whether there was contact. That would suggest that the referee got it right methinks.

61 - A substitution for both sides as Papa Bouba Diop is replaced by Lassana Diarra, while James McFadden comes on for Mauro Zarate.

62 - Pompey nearly extend their lead as Niko Kranjcar forces a fine low save from Taylor after another excellent burst from Baros. The Czech striker deserves a goal here - he's been terrific tonight.

70 - Pompey are hanging on a bit as City push for another equaliser. James makes a couple of timely punches to clear the danger.

72 - Baros has been outstanding, but that's his lot for tonight as he's replaced by Kanu. Birmingham bring on Cameron Jerome for Forssell.

76 - James makes a trademark brilliant save to deny Jerome after he hits a sweet volley from Larsson's cross. The Pompey keeper does superbly to tip over from the top corner.

80 - Ten minutes to go and City still look like they're capable of pinching an equaliser here. They'll have to commit men forward and it could be down to whether Pompey can grab one on the break.

84 - One such break almost seals the points as Kranjcar and Kanu tee up Muntari whose swerving shot drifts wide.

85 - Defoe is off for Lauren as Pompey attempt to hang on to what they've got.

90 - GOAL - Kanu wraps it up with a diving header from close range after a fine break from Lauren. Mendes supplies the cross and the Nigerian heads home.

FULL TIME



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