Lee heads in for Bolton's winner at St Andrew's

By Mandeep Sanghera

Lee Chung-Yong struck the winner as Bolton overcame a battling Birmingham to reach the FA Cup semi-finals.

Johan Elmander powered in a shot to put the visitors ahead before Cameron Jerome equalised with a half-volley.

Kevin Davies restored Bolton's lead when he struck from the spot after he was fouled by Curtis Davies.

A dipping shot from Kevin Phillips, who also hit the post, levelled matters before Lee nodded in from close range to settle a pulsating game.

The victory puts the Trotters in the last four of the FA Cup for the first time in 11 years but they were pushed all the way by Birmingham, despite the home side's woes.

There had been a sense of vulnerability about Blues because manager Alex McLeish was without nine key players through injury and therefore fielded a side that had a walking wounded feel to it.

The Midlands outfit also had the spectre of a Premier League relegation fight hanging over them as they faced a Bolton team who, with four wins from their last five outings, seemed ready to compound their misery.

However, Birmingham produced the tenacity and tigerish attitude that typified their Carling Cup final success over Arsenal and put up a brave fight before eventually falling to a valiant defeat.

The home side suffered an early setback when ex-Blues midfielder Fabrice Muamba's header was delicately glanced on by Ivan Klasnic and Elmander finished in emphatic fashion after 21 minutes.

Birmingham's problems were exacerbated when centre-back Martin Jiranek and midfielder Barry Ferguson both had to go off injured before the half-hour mark and were replaced by Liam Ridgwell and 17-year-old Nathan Redmond.

However, rather than fold, McLeish's side fought hard and Jerome headed on a goal-kick that Bolton centre-back David Wheater inadvertently cleared back to him.

The Blues striker made the most of his fortune as he controlled the ball and his sweetly struck half-volley powered into the bottom corner as the visitors conceded the first goal of their FA Cup campaign this season.

While those two moments stood out in a first half of route one football, the second period was more about the frantic nature of an FA Cup tie.

Birmingham fans cried out for a penalty when Jerome went over after a challenge from Jussi Jaaskelainen but the Bolton keeper got a touch to the ball when coming out of his goal to foil the forward.

Lee was introduced after 61 minutes and was immediately in the thick of the action as he cleared off the line when a Sebastian Larsson corner came off the thigh of Blues defender David Murphy.

Bolton went up the other end and won a penalty when home centre-back Curtis Davies fouled Kevin Davies, with the latter picking himself up to convincingly convert it after 66 minutes.

If the visitors thought that might break Birmingham's spirit, they were wrong.

Phillips, 37, was surrounded by defenders but the wily forward still managed to produce an angled effort that agonisingly came back off the far post.

But the veteran showed his goalscoring prowess when he struck a ball at the top of its bounce to send a dipping 20-yard shot over Jaaskelainen.

A replay looked on the cards, only for Kevin Davies to head across goal and Lee to nod in from six yards for a Bolton win in injury time.

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish:
"Our lads, despite the problems we had with injuries, put in a magnificent effort.

"You couldn't ask for more in terms of commitment and effort.

"But we were a bit sloppy with the goals. When your back four changes, they may not gel and it was evident with the first and third goals.

"But overall the performance of the team was a plus."

Bolton boss Owen Coyle:
"I felt we deserved to win. Birmingham have won the Carling Cup and you don't win that by accident.

"You win it because you have quality and tremendous spirit and you've seen that from them again today.

"But I know what I have in my group. I know the quality of player but equally I know the attitude they have.

"They picked themselves up twice from losing the lead. I said to the players, 'don't let the opportunity pass you by' and they responded excellently.

"Whatever the draw, we will be ready to go and try and win that game when it comes about."

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