08/02/2003  Birmingham 1 Chelsea 3
 
Claudio Ranieri's side climbed back into third spot into 
the Premiership as they ended their mini away slump in 
emphatic style and left Birmingham City still searching for 
their first win of 2003.

Goals from Gianfranco Zola, Eidur Gudjohnsen and Jimmy 
Floyd Hasselbaink pushed Chelsea above Newcastle United for at 
least 24 hours.

Chelsea had lost their previous three away games and in the 
opening 45 minutes they were indebted to keeper Carlo Cudicini 
for keeping them on level terms.

He produced a string of fine saves as City, inspired by 
Christophe Dugarry, produced one of their most enterprising 45 
minutes of the season.

But the opening goal from Zola a minute before the interval 
knocked the stuffing out of Steve Bruce's battlers, who are 
being sucked closer to the relegation zone.

Chelsea knocked the ball around with more customary flair 
in the second period with Emmanuel Petit an influential figure 
in the middle of the park.

The home side can take plenty of heart from the first half 
but the quality of their defending again left a lot to be 
desired and they have now gone nine games without a win and 
collected just three points in that period.

Blues 'keeper Nico Vaesen made the first save of note when 
he clung onto a 20-yard volley from Graeme Le Saux after Eidur 
Gudjohnsen had headed the ball down into his path.

But the home side were soon into their stride and Cudicini 
beat out a fierce shot from Stan Lazaridis following a cross 
into the area from Jeff Kenna.

Dugarry was causing plenty of problems with his trickery 
and both Marcel Desailly and John Terry were booked in quick 
succession for bringing down the French star.

Cudicini was almost caught out by a curling long range 
free-kick from Lazaridis which he just managed to turn around 
the post.

But the Italian then pulled off a superb save to finger-tip 
over a rising 20-yard pile-driver from Jamie Clapham after 
more good play by Dugarry.

Lazaridis then charged down a clearance from Terry which 
fell into the path of Dugarry. He took the ball past Desailly 
but again Cudicini was equal to the task and blocked his 
eventual shot.

Petit became the third Chelsea player to booked - for 
dissent after disputing a free-kick - and Chelsea were clearly 
frustrated.

But towards the interval they came more into the game and 
Kenny Cunningham produced a superb tackle to halt Frank 
Lampard as he prepared to shoot from close range.

Then, a minute before half-time, Zola - who had made little 
impact - stunned the home side with his 13th goal of the 
season.

Petit centred and Gudjohnsen headed the ball into the path 
of Zola who made no mistake with a sweetly-struck volley from 
15 yards out which beat the despairing drive of Vaesen. It was 
harsh on City after one of their most enterprising 45 minutes 
of football of the season.

The limping Zola was replaced for the second half by 
Hasselbaink as City tried to rally and Cudicini again earned 
his spurs to keep out a close-range effort from Lazaridis.

But after 49 minutes they were left with a mountain to 
climb as Gudjohnsen clinically grabbed his ninth of the 
season.

Dugarry lost the ball deep in his own half to Frank Lampard 
but Chelsea broke with pace and Gudjohnsen was on hand to head 
home the eventual right-wing cross from Gronkjaer.

Chelsea now started to knock the ball around with 
confidence and Vaesen did well to keep out a deft flick by 
Gudjohnsen after good play by Hasselbaink.

But he had no chance after 68 minutes when Hasselbaink 
drilled home a penalty after he had been brought down himself 
in the area by Robbie Savage to seal City's fate.

Birmingham managed a consolation goal five minutes from 
time when Desailly fouled Clinton Morrison with Robbie Savage 
scoring from the penalty but it was too little, too late.