2004–05 Birmingham City F.C. season

• Note 1: Each match was 50 minutes long as part of a short four team tournament in Germany

Birmingham opened the season with an away trip to Portsmouth. Steve Bruce was able to name four new signings, Emile Heskey, Mario Melchiot, Muzzy Izzet and Jesper Grønkjær, in the first team, with Julian Gray on the bench. A quick paced game fired into life in the tenth minute as Damien Johnson was fouled just outside the Portsmouth box, and Robbie Savage stepped up to curl the free kick into the top corner of Shaka Hislop's goal. Only five minutes later Portsmouth were level, after Steve Stone was pushed in the area, and a penalty was awarded. Defender David Unsworth made no mistake as he sent keeper Maik Taylor the wrong way. There was chances for both teams to take the points at Fratton Park, but none were taken and the team left the south coast with a creditable 1–1 draw.

Big spending Chelsea were next up at St Andrew's, where Birmingham put in an impressive performance, but lost out to a second half Joe Cole goal. The first half saw chances spurned at both ends, with Chelsea striker Didier Drogba missing perhaps the easiest chance of the half, but it was Birmingham who were doing to pressing towards the end of the first half, and almost took the lead through both Emile Heskey and Julian Gray chances. On the 68th minute, Chelsea took the lead, as Cole was given too much time in the Blues half, and he raced forward before beating Taylor at his near post. Cole had only come off the bench five minutes before his goal.

The first mid-week fixture of the season saw Manchester City come to St Andrew's. An eighth-minute goal from Emile Heskey was enough to snatch the points, and Birmingham ended a run of 11 Premier League games without victory. Australian Stan Lazaridis managed to find room on the left to cross the ball into Heskey who finished with a powerful header from 10 yards (9.1 m). Manchester City dominated large parts of the game, but the Birmingham defence stayed strong to secure their first three points of the season.

After a bright start at White Hart Lane against Tottenham Hotspur, the team found themselves pinned into their own half as Spurs started to dominate the play. The only goal of the game was scored in the 34th minute as Jermain Defoe managed to turn Kenny Cunningham, before cutting inside Matthew Upson and hitting an unstoppable shot from the edge of the area.

Deadline day signing Dwight Yorke made his debut at the Riverside Stadium as Birmingham took on Middlesbrough, but could not prevent Mark Viduka taking the points. In the 27th minute, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink found Viduka, who controlled the ball and slotted it past Taylor. Birmingham equalised in the 42nd minute, as Heskey flicked the ball on to Forssell, who returned the ball for Heskey to smash home after a neat run into the area. Just after half-time, Viduka got his second of the game. After a poor clearance from a Middlesbrough corner, Boudewijn Zenden got a cross into the area, which was flicked on by Gareth Southgate for Viduka to score from close range.

Yorke had more luck in Birmingham's next game, against Charlton Athletic. A weak cross from Jonatan Johansson was fumbled by Taylor, and Luke Young pounced to give Charlton the lead in the 49th minute. This got worse in the 57th minute, as Damien Johnson was sent off for a second booking after upending Johansson on the halfway line. Manager Steve Bruce decided to act, and in the 61st minute, be brought on Yorke and David Dunn, who was making his first start of the season after injury. Seven minutes later, an Izzet corner was met with a bullet header from Yorke, that left Dean Kiely no chance, and level the game.

Birmingham's next game was against Bolton Wanderers at Reebok Stadium. A free kick by Iván Campo was cleared poorly by Upson, and the ball fell to Radhi Jaidi, who controlled the ball before volleying past Taylor to give Bolton the lead. A better start to the second half saw Birmingham bounce back as Grønkjær found room in the area before flicking the ball inside for Izzet to hit a first time shot in off the bar.

Nicky Butt scored an equaliser when Newcastle United came to St Andrew's. Goals from Yorke and Upson had given Birmingham a 2–1 lead, but Butt pounced on 67 minutes to rescue the Magpies a point.

Birmingham held Manchester United to a goalless draw at St Andrew's two weeks later and also played out a 0–0 draw at St Mary's Stadium against Southampton after that.

But they were disappointing in a 1–0 loss at home to Crystal Palace on 24 October. Former Birmingham striker Andrew Johnson scored the goal for Palace, who were coming into form. Johnson ran clear of the Birmingham backline after a quick Palace counterattack.

Following a run of eight games without a win, Birmingham beat Liverpool 1–0 at Anfield. Veteran Darren Anderton scored the goal on 77 minutes. He turned home from one yard out after Upson had headed a corner across goal. It was Birmingham's first away win in the league all season.

But Birmingham fell to a 1–0 defeat at home to Everton the following week. Thomas Gravesen scored a 69th-minute penalty after Izzet handled a shot on the goalline. Referee Rob Styles sent Izzet off and awarded Everton the spot-kick. Heskey was denied a leveller by a great last-ditch block by Tony Hibbert and Yorke wasted a late chance from ten yards.

Birmingham wasted a two-goal lead at Ewood Park against Blackburn Rovers. Matt Jansen gave the hosts an early lead with an incisive finish but Anderton equalised 12 minutes later. Robbie Savage put Birmingham ahead on 38 minutes after Melchiot's marauding run down the right. Moments before half-time Dunn netted against his old side to give Birmingham a commanding 3–1 lead at the interval. But Steven Reid and Paul Gallagher's goals in the second period rescued Rovers an unlikely point.

Clinton Morrison gave Birmingham an early lead against Norwich at St Andrew's with his first goal of the campaign, but Darren Huckerby's stunning second-half strike denied the Blues their third league win of the season.

Arsenal thumped Birmingham 3–0 in early December. Robert Pires gave the Gunners the advantage before Thierry Henry netted twice.

Birmingham bounced back by beating arch-rivals Aston Villa 2–1 on 12 December at Villa Park. Clinton Morrison scored the opener after Villa goalkeeper Thomas Sørensen let the ball slip through his hands. Shortly afterwards, David Dunn doubled Birmingham's lead after a swift counterattack. He converted Damien Johnson's cross to silence Villa Park. Gareth Barry scored a late consolation for the hosts but they were unable to prevent another defeat to their city rivals.

City recorded back-to-back league wins for the first time that season when they beat West Bromwich Albion 4–0 at St Andrew's. Former Birmingham defender Darren Purse conceded a penalty by holding Morrison and Savage was able to net his third goal of the season. Morrison, who impressed throughout, scored his side's second on 23 minutes after a quick free-kick and, minutes afterwards, Heskey angled home Birmingham's third. Anderton heaped more misery on the struggling visitors by scoring a late free-kick.

And Birmingham moved up to 12th for the visit of Middlesbrough on Boxing Day. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink had an early goal disallowed for offside before Morrison netted his third goal in as many matches. Heskey confirmed Birmingham's dominance when he headed in from six yards moments before half-time.

Birmingham's impressive December form continued at Fulham on 28 December. Heskey lashed his side ahead with a stunning drive on 25 minutes but Sylvain Legwinski equalised against the run of play. Darren Carter turned home a Heskey header to restore Birmingham's advantage four minutes before half-time. Savage sealed the win with a spectacular second-half volley. Tomasz Radzinski found the net late on for a consolation goal.

Following a successful December, Birmingham slumped to four-straight losses in January and, by the end of the month, fell to 15th in the table. By the time Emile Heskey scored at St James' Park, Birmingham were already 2–0 down to Newcastle. Shola Ameobi and Lee Bowyer had scored. Kevin Nolan scored a last-minute winner as Bolton Wanderers won for the first time in the Premiership since October by beating Birmingham 2–1 at St Andrew's. Birmingham's dreadful run continued as they lost 3–1 at The Valley to Charlton Athletic.

Steve Bruce's side didn't manage to record a single point during January. Fulham won at St Andrew's on 22 January. An own goal by Moritz Volz gave Birmingham the lead on 51 minutes. Luís Boa Morte was soon booked for diving under pressure by Birmingham goalkeeper Maik Taylor but, minutes later, Fulham were awarded a spot-kick. Boa Morte went to ground again under Damien Johnson's challenge but contact appeared to be outside the penalty box. Referee Phil Dowd awarded the penalty and Andy Cole converted. Fulham won it after Papa Bouba Diop scored a late header.

Birmingham signed striker Walter Pandiani and winger Jermaine Pennant on loans in January after slipping towards the relegation zone. The duo combined in their next game at St Andrew's against struggling Southampton. Pandiani headed home a Pennant cross on 12 minutes. Fellow new signing Robbie Blake scored from the penalty spot on 41 minutes after Melchiot was fouled. Southampton debutant Henri Camara netted a spectacular consolation in the second period.

Three days later, on 5 February, Birmingham lost 2–0 at Old Trafford to Manchester United. Wayne Rooney scored the pick of the goals against an injury-ravaged City team.

But resilient Birmingham bounced back to beat Liverpool 2–0 on 12 February. Sami Hyypiä fouled ex-Liverpool striker Heskey in the box and Pandiani duly delivered from the spot on 38 minutes. Birmingham doubled their advantage moments before half-time. Pennant crossed for Julian Gray to head in his first goal of the campaign. Birmingham completed the double over Liverpool that season.

The win was followed by a 2–0 loss at Crystal Palace, who celebrated the double over Birmingham. Upson conceded two penalties, both scored by Andrew Johnson. The referee was Phil Dowd, whom Bruce publicly criticised after the match as he had now given three penalties against Birmingham in the past two games he refereed them.

Birmingham began March poorly, with a 2–0 defeat at West Brom. The Baggies were fighting to stay in the division and easily saw off a lethargic Birmingham team. Neil Clement and Kevin Campbell scored the second-half goals.

Following an international break, Birmingham rallied to beat rivals Aston Villa and celebrated another double over their neighbours. Heskey put his side ahead on 52 minutes after another goalkeeping error by Sørensen. Gray sealed the victory late on with his second goal in four games.

The win over Aston Villa saw Bruce's squad climb up to 13th in the table. They faced Tottenham Hotspur at St Andrew's on 2 April. Stephen Kelly, who would later go on to become a Birmingham player, netted Spurs' opener on 59 minutes but Darren Carter levelled for the hosts on 66 minutes with his second goal of the campaign.

Birmingham were denied a win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge after a late Didier Drogba goal cancelled out another Pandiani strike. The Uruguayan was becoming a favourite with the fans, who were calling for him to be signed permanently.

Birmingham drew for a third time in a row on 16 April 16 when Portsmouth travelled to St Andrew's. Chances were at a premium in a dull 0–0 draw.

Manchester City thumped Birmingham City 3–0 on 20 April. Clinton Morrison thought he had given his side the lead early on but the goal was ruled out for offside. The hosts scored all their goals in the second-half, including an unfortunate own goal by Maik Taylor.

Birmingham scored an early goal at Goodison Park to take the lead against Everton. Heskey powered home from 20 yards but Birmingham were denied all three points late on. Experienced forward Duncan Ferguson scored after a goalmouth scramble to rescue Everton a draw.

Heskey continued his impressive form in Birmingham's next game, against Blackburn Rovers. Birmingham fell behind at St Andrew's to an early Jon Stead goal but, in the second half, Blake netted his second goal for Blues. Heskey won it on 80 minutes after rifling home a long-range strike with his weaker left foot for his 10th goal of the season.

But Birmingham were unable to cement back-to-back victories. They travelled to a Norwich City side fighting to stay in the league. The Canaries won the match 1–0, courtesy of a Dean Ashton penalty in the first half. Birmingham played most of the match with ten men after Damien Johnson punched an opponent.

Arsenal visited St Andrew's to complete the season. Pandiani gave Birmingham the lead on 79 minutes with his fourth goal for the club after a goalmouth scramble but veteran Dennis Bergkamp equalised on 88 minutes. An error by Philippe Senderos allowed Heskey in to crash home a winner in injury time.

Date	Player	Club	Fee	Ref
18 May 2004	Emile Heskey	Liverpool	£6,250,000	[12]
23 June 2004	Julian Gray	(Crystal Palace)	Free	[13]
1 July 2004	Muzzy Izzet	(Leicester City)	Free	[14]
9 July 2004	Mario Melchiot	(Chelsea)	Free	[15]
12 July 2004	Jesper Grønkjær	Chelsea	£2,200,000	[16]
10 August 2004	Darren Anderton	(Tottenham Hotspur)	Free	[17]
31 August 2004	Dwight Yorke	Blackburn Rovers	Undisclosed	[18]
1 January 2005	Njazi Kuqi	Lahti	£400,000	[19]
5 January 2005	Robbie Blake	Burnley	£1,250,000	[20]
25 January 2005	Alex Bruce	Blackburn Rovers	Undisclosed	[21]

Brackets round club names denote the player's contract with that club expired before he joined Birmingham City.

Date	Player	Fee	Joined	Ref
6 August 2004	Aliou Cissé	£300,000	Portsmouth	[22]
14 September 2004	Stern John	£200,000	Coventry City	[23]
1 January 2005	Jesper Grønkjær	Undisclosed	Atlético Madrid	[24]
19 January 2005	Robbie Savage	£3,000,000	Blackburn Rovers	[25]
30 June 2005	Ian Bennett	Free	(Leeds United)	[26]
25 April 2005	Dwight Yorke	Cancelled	(Sydney FC)	[27]

Brackets round club names denote the player joined that club after his Birmingham City contract expired.