Half-time: Birmingham City 1 Blackburn Rovers 0

3:50pm Sunday 11th May 2008

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A RARE mistake by goalkeeper Brad Friedel handed relegation-threatened Birmingham City a half-time lead, leaving Rovers' Intertoto hopes hanging in the balance.

The deadlock was broken with just over half an hour gone in this tense finale to the Premier League season, after David Murphy latched onto a quickly taken free kick close to the halfway line.

The fullback was allowed too much time and space to make a forward run before unleashing a low, left-foot shot from distance.

It seemed comfortable enough for Friedel to deal with, but the American stopper took his eyes of it for a second and it spooned up and out of his hands before nestling in the far right corner.

Friedel redeemed himself moments later with a good block from the dangerous Olivier Kapo at close range.

Rovers' best chance to get back on level terms arrived four minutes from time, when Brett Emerton picked out Jason Roberts with a square ball from the byeline, but with goalkeeper Maik Taylor stranded after charging out of his area, Stephen Kelly made an excellent clearance off the line.