St Andrew's silenced by grand old boot of Yorke

Birmingham City 0 Blackburn Rovers 1

The big time finally came to St Andrew's yesterday and Birmingham would have been equal to it if only they could have converted their chances.

They threw themselves into their first Premiership home match with the enthusiasm of beginners and dominated a game which rarely rose above the standard of the First Division. The teams last met there only a couple of seasons ago.

But it was left to an old Premiership hand to give them a lesson in taking chances. Dwight Yorke perfected his trade at Old Trafford, so it was no surprise he kept his head when Birmingham's strikers were losing theirs to pounce on a loose ball after 13 minutes and stab home for his first goal in Blackburn colours.

And though he went close several more times as an increasingly desperate Birmingham threw caution to the wind, that one strike was to prove decisive. Yorke also gave his old sparring partner Andy Cole a lesson in finding space, but with Blackburn on the back foot for long spells, neither enjoyed the service afforded to Birmingham's front-runners Stern John and Geoff Horsfield.

John, in particular, spurned a string of opportunities created by his tireless captain Horsfield and the lively winger Damien Johnson. He also had what looked like a reasonable claim for a penalty turned down when he was felled in the box by the Blackburn substitute Henning Berg.

"I didn't see it myself but a couple of my players admitted it should have been a penalty," said the Blackburn manager, Graeme Souness.

A fusillade of fireworks had announced the first Premiership match at St Andrew's and Birmingham began like a side who have not played a home game in the top flight for 16 years and were anxious to start with a bang. And they should have given their patient supporters something to shout about before Blackburn caught them on the break. Damien Duff, who had a quiet game by his standards, won possession in midfield and released David Dunn, but his shot was charged down.

Then Yorke pounced on the loose ball to score from four yards, his first goal since he was reunited with his old United striking partner Cole. It presaged Blackburn's best spell and Cole should have doubled the advantage when Olivier Tébily's mistake allowed him a one-on-one with Nico Vaesen, but he dithered and the Birmingham goalkeeper scrambled the ball away.Vaesen was to rescue the Blues again with point-blank blocks from Duff and Cole before the home side regained their early composure.

But then it was the turn of Blackburn's United States international goalkeeper, Brad Friedel, to shine, making fine saves from John and Horsfield before palming away a John header that was destined for the top corner with one hand. "We gave everything we could in terms of endeavour but in the end even the penalty decision went against us," said the Birmingham manager, Steve Bruce.

His side tired towards the end and Blackburn might have increased their lead but for more heroics from Vaesen. If this is to prove more than a brief season in the sun for the Blues they must learn to take their chances at home against what, by Premiership standards, is ordinary opposition.

Birmingham City 0 Blackburn Rovers 1
Yorke 13

Half-time: 0-1 Attendance: 27,563