Player ratings: Birmingham City v Manchester City

Given – A brilliant double save in the first half was arguably even better than the penalty stop. His performance was a real birthday present to the manager. 9

Zabaleta – A steadier game from Pablo, with some good clearing headers. Going forward their was little attacking threat. We were crying out for a repeat of the cross for Santa Cruz he provided against Scunthorpe, but it never arrived. 6

Kompany – Looked very solid in the air alongside Lescott, but was caught out positionally a couple of times. He can be forgiven a little rustiness as this was a tough 90 minutes for someone on their way back from injury. 7

Lescott – A steady if unspectacular game. Rarely caught out at the back, despite the busy movement of the Birmingham forwards. Good to see him fully switched on at set pieces after the Fulham debacle. 7

Bridge – The trademark forward runs weren’t hugely successful, while at the back he had his hands full with Larsson. 6

de Jong – A good feisty performance as captain. Unlucky to be substituted. In attempting to fend off the player, his raised arm did make contact with ball for the penalty. 7

Barry – A second return to the midlands brought a second poor performance. Caught in possession and looked very one paced. Even the passing went awry. 5

Wright-Phillips – In the first half Shaun was looking dangerous and produced an excellent shot which Taylor fumbled. The second was all perspiration and no inspiration. At times he even looked a liability when conceding possession gave Brum a chance to attack. 5

Bellamy – A hard working performance on the left flank, even if it wasn’t his most effective. One well timed run through the middle in the first half nearly brought a goal. His pace could have been utilised inside sooner than when Petrov came on. 6

Tevez – In the first half he was looking busy and a likely source of inspiration. The dreadful service in the second left him unable to influence the game. And as for the shooting… 6

Santa Cruz – After a promising showing against Scunthorpe, this was a step backwards as his lack of match fitness rendered him increasingly less effective as the game wore on. He was conscientious in helping to defend set-pieces, but it’s the attacking play we pay him for. 6

Subs:

Ireland – The game was collapsing into a scrambled affair by the time Stevie got on, and he wasn’t able to rectify it. Eventually managed a couple of decent passes. 6

Petrov – In recent weeks he’s been able to give the team a lift, but not here. A couple of cross-field passes were as good as it got. Blasted one chance comically wide. In mitigation he may not have been fully fit after his knee injury last week. 6

Man of the match: No surprises for guessing who we have to thank for our first clean sheet since August – Shay Given.