Birmingham made a positive start to the second half and Forssell had two chances to double their money.

BBC: SPORT | Football | Premier League | Derby 1-2 Birmingham

Jerome's clever flick sent Forssell clear but as he shaped to round Bywater the Derby keeper read his intentions and spread himself to save.

BBC: SPORT | Football | Premier League | Derby 1-2 Birmingham

Bruce is already without Blues captain Damien Johnson (hamstring), but striker Mikael Forssell (head) and Stuart Parnaby (knock) are both expected to recover in time.

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On the stroke of half-time, Mikael Forssell made it two when he prodded in a corner from close range after Cameron Jerome had flicked on.

BBC: Birmingham 3-0 Middlesbrough

Olivier Kapo's driven cross was met by fellow substitute Mikael Forssell and his effort thundered against the top of the bar before Robinson expertly denied Kapo.

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Birmingham responded with Mikael Forssell chesting down a ball, swivelling and shooting only for his low shot to be saved a full stretch by keeper David James.

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On 32 minutes Diao was booked for grounding Lazaridis after a succession of illegal challenges, and from Savage's free-kick Forssell arrived unmarked on the far post to score.

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The marauding McFadden, who was playing on his own in attack after Mikael Forssell was sacrificed for defender Stuart Parnaby following the red card, was brought down by Mathieu Flamini.

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That proved costly as in the dying moments of the first-half Forssell poached his team's second goal, prodding in from two yards out after Jerome rose clear at the near post to flick on Larsson's left-wing corner.

BBC: Birmingham 3-0 Middlesbrough