BLUES TAKE A TUMBLE

BIRMINGHAM fans turned on chairman David Gold and co-owner David Sullivan as their side's relegation from the Barclays Premier League was confirmed despite substitute Cameron Jerome's late double against Blackburn.

Chants of the "the board must go" were aimed towards the director's box once it became clear there was going to be no last day of the season Houdini act for Alex McLeish's side.

BRI AND MIGHTY!

ROB SHEPHERD at Craven Cottage

IF Fulham retain their Premier League status next week then Roy Hodgson will be hailed as a miracle man.

No doubt, there will be few Roy of the Rovers or Houdini Hodgson headlines banded about.

ECK SHOT TO PIECES

DAVID HARRISON at St Andrew's

BIRMINGHAM CITY shot themselves in both feet — and now have the pistol pressed firmly against their heads.

Survival could depend on beating Fulham next Saturday and — judging by yesterday's suicidal tendencies — they will be dodging more bullets at Craven Cottage.

ADAM CROWHURST at Villa Park

JOHN Carew and Ashley Young grabbed a brace apiece to keep Aston Villa on course for Europe and send humiliated local rivals Birmingham closer to the Barclays Premier League relegation trapdoor.

Martin O'Neill's side outgunned their woeful opponents in all departments to close the gap on fifth-placed Everton to three points.