Obafemi Martins On song For Birmingham
Nigeria’s Obafemi Martins scored one of the three goals Birmingham needed to  cruise into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup for the second successive season. But mid-fielder,  Alexander Hleb is facing Wembley heartbreak.
Hleb set up the first two goals for Jean Beausejour and Obafemi Martins but was then stretchered off and looks doubtful for next weekend’s Carling Cup final against his former club Arsenal.
Full-back David Murphy scored the third goal early in the second period and Birmingham were comfortable winners despite making eight changes.
Martins, on loan from Rubin Kazan for the rest of the season, staked his claim to start against the Gunners with an impressive performance and he showed excellent movement.
Veteran midfielder Lee Bowyer also demonstrated his quality with some trademark runs into the Wednesday box while Keith Fahey also caught the eye in a defensive central role.
Blues needed only five minutes to take the lead through Beausejour’s first goal for the club.
Hleb’s vision picked out Bowyer’s late run and the former England midfielder sent the ball across the danger area towards Beausejour. He was unmarked as he side-footed the ball past Nicky Weaver.
Wednesday tried to retaliate and it needed a fine tackle by Roger Johnson to deny Neil Mellor as he prepared to shoot.
But Birmingham were soon back on the offensive and Weaver parried away a powerful Fahey free-kick.
It was one-way traffic and Weaver blocked a close range effort from Beausejour after good play by Murphy.
It came as no surprise when Martins scored his first goal for City after 17 minutes.
Hleb was again the creator with a pass which Martins was able to take into his stride before firing past the exposed Weaver into the far corner of the net.
O’Connor became the first player to be yellow carded after 22 minutes for chopping down Hleb.
Other results of the FA Cup matches:
Stoke beat Brighton 3-0.
Man United 1 Crawley Town 0.
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