HT: Birmingham 1-2 Everton

Cameron Jerome's third goal in the past two games gave Birmingham a life-line after Everton had taken command of the Barclays Premier League clash at St Andrew's.

Victor Anichebe and Ayegbeni Yakubu had netted in the space of three minutes mid-way through the half to put Birmingham's six-month unbeaten home record under threat.

But Jerome put City back in contention with his eighth goal of the campaign as Alex McLeish's side started to gain some momentum.

Skipper Stephen Carr and midfielder Lee Bowyer returned to the Birmingham side for the home Barclays Premier League clash with Everton.

Carr had been rested for the midweek win at Portsmouth while Bowyer was been sidelined through illness, but the pair were recalled in place of Stuart Parnaby (ankle) and Michel respectively.

Everton boss David Moyes made one change from the starting XI which had demolished Hull 5-1 last weekend.

Tim Cahill recovered from a calf problem and came into the side in place of Leon Osman who was ruled out with a groin injury.

In a reshuffled line-up John Heitinga switched into midfield, Phil Neville moved to right-back and Victor Anichebe wide right.

Both sides went into the game looking for the victory to keep alive their hopes of securing Europa League football.

Ayegbeni Yakubu was off target with a header from an early Leighton Baines corner and, although Sylvain Distin was able to turn the loose ball back across goal, Roger Johnson was on hand to clear.

Birmingham retaliated and a sequence of neat one-touch passing ended with Craig Gardner's floated ball just failing to pick out the run of Carr into the Everton box.

Everton enjoyed the bulk of the possession in the early stages and Bowyer gave away a free-kick 35 yards out when bringing down Steven Pienaar but Baines' centre was cleared by Carr.

Bowyer and Pienaar were spoken to by referee Lee Probert after squaring up to each other in the Everton box.

Both sides gave away a series of niggly free-kicks in the opening quarter of an hour and there was little cohesive play although Everton seemed quicker to the second ball.

But after 16 minutes Blues keeper Joe Hart produced a superb save to keep his side on level terms.

Baines found Pienaar in space and his curling effort was destined for the corner of the net until Hart finger-tipped his drive around the post.

Hart then clung onto a Cahill header from a Mikel Arteta centre before Anichebe put Everton ahead after 18 minutes.

Phil Neville played the ball into the feet of Anichebe who turned past Liam Ridgewell before beating Hart with a powerful 15-yard drive.