Blues to appeal Michel's reserve red

Birmingham will appeal against midfielder Michel's red card in the reserve defeat to Chelsea at St Andrew's.

The midfielder was sent off by referee Marvyn Amphlett in the closing stages last night for a foul on Danny Mills and could miss the last three Premier League games of the season, including the derby against Villa, if the FA refuse to overturn the dismissal.

Blues' reserve boss Malky Thomson was left bemused by the decision.

He said: "Michel has put the defender under pressure and he's slid in to try and hook his foot around the ball. I'm not quite sure what he's been sent off for."

The Blues man saw red as the reserves slipped to a narrow 1-0 defeat against a youthful Chelsea side, who also finished with 10 men.

Jacob Mellis' late strike gave the visitors victory over a strong Blues line up that included goalkeeper Maik Taylor, Gregory Vignal, Michel, Sebastian Larsson, Lee Carsley, Teemu Tainio and Christian Benitez.

Gael Kakuta almost fired the visitors into an early lead, before Larsson's 30-yard free-kick forced goalkeeper Rhys Taylor into a fine stop. Mellis and Kakuta both went close before half-time, while Tainio and the returning Carsley also had Taylor scrambling.

But the visitors finally broke the deadlock with 14 minutes remaining, when Mellis tapped in from close range.

Then both sides finished with 10 men, with Michel dismissed and Nana Ofori-Twumasi picking up a second booking.