Blues go through after shoot-out

Birmingham edged through to the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup by the skin of their teeth after a penalty shoot-out against League One Brentford.

Blues pipped them to the post 4-3 on spot kicks, with goalkeeper Maik Taylor saving the decisive effort from Craig Woodman to win the game at St Andrew's.

The Premier League side had only made it to extra time with a stoppage time goal, Kevin Phillips' strike two minutes after the 90 saving the tie for Alex McLeish's men.

Brentford had led through Sam Wood's stunning 68th minute volley from Charlie MacDonald's ball to stun the home crowd.

But the evergreen Phillips, playing his first game for a month, came to Blues' rescue with his first goal of the season.

The 37-year-old was first to Scott Dann's ball to fire in from close range and take the game to extra time.

It went all the way to penalties with Phillips, Craig Gardner and Scott Dann all converting, while Brentford's Kevin O'Connor and David Hunt kept up the pace for the visitors.

But Michael Spillane stepped up and missed for the League One side, only for Lee Bowyer to also fluff his lines for Blues.

Lewis Grabban and Stephen Carr for the hosts then both scored, bef0re goalkeeper Taylor saved Woodman's effort to send Birmingham through.