McFadden spot on to give Birmingham last-gasp win

Birmingham forward James McFadden gave his promoted side their first win of the season as his controversial penalty defeated Portsmouth 1-0 at St Andrews on Wednesday.

McFadden struck from the spot in stoppage time after referee Lee Probert ruled that Portsmouth goalkeeper David James had fouled Sebastian Larsson.

The Scot’s goal got Birmingham up and running after their opening weekend defeat at Manchester United, while Portsmouth remain without a goal or a point.

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish made an attacking change to the side narrowly beaten at United on Sunday as Scotland striker Garry O’Connor replaced midfielder Lee Carsley.

Birmingham striker Cameron Jerome had the first shot on target after some sloppy defensive work by the visitors, but James held on to his low drive away to his left.

Portsmouth responded as debutant midfielder Anthony Van den Borre, on loan from Genoa, made a powerful run only to lift his shot high over the bar.

Back came City and Jerome teed up Keith Fahey on the edge of the box. His low shot took a slight deflection but did not overly trouble James.

Larsson came close to putting City in front after 18 minutes when he got on the end of a deep first-time centre from left-back Gregory Vignal but he could not keep his header down.

It was 35 minutes before Portsmouth forced a save from Birmingham keeper Joe Hart as the on-loan Manchester City man held onto a long range attempt from Niko Kranjcar.

Hart then parried a low effort around the post from Frederic Piquionne although the shot was probably heading just wide before his intervention.

Nigeria’s John Utaka came on for Van Den Borre at half-time but Portsmouth had a narrow escape when McFadden released Jerome and his shot curled wide.

Pompey midfielder Hayden Mullins was guilty of a glaring miss when he shot wide from close range.

James turned over a curling free-kick from Larsson after substitute Kevin Phillips had been brought down by Mullins. The Portsmouth keeper made another fine save to turn a curling shot from Phillips past the post.

But he was beaten in stoppage time when referee Probert decided that James’s clash with Larsson was worthy of a penalty.

McFadden stepped up to convert the spot-kick and leave Portsmouth pointless.