Rochdale's Carling Cup adventure ended at St Andrews as Birmingham fought back from a goal down to book their place in round three.
It might have been different if Birmingham hadn’t benefited from a dubious penalty to draw the Blues level, but Keith Hill can be safe in the knowledge his team gave the Premier League side a scare at the very least.
After 15 minutes, Anthony Elding, deployed on the left of a five-man midfield by Keith Hill, had the travelling Dale fans temporarily out of their seats with a near-post header that ruffled the side-netting.
And 10 minutes later they up again to applaud a wonderfully crafted Dale goal. Scott Wiseman released Andrew Tutte down the right, continued his run into the box and volleyed Tutte’s cross goalwards. After Taylor had saved low save to his right, Gary Jones was on hand to tuck away the rebound.
But delirium in the stands turned to despair barely two minutes later as Birmingham were gifted the chance to equalise.
Marcus Holness and Matt Derbyshire tangled in the area, but with whole of St Andrews expecting to see referee Mick Russell give a goal-kick, assistant Nigel Murphy gave a penalty to the bewilderment of both sets of players.
Rochdale’s prolonged protests did little to stop James McFadden beating Lillis from the spot.
The only complaints about Birmingham’s second goal would have come from Hill as some slack defending allowed Roger Johnson to head Sebastian Larsson’s corner back across goal and David Murphy to score from close-range two minutes after half-time.
Derbyshire seemingly sealed the tie five minutes later when he bundled home the third only for Rochdale to set up a nervy finish when O’Grady spun Keith Fahey and cut the ball back for Jones to slide home his second of the night.
ROCHDALE: Lillis 6, Wiseman 7, Widdowson 7, Holness 5 (Thompson 64, 6), Dawson 7, Jones 7, Barry-Murphy 6, Tutte 5 (Done 64, 6), O’Grady 8, Elding 6 (Akpa-Akpro 64, 6).
What is your verdict on the action? Have your say.
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If ever there was glory in defeat, this was surely it. Dale played the game with a quality that bemused their Premiership opponents and baffled the manager. Alex McLeish was less than generous in his post-match remarks, but he knew how close his team came to being dumped out of the competition by a League One side.
Dale were magnificent.,They took the game to the opposition, played neat passing football, and for long periods were well on top.
Players such as Chris O'Grady (rightly judged the Man of the Match), Craig Dawson, Gary Jones and Scott Wiseman played to a level that Birmingham found difficult to handle, and in O'Grady, Rochdale had the start performer. The Premiership team just couldn't cope with his movement and strength. He left his marker in his wake too many times for comfort.
It was a magnificent Dale performance which will surely have won them many friends with their style of play and their approach to the game. Keith Hill and David Flitcroft have built a team of which they can be justifiably proud, and last night was a superb performance.
Every one of the players and the Dale supporters can all walk with heads held high today.
Up the Dale............
Absolutely brilliant!!.. I couldnt make the game but sat and watched it with 2 die hard Man U fans.. its not often I`m happy in defeat, but this time pride took over hurt. To a man every player gave their all and really ruffled the premier league boy.. and Birmingham did put out a strong team.
Chris O`Grady - wouldnt have looked out of place 2 divisions higher last night, Daws.. amazing.. he`s worth more than the £1,000,000 easily. and I`m very impressed with josh Thompson... cool, and fitted in with Daws really well. The whole team performed and must take this forward.
also, great to see Hilly enjoying the game. we were never going to win the cup but as Harry`smate says.. we`ve won many friends and admirers.. especialy my two mates who felt obliged to jump all over me when Dale scored!!!
And who marks the players above????.. I wouldnt put any under 8!!...or am I biased?????