Pompey down Birmingham

Portsmouth striker Jermain Defoe scores the opening goal from a penalty during their Premiership tie against Birmingham at Fratton Park on Wednesday.Photo: AFP

Jermain Defoe scored twice for Portsmouth as the FA Cup favourites beat Birmingham City 4-2 to move into seventh place at Fratton Park here Wednesday.
In their first match since their shock FA Cup win against Manchester United at Old Trafford; Defoe put Pompey 2-0 up in front of their own fans inside the first nine minutes.
But barely 60 seconds Fabrice Muamba pulled a goal back for Birmingham before Sebastian Larsson's free-kick five minutes before the break levelled the match at 2-2.
However, Hermannn Hreidarsson gave the south coast club the lead again in the 49th minute before Kanu, on as a substitute, ended Birmingham's four-game unbeaten run with a diving header in the dying seconds to seal victory for Harry Redknapp's men. Defeat for Birmingham left them just a point above the relegation zone. Defoe opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the sixth minute, after Birmingham defender David Murphy handled a cross by Milan Baros.
Minutes later he scored a typical striker's goal, his fifth for the club since joining from Tottenham and 12th this season.
Birmingham keeper Maik Taylor did well to palm away Sulley Muntari's long shot and then blocked Baros's follow-up. But he couldn't prevent England forward Defoe sliding in to pounce on the loose ball from close range.
But Birmingham were back in the game in the 10th minute when Liam Ridgewell headed on a Larsson corner and Muamba stabbed a shot past in-form England goalkeeper David James.
And James was beaten again when, after Mikael Forssell was fouled on the edge of the box, Larsson curled in a 40th minute free-kick.
However, Pompey were back in front four minutes after half-time when Ridgewell couldn't clear a long free-kick from Muntari and Hreidarsson pounced on the loose ball.
Pompey might have had a second penalty, when Ridgewell appeared to trip Baros but their appeals fell on deaf ears.
City substitute Cameron Jerome - on for Forssell - came closest to equalising again, with a shot from Larsson's cross bringing a fine save from James, who earlier Wednesday signed a new contract which will keep him at Fratton Park until the end of the 2009/10 season.
Birmingham fought hard to get back on level terms before Kanu wrapped up the game when he headed in Pedro Mendes's cross for his first goal since October.