Football: Trev's Facing Striker Crisis; BIRMINGHAM 1 SWINDON 1

TREVOR FRANCIS was at his wits end last night after watching his Blues toss away victory against bottom-of-the-table Swindon and learning he has run out of strikers.

Leading scorer Paul Furlong, plus Peter Ndlovu, Andrew Johnson and Marcelo, are all on the St Andrews injured list.

And when Dele Adebola limped off in the 30th minute to join them it left Francis without a fit striker to field against West Ham in the Worthington Cup on Tuesday.

Francis explained: "The only one I've got left is on-loan Christopher Wreh and he's Cup-tied after playing for Arsenal.

"I've already got two loan players so I can't have another one. And there's no money available to bring one in. It's like having a hand tied behind your back. But what can I do?"

Francis admitted the injury crisis which also sees star wingers Jon McCarthy and Stan Lazaridis sidelined by long-term injuries is getting him down.

And his mood will not have been helped by the way his side surrendered victory.

The game was deep into added time when Blues conceded a free-kick and Swindon striker Iffy Onuora, courtesy of an Alan Reeves flick- on, headed the ball past Kevin Poole.

Until that moment Poole had had just two saves to make, both from Chris Hay.

Blues, for all their domination and possession, were just as impotent in front of goal.

Adebola and Wreh both failed to get a shot on target and it was left to versatile midfielder Martin Grainger to score the goal that looked to have sealed the home side's victory.

Grainger, who moved from his normal left-back berth to cover for Lazaridis, neatly headed Allen Johnston's right-wing cross past Swindon keeper Frank Talia in the 26th minute.

Grainger also had the best opportunity of the second half as Blues increased the pressure in their attempt to put the game beyond Swindon's reach.

One of their best moves, which involved Gary Rowett and Bryan Hughes down the right, ended with Grainger failing to get a touch as the ball evaded Talia on its way across the six-yard box.

It was to prove an expensive miss.STAR MAN: Martin Grainger

Powerful headed goal made the difference.

BIRMINGHAM: Poole 6; Rowett 7, Purse 6, Holdsworth 6, Charlton 7, Johnston 7, Hyde 6, O'Connor 6, GRAINGER 8, Wreh 6 (Holland 5), Adebola 5 (Hughes 5).

SWINDON: Talia 6; Robinson 6, Hall 6, Reeves 6, Davis 6, Howe 5 (Quinn 5), Leitch 7, Carrick 5, Williams 5, Hay 6, Onuora 6.

MANAGERS: Francis 7, Quinn 6.

REFEREE: M Dean 8.

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