Football: BLUES HIT THE PERFECT PITCH; BLUES 2 NORWICH 1 No shame as Trev's boys cage Canaries HEADS, I WIN... Bryan Hughes and Daryl Sutch battle for the ball xhd pls.

Byline: Graham Hill 

WORTHINGTON Cup Finalists Blues have been told they should be 'ashamed' of their St Andrew's pitch.

On a day when Blues fought off the after-effects of their midweek cup celebrations, Trevor Francis' side deservedly had the upper hand on a horrible, muddy surface that still looked scarred from the two-hour cup clash with Ipswich.

Goals from Bryan Hughes and a penalty from the excellent Darren Purse sealed the points to keep Blues on target to take a 62-point tally into the Cardiff clash with Liverpool.

But both managers later hit out at the state of the Blues pitch that has been in poor condition for some time. And while Norwich boss Nigel Worthington could not believe the state of pitch, Francis is already taking steps to have it relayed.

Worthington was particularly scathing in defeat.

'Birmingham should be ashamed of that pitch,' he said.

'People are paying good money to come and watch a game of football, and they get a surface like that. Most pitches are in a healthy state even at this time of year.'

Surface

And Francis admitted that the surface hindered any chances Blues might have had of producing a polished display.

'This was always going to be tough after the Ipswich game, but the pitch doesn't help us,' he said.

'Now I'll be looking to rest players over the next few days and I'm glad we don't have a midweek game.'

Francis may even consider asking for a new playing surface as a reward for steering Blues to a major cup final.

He is already planning to approach managing director, Karren Brady, on the subject.

'I think we may have to look at it being relayed at some stage,' he said.

'I can't see it improving and it means we're going to be involved in some very interesting games between now and the end of the season. I'm not sure if it will hinder our promotion bid though as the weather should get better later in the season.

'But I'll see the MD about it... I might even take her out to dinner!'

After the euphoria of the Ipswich game, this was always going to seem like comparing bread and butter to a five-course meal.

Encouragement

But there were moments of encouragement, particularly when winger Jon McCarthy made his comeback after an injury-ravaged year to play the last 15 minutes as a substitute.

Francis rested two of the midweek team, Martin O'Connor and Dele Adebola, while giving a debut to Curtis Woodhouse.

The pounds 1m signing from Sheffield United this week was one of the fresher players in the Blues side and looked sharp and lively.

But Francis, while impressed with the England Under-21 international, admitted he will need time to settle and will play better in a fresher looking line-up.

Blues needed an early goal to cancel out a cup hangover and it came when Stan Lazaridis raced away from a quick exchange with Geoff Horsfield. His cross was left by Andrew Johnson and the ball bounced in off Hughes' knee.

There might have been a slice of luck attached to the finish but Blues were worth their lead as Horsfield went close soon after.

Martin Grainger and Jerry Gill came close to extending the lead although Norwich's Zema Abbey skimmed the woodwork just before half-time.

Horsfield then picked up a booking that will see him suspended for the West Bromwich Albion game in two weeks although a number of Blues players will walk a tightrope next Saturday at Sheffield United when any suspensions would mean missing the Cardiff cup final. And Francis hinted he may consider resting Purse, among those threatened with ban, if he can get David Holdsworth fit.

Norwich battled back with Bennett saving well from Iwan Roberts. But Blues grabbed a second on the hour when Horsfield's ball struck Lee Marshall on the hand. Blues have not had much luck from the spot this season, but Purse stepped up to convert cooly.

'It was a good penalty and he has been in excellent form recently, he has an air of confidence,' said Francis.

Hughes shot wide and Adebola robbed Daryl Sutch before being denied by an Andy Marshall save. Horsfield seemed set to make it three when he latched on to an O'Connor cross and headed straight into Marshall's arms.

That miss might have been expensive as Norwich pulled one back when Steen Nedergaard's cross was headed home by the diving Chris Llewellyn.

But Blues finished strongly with Michael Johnson and Adebola going close in a melee in the Norwich area with Purse heading just over the bar.

BIG MATCH FACTS +++

Goals:

Bookings:

Star Man: Darren Purse [

TEAMS

Blues: (4-4-2) Bennett; Gill, Purse, Johnson M., Grainger; Eaden (McCarthy, 76), Hughes, Woodhouse, Lazaridis (O'Connor, 76); Johnson A. (Adebola, 54), Horsfield. Subs not used: Poole (gk), Bass.

Norwich City: (4-4-2) Marshall; Kenton (De Blasiis, 67), Mackay, Jackson, Sutch; Marshall (Coote, 64), Nedergaard (Dalglish, 83), Russell, Llewellyn; Abbey, Roberts. Subs not used: Green, McVeigh.

Referee: L. Cable (Surrey)

Attendance: 18,551

GOALS

Blues: Hughes (8), Purse (61, Pen).

Norwich: Llewellyn (79).

BOOKINGS

Blues: Lazaridis, Horsfield.

Norwich: Llewellyn.

STAR MAN

Darren Purse

New boy Curtis Woodhouse makes his presence felt as he tangles with Jean Yves De BlasiisPictures: Trevor Roberts

CAPTION(S):

GETTING STUCK IN... Blues new boy Curtis Woodhouse makes his presence felt as he tangles with Jean Yves De BlasiisPictures: Trevor Roberts