Robin van Persie's on an English Premier League record-setting pace this season as his hat trick against a woeful Blackburn team on Feb. 4 upped his league total to 22 goals in 24 games. He's already eclipsed last year's Golden Boot scoring record of 20 which was shared by Manchester City's Carlos Tevez and Dmitar Berbatov of Manchester United and his own mark of 18 EPL goals.

by Adam Bate

Jordan Rhodes has certainly got the Premier League's attention. As many as eight top flight clubs were represented at Huddersfield Town's game against Wycombe Wanderers last week. And they are likely to have been impressed – the striker bagged five goals in a remarkable display.

Turn the clock back to 2010 in the match at St Andrews against Birmingham City. Samir Nasri had just netted what looked to be the winner in the match. Just seconds from time, on their last attack, Birmingham found a half decent ball for Kevin Phillips. The veteran came up with a scuffed, poor effort [.

Birmingham City fans reached the highs of winning their first trophy in over 40 years last season and then suffered the lows of relegation from the Premier League.

Then this summer, the manager who won them that trophy left the club in their hour of need to join their city rivals Aston Villa.

News last night that Blackpool will sign Newcastle's 20 year-old England U20 striker Nile Ranger on loan. Nile Ranger on loan to Blackpool Blackpool manager Ian Holloway has already signed former Sunderland striker, 37 year-old Kevin Phillips, and they are ready to sell their top striker, DJ Campbell.

Kevin Phillips to make Blackpool switch Blackpool FC Blackpool Gazette.

Encouraging news this morning from my old stomping ground on the NorthWest coast of England that former England international Kevin Phillips today signed a one year deal that takes him to Bloomfield Rd for the upcoming season.

Kevin Phillips to make Blackpool switch Blackpool FC Blackpool Gazette.

Encouraging news this morning from my old stomping ground on the NorthWest coast of England that former England international Kevin Phillips today signed a one year deal that takes him to Bloomfield Rd for the upcoming season.

This week, Birmingham City striker Kevin Phillips described his side's upcoming clash with Tottenham Hotspur as being "a £90 million game" when he equated it to the value of the Championship play-off final. A club coming up into the Premier League can expect significant increases in revenue, and by the same token, a club being relegated from the country's top tier of football can expect to lose out on a similar amount.

That was painful. Fulham were excellent, but so bad were Birmingham that the victory seemed almost cruel.

Why should I care? I think it's that about a year ago Birmingham and Fulham seemed so similar: defensively very sound, occasionally prone to lack of invention, but good enough to win enough games to stay in the league.

Can't remember what game it was, think it was a terrible footy game on the Gamecube but i finally got to mimic the Japanese sounding commentator... "Joh-Coh-Gohlll!" ... After recent fixtures against the Midlands side it was looking as though this one could be tough for Liverpool. The refreshing resurgence since the arrival of manager Kenny Dalglish has still seen us falter on a few occasions and

This morning on talkSport, Kevin Phillips, speaking to their breakfast show added his voice to the many on the situation at Chelsea regarding Fernando Torres and his current run of games without scoring. Although he says he feels for him at the moment, he also states that he wouldn't want to be in Torres' shoes.

Of course I mean Birmingham City. With Arsenal and Chelsea the marquee teams playing two this game week, it's easy to overlook the "other" Blues. But they have a good home match against Sunderland at the weekend before travelling to a less than rampart Chelsea. It's at least worth a closer look at their squad as there may be some bargains - and some pitfalls - from the Second City Players.

You may have heard that Ajax, who once trialed Charlie Davies, is coming to play D.C. United on May 22nd. NSC pal Brian Zygo told me that he'd heard they may also come to Houston on the trip. We shall see...Let's begin with Birmingham's Kevin Phillips, who makes the grade with a no-look rainbow.szólj hozzá: ---We once dipped into CONMEBOL Under-20 action to feature Sergio Herrera, and now he's up

Manchester United and Bolton Wanderers are heading to Wembley for the FA Cup semi-finals after defeating Arsenal and Birmingham City respectively.

Sir Alex Ferguson selected seven defenders in his starting XI at Old Trafford and one of them, Fabio, broke the deadlock after a superb counterattack in the 28th minute.

Manchester United and Bolton Wanderers are heading to Wembley for the FA Cup semi-finals after defeating Arsenal and Birmingham City respectively.

Sir Alex Ferguson selected seven defenders in his starting XI at Old Trafford and one of them, Fabio, broke the deadlock after a superb counterattack in the 28th minute.

Tonight's game has never been too far away in every gooner's minds eye since the draw was made last December in Nyon, Switzerland.

There is no point in making far reaching rally calls..... my take is to sit back and hopefully enjoy a festival of Total Football, played out by the two purest footballing sides on earth.

Tonight's game has never been too far away in every gooner's minds eye since the draw was made last December in Nyon, Switzerland.

There is no point in making far reaching rally calls..... my take is to sit back and hopefully enjoy a festival of Total Football, played out by the two purest footballing sides on earth.

During Birmingham City's nerve-jangling 2-2 draw with Manchester City last week, Nikola Zigic's 23rd minute equaliser was the first time a Birmingham striker has netted in the Premier League since November. That's a staggering 937 minutes of action without one of their marksmen beating a keeper.

Luis Suarez made his Liverpool debut as a substitute in a 2-0 win over Stoke, while Manchester City slipped eight points behind Premier League leader Manchester United after a 2-2 draw at Birmingham.

City went ahead on the fouth-minute when Carlos Tevez took a pass from David Silva and put City ahead with an angled shot that took a slight deflection off Birmingham's Martin Jiranek on its way into the far corner.

Luis Suarez made his Liverpool debut as a substitute in a 2-0 win over Stoke, while Manchester City slipped eight points behind Premier League leader Manchester United after a 2-2 draw at Birmingham.

City went ahead on the fouth-minute when Carlos Tevez took a pass from David Silva and put City ahead with an angled shot that took a slight deflection off Birmingham's Martin Jiranek on its way into the far corner.

LONDON, England Manchester City lost ground to local rivals Manchester United in the Premier League title race after twice giving up the lead in a 2-2 draw away to Birmingham on Tuesday. A share of the spoils at St Andrew's left Roberto Mancini's men eight points behind leaders United, having played a game more [.

Manchester United were made to work hard for a 2-1 FA Cup fourth round win at Southampton on a day when holders Chelsea were grateful to an equaliser from Salomon Kalou to stay in the competition.

Michael Owen equalised for United with a close-range header early in the second half and then before Javier Hernández scored the decisive goal 15 minutes from time after being played in by a great Ryan Giggs' pass.

Manchester United were made to work hard for a 2-1 FA Cup fourth round win at Southampton on a day when holders Chelsea were grateful to an equaliser from Salomon Kalou to stay in the competition.

Michael Owen equalised for United with a close-range header early in the second half and then before Javier Hernández scored the decisive goal 15 minutes from time after being played in by a great Ryan Giggs' pass.

In a departure from what some may have expected, this FA Cup tie between Birmingham City and Coventry City turned into a goal fest. The home side clawed back from a two-goal deficit to end up the victors, 3-2.

Starting Formations

BIRMINGHAM FORM: For a side who has been busy in both the League as well as making the Carling Cup final, it wasn't surprising to see them rest some starters.

Birmingham came from two goals down to beat local rivals Coventry 3-2 at St Andrews and it was forgotten man Kevin Phillips who bagged the winner.

With Darren Bent gone and Danny Welbeck out for six to eight weeks with a knee problem the Black Cats face a striker crisis.

It seems like the North-East club will be forced to play Asamoah Gyan upfront on his own unless they can get in a new striker.

So what options does Steve Bruce have?

The much awaited January transfer window opened 17 days ago and up to now only one arrival has been made whilst 3 of Boro's Conference winning side have moved on to pastures new. Let's have a closer look at the business done so far...

Byron Harrison arrived on New Year's day in time for the trip to Gillingham.

Birmingham City are in talks with Ireland & Spurs striker Robbie Keane over a possible move to St Andrew's, the club have confirmed.
Blues boss Alex McLeish has made it clear signing a quality forward is his number one priority during the current transfer window.
Keane is the player City are most actively pursuing, although the club are adamant reports he has already undergone a medical are wide of the mark.

LONDON, England Arsenal succeeded where Manchester United failed days earlier to become only the second team to win at St Andrew's in 30 games with a 3-0 victory over Birmingham City on Saturday. Their success saw Arsenal stay within two points of both Premier League leaders Manchester United, top on goal difference, and Manchester [.

No it's not a misspelling, but I will take the opportunity to wish all Arsenal supporters everywhere a Very Happy New Year. And to all those of you who Yearn for silverware and titles, I offer these words of comfort.......

The season is half over. We've done well; we're 2 points off the top of the table in 3rd place.