Middlesbrough 2
Wheater 12, Downing 37
Birmingham 0
Middlesbrough 2 Birmingham 0 September 01 2007
David Wheater and Stewart Downing gave Middlesbrough a 2-0 victory over Birmingham at the Riverside, bringing up a landmark 1,500th league win.
Wheater headed home Andrew Taylor's cross after just 12 minutes to hand Boro the lead after the Blues had only half-cleared a Julio Arca shot.
Chances came and went for Jeremie Aliadiere, Cameron Jerome and Mikel Forssell but Boro doubled their lead on 36 minutes when Taylor's left-wing cross was headed back across goal by George Boateng and Stewart Downing was on hand to fire home from close range.
Boro continued to dominate after the break with Aliadiere, Mido and Arca all producing good saves from Maik Taylor, while the Blues went close when Olivier Kapo lashed a 25-yard effort just wide.
In the last minute Dong Gook Lee slid the ball into the sidenetting with the goal gaping after Downing's cross.