DEFOE IS BACK TO ADD THE X-FACTOR

Jermain Defoe might not have crowned his first start since going back to Bournemouth with a goal but he left eddie Howe purring. The england striker, 34, showed why boss Howe handed him a three-year contract worth upwards of £80,000 a week. He was denied the 269th goal of his 18-year career by two brilliant Tomasz Kuszczak saves and a flag that ruled him just offside. But he’s almost certainly played his way into the side for Saturday’s TV date with manchester City. ryan fraser and marc Pugh got the second-half goals that sealed a third-round spot after the Cherries gifted Birmingham an early lead through maikel Kieftenbeld. But Defoe made all the difference, and Howe said: ‘Jermain’s movement was excellent, which has been a feature of his career, and to see him creating those chances and us finding him was really pleasing. ‘We wanted to test his fitness and he worked hard and never stopped running so like everybody who played tonight he will be in contention for the weekend. ‘We created a lot of chances which was the pleasing thing because in our previous two games we didn’t have a shot in anger. This will give all the lads a big boost.’ Bournemouth made the worst of starts, leaving Jonathan Grounds on his own at the back post to nod Stephen Gleeson’s corner back across goal, and then all stood still to watch Kieftenbeld turn it home. Blues looked dangerous with the pace of isaac Vassell, cousin of former england striker Darius and recruited from Luton for £1m. He might have had a penalty when he tumbled over Tyrone mings, and then went round artur Boruc but didn’t hit the shot hard enough. Vassell’s evening ended early, boss Harry redknapp forced to sub him at half-time with a tight hamstring. Within a minute of the restart fraser, who hadn’t scored since January, hit a super pass to adam Smith and swept home the return. Then Pugh jinked round a defender before placing his shot in off the underside of the bar.