Birmingham City set up an FA Cup fourth-round trip to Sheffield United after a 1-0 replay victory over Midlands rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.

Wade Elliott bundled the ball home late on to score the only goal of the tie in front of a sparse crowd. Wolves had chances to force the game into extra-time but couldn’t find any way past Birmingham keeper Colin Doyle.

After a disappointing first game at St Andrew’s, the two much-changed sides again failed to spark in a disappointing derby. Chances were few and far between during a quiet first half.

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake headed wide for Wolves, while Adam Rooney hesitated when presented with a good opportunity at the other end. Curtis Davies and Jonathan Spector also went close for the visitors.
Wolves were the slender favourites in the FA Cup betting but it was Birmingham who continued to look the most likely to score after the break and that forced Mick McCarthy to bring on leading scorer Steven Fletcher. Chris Hughton’s side continued to press and took a deserved lead when Elliott scored at the second attempt.

There was still time for late drama as substitute Fletcher looked to have thrown his side a lifeline, only to be denied by a fine save by Doyle. The keeper, deputising for regular number one Boaz Myhill, then sprung to his feet to keep out Stephen Hunt’s rebound.

Wolves were left to concentrate on their battle to avoid the drop in the Premier League, while Championship side Birmingham added to their already packed schedule with a tie at Bramall Lane in the next round on January 28. You perhaps won't pick Birmingham is you choose to bet on the FA Cup winner but they have already shown this season that they can compete so with supposedly superior to them.

The game at Molineux was Birmingham’s 36th of the season after a run in the Europa League. Hughton’s side will be keen to avoid a burnout later in the seaso