Birmingham boss Steve Bruce hailed the contribution of on-loan Portsmouth striker Andy Cole as his side put their promotion challenge back on track against Saints yesterday.

Cole had only trained for two days after recovering from a hamstring problem but the Pompey player looked sharp and laid on the decisive second goal for Nicklas Bendtner in a 2-1 success.

With Derby losing at Ipswich, Blues now have their destiny back in their own hands while Saints are four points adrift of the top six ahead of their last three games - at home to struggling Leeds and Southend and away to Norwich.

Bruce said: "We all knew that Andy Cole was going to make a contribution. He had already made it with his presence around the dressing room.

"But we wanted him on the pitch. He had only trained for two days which was not ideal. But for him and Stephen Clemence to get off the treatment table and give it a real go was fantastic.

"Andy has got so much experience that I had to take a gamble really - although not a gamble in terms of his ability.

"The ball he put through for the second goal was typical of what Andy Cole can do as a footballer."

Birmingham bounced back yesterday after losing to Burnley and Barnsley inside three days last weekend.

Bruce added: "After losing the two games over Easter, it was the worst I had ever felt in football as a player or a manager.

"This league kicks you in the teeth. But now we have things back in our own hands. That's all you can ask with four games to go. If we win the next four games, we are promoted.

"I was looking for a response after last week's terrible results and I was very pleased. It's got a bit hairy at the end but we deserved to win the match comfortably."

Saints boss George Burley believes his side must take maximum points from their last three games if they are to make the play-offs.

He said: "We went into the last four matches of the season believing we needed to win three of them.

"Now we've got to win all three that are left but if we show the same commitment as in the second half there is no reason why we can't finish in the top six.

"We were pushed back in the first half but in the second period we were the better team, created some great chances but did not take them.

"We deserved something from the game".

For the best reports, reaction and pictures from St Andrews, don't miss tomorrow's 16-page Monday Sport pullout in the Daily Echo.