Will Paul Scharner ultimately regret choosing Wigan Athletic above Birmingham City?

On this evidence, the 18-point gulf between these two sides at the start of play could well be miniscule by the end of the campaign.

European football looks unlikely for Wigan while Birmingham's shoots of recovery are starting to flower.

Steve Bruce, the Birmingham City manager, was at his lowest ebb before Christmas as he witnessed his side collapse at Manchester City before they were tormented by Manchester United in the Carling Cup.

To rub salt into Bruce's wound, he was gazumped by Wigan over the signing of Scharner to leave him spitting feathers.

It was a week that left Bruce looking distinctly beleaguered but he is sporting a bigger smile after a festive period that has left his team in touch with their relegation rivals.

Four points from as many games is not a prodigious haul but, given the opposition they have faced, it has undoubtedly been a Christmas of excess for Blues.

Victories for Fulham and Everton meant that this victory was absolutely essential to ensure they were not cut adrift. But the comprehensive nature of this victory sent out a warning sign to their relegation rivals.

The auguries are brighter for 2006, as they trail West Bromwich Albion by only three points and have a home fixture against Bolton Wanderers up their sleeve as well.

The prospect of a home fixture only a month ago would have filled most Blues supporters and players with dread but victory against Wigan meant seven points had been accrued from the last nine on offer in Small Heath.

The portents before the first fixture of 2006 were not good as Wigan had won at The Hawthorns and Villa Park. The last time they lost at Birmingham was in the FA Cup in 1978.

However, an effective performance against a robust Wigan outfit ensures that the end of the road for Birmingham this season could well be surprising.

Muzzy Izzet and Damien Johnson formed an effective midfield axis and Jermaine Pennant had arguably his most potent game of the season thus far.

He scored his first Premiership goal for the club and saw Mario Melchiot double the lead inside 33 minutes. From that moment on it was relatively plain sailing.

After an understandably nervous opening by Birmingham, who were six points adrift from the safety zone at kick-off, the visitors had an early penalty claim brushed aside by referee Peter Walton.

Jason Roberts tumbled under a challenge from Matthew Upson but Walton ignored claims from the visitors. The tension was palpable.

However, the nervous atmosphere paralysing the players was swiftly quashed when Birmingham's first goal of 2006 arrived after 20 minutes.

Julian Gray and Jiri Jarosik exchanged passes on the left wing and the Czech international floated a cross, which was met by Pennant eight yards from goal.

His firm header across Mike Pollitt had the goal-keeper grasping at thin air before nestling in the bottom corner of the net via the inside of Pollitt's post.

A thumping far-post header is not the sort of goal normally associated with Pennant but the execution was excellent. It lifted a heavy weight from his shoulders after he had miscued two free kicks that earned him the wrath of home supporters.

It was his first Premiership goal for Birmingham whose success-starved supporters

were ravenous for their second home win of the season.

T h e creative juices were really starting to flow and Pennant was involved in Melchiot's first goal of the season just after the half-hour.

It was also a sign that fortune might smile on Bruce this calendar year, as there was a bout of pinball following Upson's header and Izzet's wayward shot. Yet the ball conveniently fell at the feet of Melchiot six yards out and he sidefooted past Pollitt with ease to give Birmingham breathing space.

The shackles that had been wrapped tightly around Birmingham's neck since the first day of the campaign were slowly starting to loosen and Pennant, in particular, was enjoying the freedom of a two-goal advantage at home for the first time this season.

Wigan were creaking and Pennant's incisive run from inside his own half appeared to be halted by a foul by Josip Skoko. Once again Walton rejected penalty claims.

After witnessing purgatory for the first half of the season this was manna from heaven for home supporters. The second half was probably Maik Taylor's easiest 45 minutes in the Premiership. Birmingham coasted to victory.

After an abundance of false dawns this season there is genuine belief that the corner is being turned at St Andrew's. If Bruce is backed in the transfer window and if he can pull his usual January rabbit out of the hat there will be a few nervous glances in West Bromwich.