Black day for a people's game

Wimbledon 3 Birmingham City 1

Wimbledon supporters demonstrated in their thousands at Selhurst Park after yesterday's impressive win over Birmingham, demanding that the proposed move of the club to Milton Keynes be abandoned.

The odd profanity apart, it was an orderly occasion, with the club spokesman being booed and representatives of Wisa (Wimbledon Independent Supporters' Association) calling for the resignation of the chairman, Charles Koppel, and a return to what they called "home", the Borough of Merton.

Waving banners reading "MK ­ No Way" and "Don't Take Our Team Away", more than 3,000 supporters filled the lower tier of the Holmesdale Road stand and chanted "Koppel out" for half an hour until Graham Thorley, director of communications, attempted to address them.

Constantly interrupted and booed, Thorley told them: "You have clearly demonstrated your passion for the issues facing us. We do empathise with your point of view and respect your right to peaceful protest." As demonstrators chanted, "What a load of rubbish", Thorley pleaded for supporters' input "into how we can best move to our new ground".

The microphone was handed to Dr Lee Willett, the demonstrators' "ground policy co-ordinator". He thanked Mr Koppel "for giving us the stimulus to get off our arses". He called the chairman "a coward and a liar" and demanded he first abandon the proposed move to Milton Keynes and then resign. "I call on the club to find somebody who has the balls to take this club back home," he added.

The Wisa chairman Kris Stewart said: "Hopefully today we have put the lie to the nonsense that the majority of fans were in favour of Milton Keynes. Ten days ago everyone was thinking this was a done deal. We have come a long way in those 10 days." He claimed the move was a bid to sell the club franchise, American style, to another city. "If this happens it would mean no football club is safe," he said.

At least the Wimbledon fans had a solid victory to cheer. In truth, it should have been the Birmingham supporters demonstrating ­ about the shortcomings of their team, particularly the defence. "The disappointing defending was what displeased me more than anything," said the manager, Trevor Francis.

After Wisa had released thousands of black balloons as the teams came out (an impressive-looking gesture which backfired as most of them blew back on to the terraces), Birmingham held their own for most of the first half and twice came close to scoring. Tommy Mooney hit the side netting and only a fine, blocking tackle by Chris Willmott stopped Danny Sonner shooting home from close range.

Birmingham's new keeper, Nico Vaesen, distinguished himself with a fine one-handed save from Neal Ardley's rocket in the 10th minute, turning the ball on to a post, but could do nothing in first-half injury time as Kevin Cooper got away from Jerry Gill on the left, closed in from the left and slipped a pass to Neil Shipperley, the summer signing from Barnsley, who scored through Vaesen's hands.

Wimbledon's other major signing, David Connolly, who arrived from Feyenoord, was either treated over-harshly or given too much time and space by Birmingham's uncertain back line.

His passing and movement were delights and his goal five minutes into the second half was thoroughly merited. It came when the first-half substitute, David Nielsen, burst through a half-hearted challenge by Martin Grainger, closed in on Vaesen and squared unselfishly for Connolly to tap in.

Grainger was at once withdrawn and Birmingham conceded a third with a quarter of an hour left. Neal Ardley's free kick from the right reached Connolly beyond the far post. He headed goalwards only for Darren Purse to deflect the ball in a gentle arc into the corner of the net. The clever flick and over-the-shoulder volley from Bryan Hughes in the dying seconds was not even a consolation for a dejected Birmingham, who have the more serious problems on the field.

As for MK ­ No Way, Wimbledon manager Terry Burton was the essence of diplomacy towards both his employers and the supporters. "It's like a messy divorce," he said, "where you feel for both sides."

Wimbledon 3

Shipperley 45, Connolly 50, Purse og 76

Birmingham City 1

Hughes 87

Half-time: 1-0 Attendance: 9,142