Blues started the New Year with a narrow defeat at the hands of the Premiership Champions Manchester United at Old Trafford this afternoon.

Despite a gutsy performance, Blues were ultimately undone by the quality of Sir Alex Ferguson's star-studded side.

Carlos Tevez gave the Champions the lead just before the half hour mark after Ronaldo had produced a moment of magic and United led at the interval.

Although Blues battled hard after the break to keep United at bay, an equaliser proved beyond Alex McLeish's men.

Alex McLeish made two changes in personnel from the side which had claimed a point against Fulham at St Andrew's three days earlier as they started the New Year with the toughest of tasks.

Damien Johnson, with a fracture of the skull and Mikael Forssell were left out at the expense of Mehdi Nafti and Garry O'Connor.

Forssell was named amongst the substitutes, as was Wilson Palacios making a welcome return.

Sir Alex Ferguson had the luxury of leaving Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney out of his side, which was also missing Paul Scholes.

Blues kicked off, seeking their first victory at Old Trafford for 30 years - indeed having lost all four Premiership visits without scoring a goal.

Immediately Blues showed their attacking intention with Jerome latching onto the ball in midfield and holding off a challenge before shooting powerfully over the bar.

At the other end, Ronaldo showed typical trickery to test Taylor at his near post.

Blues were almost behind on six minutes.

Kelly struggled to match Evra and when the Frenchman delivered a fine cross, Tevez did well to direct a header goalwards, only to see it hit the base of Taylor's post and rebound to safety.

Blues responded, and Jerome and O'Connor combined but McSheffrey's first touch allowed Ferdinand to apply enough pressure to force McSheffrey to fire high and wide.

Moments later, McSheffrey's weaving run almost created a chance for Jerome who failed to control the ball with the goal at his mercy 12 yards out.

Blues had survived the opening quarter of an hour but Ronaldo almost opened the scoring soon after as he latched onto Jaidi's clearing header to volley just over Taylor's bar.

Nani was next to cause problems for Blues, cutting in from the left and flashing a shot inches wide of the post with Taylor beaten.

As the midpoint of the half arrived, the Champions were beginning to ask questions of Blues defence, but Blues held firm, until Ronaldo unlocked the Blues defence with a moment of magic.

Tevez supplied Ronaldo who cheekily back-heeled the ball back to the Argentinian who easily beat Taylor, rolling the ball into the corner.

Blues were a little aggrieved at the award of a goal, as Jerome had been in need of attention on the half way line as the move progressed.

Just after the half hour, Ridgewell became the first player in the referee's book, for a crude challenge on goalscorer Tevez.

Ronaldo took the free kick, shooting straight at Taylor from 30 yards.

Blues had not been seen as an attacking force but shortly before the interval, Kelly crossed for Jerome to direct a header goalwards only for Kuszczak to collect easily.

Shortly afterwards, Blues almost shocked United with an equaliser. Jerome and Muamba combined well to free McSheffrey on the left of the area but the diminutive winger failed to trouble the keeper, blazing the ball high and wide when a little more composure could have seen Blues level.

Blues had another chance moments later as Queudrue volleyed goalwards under pressure, only to be awarded a free kick just outside the area.

Larsson took the kick and shot on target but the keeper collected with ease as the whistle blew for the interval.

Half Time: Manchester United 1 Birmingham City 0

There were no changes for Blues as the teams re-appeared for the second half, and the home side too remained unchanged.

Franck Queudrue became the second player to be cautioned after catching Ronaldo with a late challenge just a couple of minutes into the second period.

Five minutes after the break, Blues almost slipped two behind.

Park reached the by-line and produced a fine cross for the unmarked Ronaldo to head powerfully from only eight yards out, but Taylor prevented United doubling their lead with a fine save.

Just before the hour United again went close.

Tevez somehow retained possession in Blues penalty box, finishing with a shot that rebounded off the post, only to fall for Ronaldo who jinked his way past a challenge before seeing his shot cannon to safety off McSheffrey.

Tevez again came close moments later with a shot that flew off Ridgewell as United turned up the pressure.

Blues were now struggling to keep the Champions at bay, with Anderson producing some extravagant skill to beat McSheffrey.

Again United pressed and Tevez produced some fine work to test Taylor with O'Shea just failing to reach the rebound.

Half way through the second period, Alex McLeish made a double change, with Forssell and De Ridder replacing McSheffrey and Jerome.

The change almost paid dividends, with De Ridder cutting inside two challenges before setting up O'Connor whose weak shot lacked the power to trouble the keeper. United made their first change after, replacing Tevez with Saha.

Blues were beginning to fancy their chances of getting an unlikely equaliser and Forssell almost provided it, firing narrowly wide.

United responded with their second change, Hargreaves coming on to replace Park with around quarter of an hour remaining.

Ronaldo tried to bring the game to life with a long range effort but Taylor held on easily as the game headed towards the final ten minutes with the result still in the balance.

Alex McLeish made his final change with just under ten minutes left, Palacios replacing Nafti. United then brought on Wes Brown for Evra with little more than five minutes remaining.

With just three minutes remaining, Blues came within a whisker of claiming a point, as De Ridder made ground on the left.

His cross was touched on by Ferdinand and fell invitingly for Forssell. Although the Finn's shot lacked power, it still had Kuszczak scrambling to his left as it passed inches wide of the post.

In the final minute of normal time, Blues were awarded a free kick as Brown upended De Ridder, but Blues failed to capitalise from the dead ball kick.

For the first time, the home side were showing hesitancy as Blues fought for the leveller, but Blues could not quite create the chance their efforts deserved.

Full Time: Manchester United 1 Birmingham City 0

Blues: Taylor, Kelly, Ridgewell, Jaidi, Queudrue, Larsson, Muamba, Nafti (Palacios 81), McSheffrey(De Ridder 66), O'Connor, Jerome (Forssell 66)Subs (not used): Doyle, Parnaby.

Bookings: Ridgewell 33, Queudrue 48, Nafti 73, Palacios 90

Goals: None

Manchester United: Kuszczak, Evra (Brown 84), Ferdinand, Vidic, O'Shea, Park (Hargreaves 76), Carrick, Anderson, Nani, Ronaldo, Tevez (Saha 70)

Subs (not used): Heaton, Pique

Bookings: Brown 89

Goals: Tevez 25

Attendance: 75,459