Was that a season changing win? Everton were back to their old selves on Saturday and while there are still a few concerns they can go into their next game - the Merseyside derby against Liverpool - with renwewed confidence.
Mark Lawrenson on the BBC webiste correctly predicted a 2-0 win for Everton, citing Birmingham`s year long unbeaten home run and the Toffees failure to take three points all season as an ideal set up for one of the quirks of football - the ability to spring a surprise.
But given the way the team played on Saturday you could be forgiven for thinking it was Birmingham who bottom of the league. The midfield in particular took a stranglehold on the game, prodding and probing on the outskirts of the Birmingham penalty area.
But that lack of cutting edge - a problem that has dogged us all year - reared its ugly head again with Yakubu seeing his shot cleared off the line and Leon Osman firing over twice when in decent positions.
Thankfully we didn`t live to regret those misses when Roger Johnson diverted Osman`s cross into his own net. Was that the bit of luck we needed? Or symptomatic of our struggles in front of goal as we needed an opposition player to do the job for us?
In reflection we were fairly comfortable for the rest of the game. The players naturally sat back to try and preserve a vital first win while Alex McCleish responded by throwing strikers Matt Derbyshire and Nicola Zigic. In truth though, a penalty shout involving Stephen Carr and Seamus COleman aside, Tim Howard was largely untroubled.
Tim Cahill`s diving header in the final moments calmed the nerves and gave the scorline a decent look.
David Moyes` teams seem adept at going on `runs`. We aren`t a `win-one-week-lose-the-other` side. So I`m hoping that pattern will continue now we have put our poor start to one side - if we are to get back into the top six we need a run akin to that of the end of last season,
And where better to start than the Merseyside derby?
The game maybe two weeks away due to internationals but the build up starts now. Liverpool`s poor start - culminating in that shock defeat at home to Blackpool which keeps them in the relegation zone - means anticpation is as high as ever at Goodison.
We don`t have many opportunities to get one up on our local rivals, so a chance to not only beat them, but cut them three points adrift in the relegation zone is one to savour. I only hope the players take this chance as I can guarantee it won`t happen very often.
As previously said the internationals mean a break before the big match but `derby fever`begins here at RBM, I`ll dig out some classic games and derby moments while updating you on the team news and build up going on on Merseyside.
Meanwhile if you have any derby memories, old or new, feel free to comment below, post a fan shot or even post it on our new facebook page.