United's 50 Premier League opponents: Birmingham City

To mark Manchester United facing a 50th different club in the Premier League, following Luton Town's promotion, we're recalling our record against each one and showing the highlights from some classic meetings.

Birmingham City have spent just seven years in the Premier League since it's inception back in 1992/93 and have now resided in England's second tier for the past twelve seasons.

Having recorded an impressive ninth-placed finish back in 09/10, then-manager Chris Hughton couldn't prevent relegation to the Championship just a season later, despite winning the League Cup that year after beating Arsenal 2-1 at Wembley.

Last facing off against United in the top-flight back in 2011, the Reds boast something of a strong record against Birmingham, and we have selected four of our favourites...

UNITED 3 BIRMINGHAM 0 (2003/04)

Steve Bruce returned to Old Trafford as Blues manager in October 2003, some seven years after his departure as a player. Darren Fletcher made his home debut on the right of our midfield as a 19-year-old, marking an impressive 3-0 win for the Reds. Ruud van Nistelrooy opened the scoring from the penalty spot, after goalkeeper Maik Taylor was sent off for bringing down Paul Scholes during the first half. Van Nistelrooy coolly dispatched from twelve yards, setting the tone for a routine victory for Sir Alex Ferguson's side. Scholes and Giggs added our second and third goals, with substitute goalkeeper Stan Lazaridis performing well to keep the score at just three.

BIRMINGHAM 1 UNITED 2 (2003/04)

The reverse fixture in that very same 03/04 season saw United leave it late to grab all three points at St. Andrews, as the Reds eventually finished 3rd in the Premier League table. Birmingham took the lead after 39 minutes, when midfielder Martin Grainger saw his free-kick fly past Roy Carroll just before the half-time whistle. Sir Alex's men hit back late on however, after Cristiano Ronaldo was brought on for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. In what turned out to be masterstroke, the Portugal international rose highest to snatch our leveller before Louis Saha's bullet header ten minutes from time sealed an impressive comeback victory for United.

UNITED 3 BIRMINGHAM 0 (2005/06)

Eventually pipped to the title by Chelsea during our 05/06 campaign, the Reds romped home against Bruce's side once more at Old Trafford, with Giggs opening the scoring after just three minutes with a superbly taken free-kick. It was two for both United and Giggs just twelve minutes later, as the Welshman cleverly combined with Wayne Rooney to slot home and double our advantage on home soil. Rooney scored our third goal seven minutes from time to put the result beyond any doubt, with Ronaldo's header falling perfectly at his feet, before racing through on goal to finish in front of the Stretford End.

UNITED 5 BIRMINGHAM 0 (2010/11)

City's last Premier League campaign back in 10/11 won't be remembered any time soon for their performance at the Theatre of Dreams, with former Red Ben Foster conceding five times. Dimitar Berbatov netted a wonderful hat-trick, with his first coming just 95 seconds in, after Roger Johnson had given the ball away. Berbatov would add his second after just 30 minutes with Giggs also netting. Dimitar completed his hat-trick on 53 minutes, before Nani got in on the scoring inside the final knockings, as United put in a dominant display on the way to a 19th league title.