Wanderers 4, BIRMINGHAM 2: SAM Allardyce spent yesterday relaxing at home, reading the papers and doing absolutely nothing.

The perfect Sunday for most folk but a luxury few Premiership managers can ever afford.

But, having had as little as six hours' sleep in the previous two days while he wrapped up one of the most dramatic series of deadline-day transfer deals on record, Big Sam felt he deserved it.

He might not have got it though, if Jay Jay Okocha had not taken a grip on Saturday's big relegation battle to inspire a win that lifted Wanderers four points clear of the drop zone and dragged Birmingham back into the melting pot.

The Nigerian, back after a four-match injury lay-off, was all fancy footwork and no end product until he finally found the cutting edge to make his staggering skills count, twice in the space of three thrilling minutes.

First he set up the chance for Youri Djorkaeff to beat the hapless Blues' keeper Ian Bennett to put Wanderers ahead for the third time then took on Birmingham single-handedly with a 40-yard run and 30-yard shot that came back off the post for Delroy Facey to secure three priceless points with his first Premiership goal.

Had things not gone so well in those final seven minutes, Sunday morning might not have been so easy for Allardyce.

"Browny wanted to bring the lads in," he explained, bleary-eyed but knowing he was justified in overruling assistant boss Phil Brown, who was advocating the usual post-match routine.

"But I said let them have a day off because I needed one more than anyone else.

"I just wanted to relax and enjoy, first of all, the hectic hours of business we conducted and the magnificent result that made it all the more satisfying."

And who can blame the manager for pulling rank? For this might well prove to have been the defining weekend in Wanderers' desperate bid to maintain their Premiership status.

In the space of 48 hours they got good money for a player who did not want to play for them - Michael Ricketts of course - strengthened their survival squad with three experienced and determined continentals - Salva Ballesta, Pierre-Yves Andre and Florent Laville - then went out and matched their biggest win of the season.

Now Allardyce is suggesting that a win at West Brom on Saturday would put them well on the way to safety! Maybe, maybe not. There is still an awful long way to go and they cannot bank on getting a helping hand from their rivals as they did on Saturday.

Birmingham's defending was woeful at times and Bennett, preferred to Blues' regular Nico Vaesen in recent weeks, was the worst of the lot.

The scoreline actually flattered both sides, for this was not exactly the best advert for Premiership football. But, when survival is the name of the game, style marks count for nothing.

Wanderers' defending was not much better as they conspired to surrender two heaven sent opportunities to take control. It was bad enough when Christophe Dugarry and Stan Lazaridis were allowed the space to tee up Robbie Savage (of all people!) for a 44th minute equaliser after Kenny Cunningham had embarrassingly turned Ricardo Gardner's harmless cross into his own goal but

they dropped a real clanger when they let Clinton Morrison run on to a lobbed pass from Stephen Clemence for the Blues' second equaliser.

Clemence can claim his contribution atoned for the own goal he was credited with 30 seconds into the second half when, under pressure from Henrik Pedersen, he whacked the ball into his own net. But the real blunder was Bennett's when he let Djorkaeff's tame shot slip through his fingers.

Anyway, the hard-working Pedersen deserved credit for the part he played in the build-up and for his determination to make sure the ball crossed the line.

"I actually thought I got a touch," the Dane said, staking a claim Allardyce supported. "All the lads in the dressing room are saying it was an own goal but I'm not so sure."

Whatever the official records show, the only statistics that mattered were the three points Wanderers banked on a day that could have seen Birmingham open up a decisive lead and effectively dispel any fear of relegation.

But a dejected Steve Bruce, desperately disappointed with his defenders and Bennett in particular, now reckons the race will go to the wire.

Wanderers may not find other teams quite so generous but, with Okocha back in harness and determined to take the responsibility that comes with such a big reputation, they might just have what it takes to secure a third term of top flight football for the first time in 40 years.

"The quality Jay Jay Okocha brings to the team is so important," Allardyce said, hailing the Nigerian's telling contribution at a time when the game - and the club's fate - was on a knife-edge.

"He frightens the opposition with his outstanding ability and the outstanding final ball he was playing on Saturday was the best he's done since he's been here.

"It's always important to create that space and beat players, which he can do with ease, but the most important thing is your final ball and that was extremely good, causing a lot of problems for Birmingham."

Like all great players, Okocha accepts the responsibility as readily as he accepts the shirt that is handed to him. And when he gets the bit between his teeth, he has the ability to make a difference.

"When it was 2-2 I thought I had to take more responsibility and I spoke to Youri and said he should as well," he said with the confidence of a sportsman who possesses skills that make him a cut above the rest.

"We had to give more effort to win the game for the team and, luckily for us, it worked out our way.

"It was a good win but we made it difficult for ourselves. After going 1-0 up we slowed the tempo down a little bit and, after we went 2-1 up, we did the same. We made a great mistake by letting them come back into the game but at the end our effort paid off.

"We knew it was a very difficult game and the pressure was really on us but we made it very difficult for ourselves. But the confidence automatically comes back when you are a goal or two up so I enjoyed the end of the game.

"When we were 3-2 up I decided to start taking more risk and showing my play and it worked out well, I saw the keeper was not in a very good position so I thought 'Why not take a chance?' I took it and I thought the shot was going in but it came back off the post for Delroy to put it in.

"It has been difficult for me coming back after missing a few games through injury. I was a bit down, physically, but I tried to use my experience to cover up for that."