When Mikael Forssell started one of the most prolific careers in Blues history

Mikael Forssell scored 37 goals in five seasons as a Birmingham City player,

The Finn wasted no time announcing himself to his new public by marking his debut with not one but two goals in a 2-2 draw against Fulham.

That was on September 14, 2003 when Steve Bruce had brought him on loan from Chelsea but had slipped a goal down to the other West London outfit.

Louis Saha had given the visitors a 35-second lead but with the game drifting towards half-time Forssell latched on to Damien Johnson’s header into the box.

With trademark dexterity he chested the ball down then rammed it between Edwin Van der Sar’s legs.

Luis Boa Morte made it 2-1 with 12 minutes to go but Forssell wasn’t done and four minutes later equalised again from close range, after Van der Sar had parried a header from Matthew Upson.

Forssell would go on to end the season with 19 goals, fire Blues to tenth in the Premier League and establish himself as one of the best finishers ever to play for the club.

And it all began on this sun-kissed day in 2003.

BLUES: Taylor, Kenna (Tebily 45), Upson, Purse, Clapham, Johnson, Savage, Clemence (Lazaridis 64), Dunn, Forssell, John (Morrison 70).

Subs Not Used: Bennett, Cisse.

FULHAM: Van der Sar, Volz, Goma, Knight, Bonnissel, Clark, Boa Morte, Inamoto (Djetou 90), Legwinski, Malbranque (Pembridge 64), Saha (Sava 79).

Subs Not Used: Crossley, Melville.

Attendance: 27,250