Between 1998 and 2002, Birmingham City reached the play offs in each season as they finished each of the campaigns off in 4th and 5th positions respectively. After finishing the 2001 – 2002 season in fifth position, Steve Bruce guided the blue to victory in the play off final of 2002 to secure promotion in to the premiership, a place they had not been since the year 1986.
During the 1999 – 2000 season, they reach the fourth round of the league cup and FA cup, suffering defeat against Everton and West Ham United respectively in the competition.
The 2000 – 2001 season saw Birmingham City enjoy a marvellous run in the league cup as they cruised in to the final of the cup competition and put on a heroic performance against the mighty Liverpool in the final. They held out the reds until the end of extra time with the score line being 1-1. The match had to be settled on the penalty shoot out and Liverpool edged it out by winning 5-4 on penalties.