PAUL Tait will be watching from the stands when Blues try to upset Arsenal and lift the Carling Cup.

And if they do, Tait will gladly relinquish the honour of being the last player to score a Wembley winner for Blues.

Tait’s glancing header in extra-time earned Blues the Auto Windscreens Shield in 1995.

It was the first leg of a double for Barry Fry’s Blues, who went on to win the Second Division Championship, with Tait scoring the decisive goal on the last day of the season at Huddersfield Town.

Tait also shot to national prominence for ripping off his jersey and revealing a T-shirt that carried an obscene message about Birmingham rivals Aston Villa after he had netted the 103rd-minute ‘golden goal’ against Carlisle United.

“My abiding memories were of a fantastic day,” he recalled.

“I was on the subs’ bench. I played the Thursday night at St Andrew’s in a reserve game as I was ill the week before.

“Baz said that if I came through the game, I would be sub. That was fine by me. I just wanted to get there and be a part of it.

“In 1991 I wasn’t involved in the Leyland DAF Cup final. I was injured and had fallen out with Lou Macari at the time. I’d had to make my own way down to Wembley. So this was just a fantastic occasion.

“The night before, I said to Steve Robinson, who I was sharing a room with, that if I get on I’m going to score the winner. He said ‘yeah, all right Taity’.

“I just had this feeling that something was going to happen. Obviously it came to fruition.”

Carlisle, who had Derek Mountfield in the ranks and were to go on to win the Third Division Championship, found Blues too strong and wily. Blues’ solid back five of Ian Bennett, Gary Poole, Gary Cooper, Dave Barnett and Liam Daish were typically reliable. Mark Ward, the player-coach named man-of-the-match, pulled the strings in midfield, while Ricky Otto and Jonathan Hunt provided the trickery wide.

Steve Claridge and Kevin Francis started up front for Blues but the game was goalless after 90 minutes. Claridge hit the crossbar with a flick over his shoulder just before Tait grabbed the glory.

Tait, who had replaced Peter Shearer in the 62nd minute, said: “It was a tough game.

“People don’t realise what it’s like at Wembley. It takes a lot out of players. It’s not just the game, it’s the whole thing surrounding a final, the build-up, the atmosphere there, the expectation – everything.