WANDERERS’ season ended with a whimper as Robert Tesche’s first-half strike sent Birmingham fans home happy from Bolton once more.

A year on from their incredible great escape, there were no such nerves on show in the away end in what proved a tepid 90 minutes.

There had been little positive for Neil Lennon to cling on to in the last few months, the Whites boss almost willing time away as he launches a massive rebuilding job in the summer.

The club’s home form had been one aspect – but even that took a dent on the last day as too many players failed to raise their game above bang average.

Wanderers enjoyed plenty of possession in a first half and looked comfortable until Robert Tesche snatched a goal against the run of play three minutes before half time.

It had all been rather relaxed for the Whites. Young defenders Oscar Thelkeld and Quade Taylor – making his full debut – coped comfortably against the twin wing threat of Lloyd Dyer and Demarai Gray, while Tim Ream, awarded with his second consecutive player of the year trophy prior to kick off, was his usual composed self.

Birmingham fans picked up quickly on Barry Bannan’s Aston Villa connections and made him their pantomime figure of hate for the afternoon.

He nearly got perfect pay-back whipping in a corner after 15 minutes that narrowly evaded the head of Ream, still searching for that elusive first Bolton goal.

Mark Davies enjoyed the extra space afforded by a Birmingham side intent on playing on the break. He found space midway through the half to turn and curl a shot just around the post.

Neil Danns also went close against his former club, zipping another low shot from the same distance, gathered well by Darren Randolph.

Another ex-Blue Emile Heskey went closest to opening the scoring for Wanderers, doing superbly to beat Jonathan Spector in the air but aiming a header just wide of the post.

Suddenly as the clock counted down towards half time the visitors snatched the lead.

Ream and Dean Moxey made a hash of clearing Dyer’s near-post corner, forcing Bogdan into a save, but the ball dropped invitingly for Tesche to slam home from eight yards.

Moments after the restart Wanderers thought they were level. Le Fondre’s snap shot bounced off Heskey, was clawed off the line by Randoplh and then stabbed in by Gudjohnsen.

But ref Steven Rushton – on after Mark Brown failed to appear for the second half – ruled the Icelander was in an offside position.

The pace of the game slowed to a crawl again, prompting Lennon to bring on Tom Walker for Neil Danns in an effort to add a bit more attacking threat.

Gray had been quiet for an hour but nearly doubled the lead after some good work from Tesche in the penalty box.

Liam Feeney then came off the bench for Gudjohnsen, the captaincy being passed on to Ream, but Wanderers remained subdued.

They had a few half-chances to get back on level terms, Le Fondre and Feeney putting efforts wide of goal, but lacked any real conviction going forward.

By the end, Birmingham’s fans were giving an “ole” to each pass. Lennon tried hard to cajole something out of his team from the technical area but in the end, even he was turning away in disgust with each misplaced pass.

The loyal fans that lingered behind to applaud the players deserve better next season.