 Despite this, he played a major part in Birmingham's run to the League Cup Semi-Finals in the 95-96 season, scoring a brace as Birmingham eliminated Premiership Middlesbrough 2-0 in a 4th Round replay at St Andrews.He also opened the scoring with a 25-yard rocket in the Semi-Final 1st Leg at St Andrews against another Premier League side, Leeds Utd.Unfortunately for Francis and Birmingham, Leeds Utd came back to win the first leg 2-1 before securing a 3-0 victory in the second leg at Elland Road, to progress to the final on a 5-1 aggregate.