A below-par Birmingham put their promotion charge back-on-track with a narrow victory over a plucky Derby side who were unfortunate to come away from St Andrews with nothing to show for their efforts.

The Rams dominated the opening 45 minutes and rained in shots on Birmingham's goal, with Maik Taylor saving well from Rob Hulse after he had found himself clean through following Martin Taylor's miscued backpass.

An improved Blues appeared after the restart, following a first-half in which they failed to register a single attempt on target, and Lee Carsley was on hand to head home the only goal of the game in the 59th minute.

The former Everton midfielder flicked on Hameur Bouazza's right-wing cross and the ball nestled in the far corner, with James McFadden optimistically claiming he got the final touch.

Taylor had to parry Hulse's close-range header over the crossbar and Carsley cleared Miles Addison's effort off the line, but it was not to be for the visitors as Blues held on for a much-needed three points to pile more misery on Rams boss Nigel Clough.

Derby could have taken the lead after just two minutes as Maik Taylor failed to hold onto Gary Teale's corner, but Kris Commons blasted over the bar from four yards.

Teale himself twice tested Taylor from distance shortly after as the home side failed to enjoy any real possession during the opening 10 minutes.

Alex McLeish's side were struggling to build any early momentum but the home faithful among the 15,330, the lowest attendance of the season at St Andrew's, were being kept busy by the regular boos aimed at former midfielder Robbie Savage.

Matters could and should have got worse for Birmingham in the 18th minute as Martin Taylor failed to connect properly with his intended backpass and instead laid the ball straight into the path of Hulse who had a clean run on goal.

But goalkeeper Taylor came to his defender's rescue and palmed the goalbound effort to safety.

Nacer Barazite blasted wide from 25 yards with Derby almost camped in the home side's half and Rams keeper Stephen Bywater a mere spectator at the other end.

McLeish opted not to make any changes at the interval and instead sent out a recharged Blues side who looked sharper without being spectacular.

But they were starting to create chances and should have taken the lead had McFadden put more weight on a pass to the waiting Kevin Phillips, who was bearing down on goal in the middle of the penalty area.

But Blues did not have to wait much longer to break the deadlock as Carsley headed in his second goal of the season.

It could have been 2-0 just minutes later as an inswinging free-kick bounced off Bywater's left-hand post with a Rams defender appearing to get the final touch amid a mass of bodies.

Taylor tipped Hulse's header over the bar in the 78th minute as Derby pressed for an equaliser but it was not to be their day as Carsley then cleared Addsion's effort off the line.

Substitute Scott Sinclair wasted a great chance to settle some nerves late on but Birmingham held on for victory.

Teams

Birmingham Maik Taylor, Larsson, Martin Taylor, Ridgewell,Murphy, Bouazza, Carsley, Bowyer, Fahey, McFadden (Jerome 68),Phillips (Sinclair 76).

Subs Not Used: Doyle, Queudrue, Johnson.

Booked: Ridgewell, Bowyer.

Goals: Carsley 59.

Derby Bywater, Connolly, Albrechtsen, Addison, Stewart,Barazite (Sterjovski 73), Green, Savage, Teale (Villa 63),Commons, Hulse.

Subs Not Used: Carroll, Barnes, Nyatanga.

Booked: Connolly.

Att: 15,330

Ref: Graham Salisbury (Lancashire).