Leicester City put their La Manga nightmare behind them as Les Ferdinand's second half goal earned them a shock win at Birmingham City.

The Foxes moved out of the bottom three after bringing to an end to their 13-game Premiership sequence without a win.

At the final whistle Leicester manager Micky Adams and his players saluted the thousands of fans who had made the trip across the Midlands to St Andrews.

It was a tremendous show of unity after events in Spain during their training camp when Paul Dickov, Keith Gillespie and Frank Sinclair were charged with sexual aggression.

Adams has had precious little time to prepare his players but they gave him the response he would have wanted after the club had been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Birmingham went into the game knowing that victory would, for at least 24 hours, push them into fourth place.

But Steve Bruce's side had buckled against Sunderland in the FA Cup when a semi-final place looked up for grabs and they again flopped on the big occasion.

They had the better chances in the opening 45 minutes although only one of them - to Stan Lazaridis - could said to be clearcut.

But they never showed the kind of form that had seen them enter the match on the back of an unbeaten eight game league run.

Too often they pumped aimless balls forward and a Leicester defence was able to cope relatively comfortably with Matt Heath impressing while Muzzy Izzet was a cool head in the centre of the park.

But all the Leicester players fought as if their lives depended on the outcome and this will be a massive lift to their hopes of survival.

There was a late change to the Leicester line-up with Trevor Benjamin moved into the starting 11 in place of Steve Guppy who had apparently been injured in the warm-up.

Benjamin had been recalled from a loan spell at Brighton, where he had scored five goals in 10 games, because of the Foxes player shortage.

Leicester, roared on by their travelling fans, made a positive start and Benjamin got a touch on a corner from Izzet but Martin Taylor was able to clear.

Ferdinand called Maik Taylor into action but most of the the power had been deflected out of his shot before it was dealt with by the Blues 'keeper.

Birmingham started to come more into the game and Ian Walker had to react quickly to fly-hack clear from Clinton Morrison.

There was the occasional chant relating to the recent off the field events with Blues fans singing 'Dickov's going down' but the atmosphere was surprisingly subdued particularly amongst the home fans.

An under-hit back pass from Leicester defender Riccardo Scimeca was seized on by Morrison but he was forced wide by Walker and the ball went harmlessly out for a goal-kick.

Fit again Stan Lazaridis, who replaced the suspended Damien Johnson, had the best chance of the first half in the 24th minute when he burst down the centre and was allowed to continue even though Morrison was in an offside position.

But Walker was equal to the low shot from the winger and saved away to his left with his feet. The Leicester 'keeper was then more fortuitous when a close-bound effort from Morrison looked to hit him on the chest.

The best move of the opening 45 minutes ended when Walker held onto Mikael Forssell's left-footed shot after good inter-changing with Morrison.

Walker was also in the thick of the action, going down to his left to grasp Bryan Hughes' 20 yard effort but Leicester held onto to half-time.

The game was still littered with unforced errors and one sensed the home fans were beginning to become frustrated with their side.

Then after 54 minutes Leicester snatched the lead. Riccardo Scimeca's deep ball across the area found Benjamin and he released Izzet whose low cross was turned home by Ferdinand for his 12th goal of the season.

Birmingham attempted to retaliate and Olivier Tebily stabbed the ball wide from 10 yards out after a Savage free-kick had only been half cleared.

Lazaridis tried his luck from 25 yards out but Walker had his body firmly behind his low swerving effort.

Bruce decided to make a change after 68 minutes, bringing off Clemence and replacing him with Stern John.

Birmingham tried to snatch an equaliser and Walker needed two attempts to grasp a cross from Lazaridis.

Freund had the chance to seal victory for Leicester but his 25-yard effort flew high and wide of Taylor's goal.

Savage had a late chance to salvage a point for Blues after being brought down by Dabizas but he sent his free-kick straight at Walker.

Teams

Birmingham Maik Taylor, Tebily, Cunningham (Barrowman 87), Martin Taylor, Upson, Hughes, Savage, Clemence (John 68), Lazaridis, Forssell, Morrison.

Subs Not Used: Bennett, Cisse, Carter.

Booked: Cunningham.

Leicester Walker, Scimeca, Dabizas, Heath, Thatcher, McKinlay, Freund (Nalis 90), Izzet, Benjamin (Canero 80), Ferdinand, Bent.

Subs Not Used: Elliott, Coyne, Priet.

Booked: Dabizas, Izzet.

Goals: Ferdinand 53.

Att: 29,491

Ref: M Messias (N Yorkshire).