Bottom-placed Southend took revenge on Birmingham and dealt a huge blow to their promotion campaign with a shock win against Steve Bruce's side at St Andrews.

The Shrimpers recovered from conceding an early own goal by Peter Clarke to give themselves renewed hope of clinging onto their Coca-Cola Championship status.

Goals from Kevin Maher, Freddy Eastwood - his 13th of the campaign - and Mark Gower enabled the Shrimpers to take their points tally to 11 from their six games.

They defended resolutely and always looked threatening on the counter-attack against a Blues side who produced their worst display since the 1-0 home defeat by Norwich in mid-October appeared to put Bruce's job under threat.

The home side were devoid of inspiration and will need to put this horror show behind them quickly if they are not to lose irretrievable ground on leaders Derby, who won 1-0 against Burnley.

Birmingham, playing their first league game for 29 days, had begun brightly enough against a side they had beaten 4-0 at Roots Hall last month.

Central defender Martin Taylor forced a fine save out of Shrimpers keeper Darryl Flahavan with a powerful header from Sebastian Larsson's inswinging corner.

It came as no surprise when Birmingham went ahead after eight minutes albeit it through an own goal from Clarke.

Larsson's right-wing cross was chested across the area by Vine and then took a deflection past Flahavan by Clarke. Cameron Jerome hammered the ball into the roof of the net but it had already crossed the line.

Blues were in the ascendancy and Flahavan was relieved when a 25-yard free-kick thudded against the post. The rebound broke to Gary McSheffrey but he stabbed his shot just wide.

It was against the run of play when Southend drew level after 23 minutes through skipper Kevin Maher.

Blues keeper Maik Taylor's clearance cannoned off Mat Sadler into the path of Jamal Campbell-Ryce to the left of the Birmingham goal and there was a clear suspicion of hand-ball.

But referee Paul Armstrong waved play on and Campbell-Ryce was able to turn the ball back into the path of Maher who had time to line up his shot which flew past Maik Taylor.

After Blues' bright opening spell, play became increasingly scrappy with a succession of free-kicks breaking up the rhythm of the game.

Want-away defender Matthew Upson had a low 20-yard drive comfortably saved by Flahavan but the home supporters became increasingly frustrated and greeted the half-time whistle with boos.

Then two minutes into the second half Southend stormed into a shock lead through Freddy Eastwood's 13th goal of the campaign.

The home defence was static as Alan McCormack picked the ball up on the left side of their box. He flicked it into Eastwood whose shot on the turn took a slight deflection on its way into the corner of the net.

Maik Taylor then got his body behind a low skidding drive from Eastwood as City looked devoid of inspiration and lacked a cutting edge.

But Flahavan pulled off a superb save to keep out a header from Upson following a free-kick by McSheffrey who then had a shot well blocked by Clarke.

Lee Bradbury could have doubled Southend's lead when he was presented with a free header from Campbell-Ryce's cross but his effort was too close to Maik Taylor.

But Gower wrapped up the points with a 20-yard pile-driver five minutes from time.

Teams:

Birmingham Maik Taylor, N'Gotty (Muamba 58), Martin Taylor,Upson, Sadler, Larsson (Campbell 73), Nafti (Clemence 58),Johnson, McSheffrey, Jerome, Vine.

Subs Not Used: Doyle, Danns.

Goals: Clarke 9 og.

Southend Flahavan, Hunt, Clarke, Barrett, Hammell,Campbell-Ryce, McCormack (Francis 79), Gower, Maher, Eastwood,Bradbury (Harrold 87).

Subs Not Used: Welch, Sodje, Hooper.

Booked: McCormack.

Goals: Maher 22, Eastwood 48, Gower 84.

Att: 19,177

Ref: P Armstrong (Berkshire).