Marcus Stewart pushed Ipswich a step nearer European qualification with a controversial goal against the club he almost joined four years ago.

The in-form striker converted a penalty, after former Town player Danny Sonner was adjudged to have handled, at the end of the first half to give Ipswich a first-leg Worthington Cup semi-final lead to take to St Andrews.

Stewart's 15th goal of the season was enough to provide victory over Birmingham - yet the Suffolk side's hitman could easily have been playing for the visitors.

He had verbally agreed to join Birmingham during the 1996-97 season only for the man who had persuaded him to leave Bristol Rovers, Barry Fry, to be sacked before he put pen to paper.

Huddersfield eventually signed the 28-year-old, and his career has taken off since a £2.75million switch to Portman Road that has propelled him to the higher reaches of the country's goalscoring charts.

His fifth strike in as many matches helped put Town halfway to the Cardiff final as the fourth-placed Premiership side chase their European dream on three fronts.

It proved a miserable return for birthday boy Sonner, though, as Birmingham largely kept the hosts at bay only to lose.

Ipswich manager George Burley had to make do without the cup-tied Alun Armstrong, who had played for Middlesbrough earlier in the competition - so James Scowcroft reverted from midfield to partner Stewart up front.

Birmingham, who won the league fixture here last season, started brightly with Dele Adebola's goalbound shot deflected for a corner by Hermann Hreidarsson after just 12 seconds.

Peter Ndlovu, recalled from a loan spell at Huddersfield, had fashioned the chance and looked lively for the visitors on his return.

The Zimbabwean should have done better with a 12th-minute chance but lobbed over the bar after Ian Bennett's long free-kick had deflected into his path.

Ipswich's forays forward were largely kept in check by the visitors' stifling tactics, and when Stewart did create an opportunity for Scowcroft with a neat lay-off Bennett saved the drive from the edge of the area at the second attempt.

The home side upped the tempo after a quiet opening, and only a brilliant one-handed save by Bennett prevented the hosts taking the lead in the 28th minute as the Birmingham goalkeeper dived to his right to claw a powerful Scowcroft header from a Jim Magilton centre around the post.

But the goalkeeper should have been punished shortly afterwards when a stray punch, under pressure from Matt Holland, landed at Magilton's feet on the edge of the box. The Irishman fed Jermaine Wright only for the midfielder to screw his first-time shot wide.

Their increased pressure paid off a minute before the break as Stewart netted from the spot following the harsh decision against Sonner.

Sonner, on his 29th birthday, blocked Magilton's right-wing cross with what a linesman ruled was his arm - and Stewart sent Bennett the wrong way from 12 yards after prolonged Birmingham protests.

Although the ball struck Sonner's arm, there was little he could do to get out of the way. The decision infuriated visiting captain Martyn O'Connor and the adjudged offender who was booked by referee Clive Wilkes.

The Premiership side were inches away from doubling their first-leg advantage shortly after the break through Hermann Hreidarsson.

Mark Venus hoisted a free-kick into the area from the left-hand touchline, and the Icelandic international rose above a pack of defenders to thunder a header against an upright.

They should have gone 2-0 ahead in the 56th minute but for uncharacteristic profligacy from the deadly Stewart.

Fabian Wilnis galloped down the right flank and whipped the ball across the face of the six-yard box, finding an unmarked Stewart through a melee of players only for the striker to blaze wide with the net gaping.

Sonner may have been angered with the penalty award but the midfielder was lucky not to have given away a second spot-kick on the hour with a clumsy challenge on Holland.

Birmingham rallied in the closing stages with a flurry of corners which failed to reap reward.

In fact, their best effort was headed over the bar by substitute Marcelo from a Bryan Hughes cross.

Teams

Ipswich: Richard Wright, Wilnis, Bramble, Venus, Hreidarsson, Clapham (Reuser 70), Jermaine Wright, Magilton, Holland, Scowcroft, Stewart.

Subs Not Used: Salmon, Johnson, Karic, Croft.

Goals: Stewart 45 pen.

Birmingham: Bennett, Jenkins, Purse, Michael Johnson, Grainger, Eaden (Lazaridis 61), Sonner, O'Connor, Hughes, Adebola (Horsfield 85), Ndlovu (Marcelo 61).

Subs Not Used: Poole, Burrows.

Booked: Sonner, Jenkins.

Att: 21,684

Ref: C Wilkes (Gloucester).