The lone Grainger ran Norwich out of town with two first-half goals to steal three valuable points for Birmingham.

Martin Grainger turned in an outstanding performance in the Blues midfield to stun the visitors with goals after 16 and 30 minutes.

And the Canaries cause was not helped by the second-half dismissal of goalkeeper Andy Marshall after he handled outside the box.

Birmingham showed their intentions from the first whistle when Grainger showed a good turn of pace down the left but his cross was too high for Marcelo.

Norwich looked lively, though, after a good run of form in recent weeks and Frenchman Cedric Anselin's cross found Adrian Coote, in for his first start of the season, but he headed firmly into keeper Ian Bennett's arms.

The opening goal came as a bit of a shock after the lack of goalmouth action.

The impressive Steve Robinson found space down the right and sent over a deep cross for Marcelo.

Keeper Marshall was up well above the Brazilian to punch clear but the ball fell only as far as Grainger who cleverly lobbed the ball back over Marshall's head and into the gaping net.

It could have been 2-0 minutes later when Simon Charlton latched onto Marcelo's header to feed makeshift striker Bryan Hughes but he had stretched too much and Marshall gathered his half-volley.

Birmingham were knocking the ball about well and Hughes broke away from inside his own half. He was forced wide but threaded a glorious ball toward Marcelo, arriving late at the far post, but defender Daryl Sutch slid in to clear it off his toes.

It was to prove only a stay of execution for the Canaries as, from the ensuing corner, Grainger rose highest to head in his second of the game.

Norwich youngster Malcolm McCoy was yellow-carded for a deliberate hand ball with five minutes left of the half as the visitors forced four corners in succession.

Then in injury time, Iwan Roberts looked to have halved the deficit but his shot was cleared off the line with Bennett stranded.

Both sides came out after the break in attacking mode.

Roberts looked to have stole a yard on Darren Purse as he went clear on goal but Purse recovered with a perfectly timed challenge to deny the Welshman the chance.

Norwich looked doomed on 55 minutes when keeper Marshall was handed his marching orders.

The Blues were on the attack again and Marshall blocked well one-on-one from Hughes who had beaten the off-side trap.

The ball squirmed out to Robinson who then let fly where the Norwich number one, more out of instinct, saved again five yards out of his area leaving referee Bill Burns no option.

Substitute keeper Robert Green was ushered off the bench in place of Jean Yves de Blasiis and it was backs against the wall stuff for the visitors.

Grainger was almost gifted his hat-trick after intercepting a poor back pass but Green stood up well and forced him wide.

As the game fizzled out former West Ham winger Stan Lazaridis made a welcome return to St Andrews after injury and almost beat Green with a low drive but Birmingham failed to extend their advantage.

Teams:

Birmingham: Bennett, Rowett, Grainger, Hyde, Holdsworth, Charlton, O'Connor (Adebola 71), Hughes, Purse,Robinson (Lazaridis 86), Marcelo.

Subs Not Used: Poole, Bass, Holland.

Goals: Grainger 16, 30.

Norwich: A. Marshall, Sutch, L. Marshall, Jackson, de Blasiis (Green 55), Anselin (Dalglish 70), Carey, Kenton, McCoy, Coote, Roberts.

Subs Not Used: Fuglestad, Milligan, Forbes.

Sent Off: A. Marshall (55).

Booked: McCoy.Att: 21,007

Ref: W Burns (Scarborough).