Birmingham kick-started their play-off push thanks to second-half goals from
David Holdsworth and Bryan Hughes against promotion rivals Stockport County at
St Andrews.
The Blues owed their success to the second half introduction of striker Dele
Adebola who sparked City into life after a dour opening period.
While the win moved Birmingham towards the top six, Stockport's defeat cast a
cloud over their own play-off hopes as they paid the price for failing to take
advantage of the chances that came their way in the opening stages.
All they had to show for their efforts was an 84th minute own-goal from City
central defender Michael Johnson. Birmingham, who handed a full debut to striker
Isaiah Rankin who is on loan from Bradford City, were given an early scare after
just three minutes.
Stockport striker Aaron Wilbraham forced City goalkeeper Ian Bennett into a
smart save. But the loose ball fell to unmarked Chris Allen whose shot crashed
off the bar.
Bennett was by far the busier of the two goalkeepers in the opening stages as
he denied Kevin Cooper and Tony Dinning with smart saves as Birmingham struggled
to get to grips with the game.
It was only as the first half drew to a close that Birmingham were able to
force their way into the match. Stockport's Ian Gray suddenly became as busy as
Bennett had been as Birmingham finally got into gear.
Gray saved a fierce 25-yard drive from Hughes before denying Birmingham twice
in the space of 60 seconds. He first turned a shot from midfielder Steve
Robinson away for a corner. From Martin Grainger's corner, Gray then had to be
at his best to deny the City central defender Holdsworth who fired in a powerful
close-range drive at the far post.
Birmingham sent on Adebola and Simon Charlton at half-time and were a
transformed side. Rankin gave a sign of what was to come in the 58th minute when
he picked up a pass from Adebola and raced past three Stockport defenders before
seeing his shot crash off the legs of Gray and on to the post.
It was to prove a warning that Stockport did not heed as Birmingham made the
decisive breakthrough in the 62nd minute.
Holdsworth was not to be denied a second time by Gray as he powered in a
close-range header following a right wing free-kick from Grainger.
Birmingham sealed their success 10 minutes later when Adebola and Rankin
combined to set up Hughes who had the simple task of turning the ball home from
close range.
Birmingham should have then cruised to victory, but had to survive an anxious
few moments when Johnson turned a cross from Cooper into his own net six minutes
from time.
Teams
Birmingham: Bennett, Rowett, Hyde, Holdsworth, Grainger,
Robinson (Adebola 45), Johnson, O'Connor,
Lazaridis (Charlton 45), Hughes, Rankin (Holland 85).
Subs Not Used: Purse, Poole.
Booked: Holdsworth, Hyde, Grainger, Johnson.
Goals: Holdsworth 62, Hughes 72.
Stockport: Gray, Connelly, Flynn, Gannon, Nicholson, Cooper,
Smith (McIntosh 88), Fradin, Dinning, Allen (Bailey 79), Wilbraham.
Subs Not Used: Glennon, Woodthorpe, Hancock.
Goals: Johnson 84 og.
Att: 17,150
Ref: M Pike (Barrow-in-Furness).
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