Birmingham boosted their hopes of automatic promotion with a 3-1 win over fellow high-flyers Barnsley at St Andrews.

The home side enjoyed the best of the opening exchanges as skipper Martin O'Connor and fullback Martin Grainger went close with long range efforts.

However it was Barnsley who produced a devastating break to give them the lead on 13 minutes.

Neil Shipperley drifted out to the right flank before cutting into the box and drawing keeper Ian Bennett. With the hard work done Shipperley simply squared the ball to Craig Hignet who netted his 17th goal of the season.

Despite the goal it was Birmingam who looked the more composed side and it was not long before their pressure was rewarded.

Eric Tinkler's poor clearance cannoned off O'Connor's ankle and into the path of Rankin who smashed the ball past keeper Kevin Miller to level the match on 25 minutes.

Although the home side upped the tempo, they failed to deliver the killer pass and Barnsley looked dangerous on the break with skipper Nicky Eaden going close.

At the other end Rankin could not get enough on his header to test Miller and Gary Rowett sent a free-kick over the bar as half-time approached.

The home side finally got their noses in front deep into injury time when centre-back David Holdsworth got up at the far post to nod in Rowett's corner.

Birmingham opened the second period in the same manner as they had ended the first half and were unlucky not to go further ahead on 53 minutes as Rankin's half-volley crashed against the bar.

Brian Hughes then failed to hit the target when well placed - but the hosts did not have to wait too much longer to get a third goal.

Dele Adebola's header came down off the underside of the bar just after the hour and as the Tykes defence failed to clear the ball, Rankin was once again on hand to fire past Miller.

Robbie van der Laan then forced Bennett into a couple of fine saves, but it was the home side who finished the match the stronger with Adebola, Rankin and Stan Lazaridis all going close.

Teams

Birmingham: Bennett, Rowett, Holdsworth, O'Connor, Grainger, Lazaridis, Hughes, Purse, Charlton, Adebola, Rankin (Marcelo 88).

Subs Not Used: Poole, Hyde, M. Johnson, A. Johnson.

Goals: Rankin 25, Holdsworth 45, Rankin 63.

Barnsley: Miller, Curtis, Morgan, Chettle, Barker, Eaden (Barnard 59), Van Der Laan (Hristov 71), Thomas, Tinkler (Appleby 69), Shipperley, Hignett.

Subs Not Used: Brown, Sheron.

Goals: Hignett 13.

Att: 25,108

Ref: D Gallagher (Banbury).