Birmingham stepped up their hopes of automatic promotion as they claimed all three points against Crystal Palace at a wet Selhurst Park.

Trevor Francis' men rarely reached top gear in the fist half, but were lifted by an own goal from recent loan-signing Matthew Upson and then a strike from Dele Adebola stunned the home side.

Although Dean Austin pulled one back for the Eagles, it was not enough to stop Alan Smith's side from spinning to their fourth successive defeat.

Palace made a promising start forcing Ian Bennett to make two tremendous saves in the opening minutes.

First the Birmingham stopper denied Thomas Black from 20 yards and then reacted well to block a close-range effort from Dougie Freedman.

Freedman missed another good chance and Mikael Forssell sent in a volley from a full 20 yards which the overworked Birmingham keeper turned brilliantly round the post.

Two minutes after the interval, the visitors were ahead after Nicky Eaden worked his way across the byline before his cross was deflected by Upson passed his own keeper.

On 59 minutes, Birmingham increased their lead after slack marking from the home defence.

Substitute Adebola was allowed too much room in the box and at the second attempt fired low shot from 15 yards out past Alexanders Kolinko.

Within 60 seconds skipper Austin gave Palace hope with a flying header from Black's corner, but despite the Eagles late endeavours, it was never going to be enough to stop Birmingham's promotion charge.

Teams:

Crystal Palace: Kolinko, Karic, Upson, Austin, Zhiyi (Gray 61), Smith, Mullins, Black, Thomson, Forssell (Morrison 80), Freedman (Fuller 80).

Subs Not Used: Frampton, Rubins.

Booked: Zhiyi, Upson.

Goals: Austin 61.

Birmingham: Bennett, Eaden, Grainger (Gill 17), Purse, Atherton, Michael Johnson, McCarthy, Woodhouse, Hughes, Andrew Johnson (Marcelo 84), Horsfield (Adebola 45).

Subs Not Used: Holdsworth, Poole.

Booked: Horsfield.

Goals: Upson 48 og, Adebola 59.

Att: 13,987

Ref: K Hill (Royston).