Dion Dublin stunned Birmingham with a vital strike for Millwall in this First Division play-off semi-final first leg.

The 33-year-old striker, on loan from Aston Villa, is turning out to be the club's lucky charm.

This was his third goal in six games and during that time they have remained unbeaten - and in sight of the top flight.

Birmingham, in the play-offs for the fourth successive year, had taken the lead through Bryan Hughes.

But they must now feel uncomfortable about going to the New Den for the return leg on Thursday.

Millwall keeper Tony Warner was tested after just three minutes when he did well to make a clean catch from Damien Johnson's hanging cross.

The scenario was repeated two minutes later, the former Liverpool shot-stopper punching over a free-kick from Johnson.

Birmingham had started the game brightly and leading scorer Tommy Mooney saw his shot from the edge of the area go narrowly wide.

Tim Cahill then played a short free-kick to Steven Reid and he rattled in shot from 20 yards that home keeper Nico Vaesen did well to parry.

Johnson was seeing plenty of the ball in the opening stages and delivered another good cross, only for Stern John to head wide.

Millwall were looking dangerous from set pieces and Cahill got away from his marker when Reid floated in a free-kick, only for his header to drift wide.

Millwall were looking comfortable and Ronnie Bull picked up Paul Ifill, who had made a good run, only for his header to go wide of the target.

They were also doing a good job of manning the barricades at the back and forcing Birmingham to try long-range efforts.

Darren Carter again tried his luck from distance only for his effort to go into the crowd.

Then Geoff Horsfield got free to smash in a shot from the edge of the area that tested Warner.

Millwall should have taken the lead in the 52nd minute when Neil Harris released Cahill in front of the posts.

However, he made a complete hash of his shot and Martin Grainger was able to bundle it away for a corner.

Cahill then saw his header from Reid's corner go wide and Ifill's shot was tipped over by Vaesen as Millwall stepped up the pace.

Birmingham, however, made the breakthrough in the 56th minute when Hughes smashed home a delightful chip from Grainger.

It was Hughes' ninth goal of the season and one of his most important as it put Birmingham a step closer to the play-off final.

The 25-year-old Liverpool-born midfielder wheeled away in celebration after his clinical finish to a wonderful ball from Grainger.

That goal left Millwall stunned after a spell of pressure that could have seen them score three times.

Grainger almost had the crowd celebrating again when he rattled in a 25-yard free-kick only to see it nestle in the side netting.

Johnson rattled a 20-yard shot over the bar following a corner from Grainger as Birmingham pressed forward again.

Steve Claridge was then brought on for Harris after 75 minutes and Millwall equalised six minutes later.

Reid delivered a cross from the left and Dublin powered a header beyond Vaesen.

Teams

Birmingham: Vaesen, Kenna, Purse, Tebily, Grainger, Damien Johnson, Bryan Hughes, Carter, Mooney (Lazaridis 89), John, Horsfield.

Subs Not Used: Bennett, Woodhouse, Andrew Johnson, Vickers.

Goals: Bryan Hughes 56.

Millwall: Warner, Lawrence, Nethercott, Ward, Bull, Ifill, Livermore, Cahill, Reid, Harris (Claridge 75), Dublin.

Subs Not Used: Gueret, Ryan, Bircham, Dyche.

Booked: Livermore.

Goals: Dublin 80.

Att: 28,282

Ref: A Bates (Stoke on Trent).