Christophe Dugarry challenges Bruno N'Gotty.
By Ken Gaunt, PA Sport.
Click here for full match stats
Bolton manager Sam Allardyce's decision to invest in new players helped spark a goal rush on Saturday.
While the trio looked on from the stand, their arrival brought about a change in the club's fortunes.
Goals in the last six minutes from Youri Djorkaeff and substitute Delroy Facey took them beyond Birmingham.
Allardyce has recruited strikers Salva Ballesta and Pierre-Yves Andre on loan until the end of the season as well as defender Florent Laville.
With Michael Ricketts now with Middlesbrough, Bolton were short of attacking options going into the match as none of the newcomers were eligible.
But they went about their business in a positive way to chalk up only their third home league victory of the season.
Birmingham manager Steve Bruce gave a debut to former Arsenal defender Matthew Upson. He partnered Kenny Cunningham at the back after the Republic of Ireland
International recovered from a hamstring injury.
Cunningham however was responsible for Bolton's opening goal after just 12 minutes.
They looked to be little danger when Ricardo Gardner delivered a cross from the left but Cunningham's touch let him down and he steered the ball beyond his own goalkeeper Ian Bennett.
Bolton nearly added a second, only for Henrik Pedersen to steer his effort wide under pressure from Jeff Kenna.
Birmingham striker Christophe Dugarry was seeing plenty of the ball but sent a shot wide from a good position after being released by Clinton Morrison in the 28th minute.
Birmingham should have drawn level in the 41st minute when Morrison sent Kenna clear. He was cleaned through but dragged his shot across the face of the goal.
Birmingham were rewarded a further endeavour a minute before the break when Robbie Savage swept the ball in following a cross from Stan Lazaridis after he had been released by Dugarry.
But their defensive frailties were again exposed a minute after the break.
Bennett appeared to flap at Djorkaeff's shot and Pedersen was on hand to knock the ball home, although Stephen Clemence was positioned on the line.
Birmingham again showed their battling qualities to get back in the game and drew level in the 61st minute when Clemence chipped the ball forward and Morrison made no mistake.
French forward Djorkaeff then rallied his troops and put Bolton ahead for the third time in the game in the 84th minute.
Jay-Jay Okocha started the move and released Djorkaeff who stroked the ball into the corner.
This time Bolton tightened up and pressed forward for Facey to seal victory three minutes from time after Okocha's 25-yard drive had hit the post.
Teams
Bolton Jaaskelainen, Mendy, Bergsson, N'Gotty, Charlton,
Frandsen, Campo, Okocha, Gardner, Djorkaeff,
Pedersen (Facey 81).
Subs Not Used: Poole, Nolan, Barness, Tofting.
Booked: Gardner, Frandsen.
Goals: Cunningham 12 og, Pedersen 46, Djorkaeff 84, Facey 87.
Birmingham Bennett, Kenna, Cunningham, Upson, Clapham,
Devlin (Kirovski 73), Savage, Clemence, Lazaridis, Morrison,
Dugarry (John 67).
Subs Not Used: Vaesen, Michael Johnson, Swierczewski.
Booked: Morrison, Dugarry.
Goals: Savage 44, Morrison 60.
Att: 24,288
Ref: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).
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