Birmingham-born Darren Carter struck twice to ensure a comfortable passage into the fourth round of the FA Cup for Steve Bruce's side.

Carter, whose penalty clinched Blues place in the Premiership two-and-a-half-years ago, had spent the first half of the season on loan at Sunderland.

But Bruce has already intimated that the midfielder would have a long term future at St Andrews and he has been a key figure in their recent revival.

The England Under-20 international is bursting with hunger and energy to make an impact after waiting so long for an opportunity and his runs into the box were a constant threat.

The want-away Robbie Savage was forgotten - for 90 minutes at least - as Birmingham established an early supremacy which they seldom looked like relinquishing.

The strike partnership of Emile Heskey and Clinton Morrison continues to flourish and they have also played crucial parts in a run of five wins in the last seven games.

Heskey was on target for the fifth time in six outings while Morrison set up all of Birmingham's goals.

But Leeds deserve credit for not going down without a fight with Frazer Richardson and Aaron Lennon impressive on the flanks and City keeper Maik Taylor had to be at his best to keep a clean sheet.

Birmingham had most of the play in the early stages and Neil Sullivan went down low to his right to turn a dipping drive from Julian Gray around the post.

Carter then failed to make full contact with his shot from near the penalty spot after Heskey had laid a Stan Lazaridis cross into his path and Sullivan was able to collect.

But after 11 minutes Birmingham's pressure finally told through Heskey. Darren Anderton played the ball into Morrison who released Heskey on the right side of the Leeds area and he coolly clipped his shot over Sullivan and into the net via the far post.

Upson was booked for a wild challenge on Aaron Lennon after 16 minutes and Taylor was forced to tip the resulting free-kick from David Healy around the post.

Leeds lost Nathan Blake and Michael Duberry in quick succession through injury and they were replaced by Julian Joachim and Danny Pugh respectively.

It came as no surprise when Blues doubled their lead after 21 minutes. Heskey held the ball up well before slipping a pass out to Morrison on the right and his first-time cross was perfectly timed for the unmarked Carter to slip past Sullivan.

The visitors showed plenty of spirit despite their double setback and Taylor went down to clutch onto a shot from Frazer Richardson at the foot of a post.

Then Matthew Kilgallon should have done better with a header from a floated cross over the Blues defence by Richardson but he directed his effort straight at Taylor.

Another centre from Richardson picked out Simon Walton but his glancing header flew wide of Taylor's goal and there was slackness in the Birmingham defence.

It was Birmingham's turn to make an enforced change when Lazaridis limped off to be replaced by Jamie Clapham five minutes before the interval.

Leeds made a positive start to the second half and it needed a double save from Taylor to protect City's two-goal advantage.

First he parried away a low drive from Richardson and then reacted quickly to block the rebound effort from Joachim.

The visitors were not going down without a fight and Taylor again did well to push a downward volley from Lennon over the bar from Richardson's cross.

But Birmingham were finding space on the counter-attack as Leeds pushed more players forward and Heskey moved into a threatening position only to lose his balance as he prepared to shoot.

Then after 65 minutes Carter effectively sealed Birmingham's place in the fourth round with his second goal of the game.

Blues had a 4-3 numerical advantage when Morrison broke down the right and his pass was timed perfectly for Carter to slide his first-time shot past Sullivan.

Leeds kept going until the final whistle but Taylor denied them even a consolation goal by holding onto Healy's low shot.

Teams

Birmingham Maik Taylor, Melchiot, Cunningham, Upson, Lazaridis (Clapham 40), Anderton (Tebily 77), Clemence, Carter, Gray, Heskey (Blake 67), Morrison.

Subs Not Used: Vaesen, Yorke.

Booked: Upson.

Goals: Heskey 11, Carter 21, 65.

Leeds Sullivan, Kelly, Kilgallon, Duberry (Pugh 22), Richardson, Lennon, Wright, Gregan, Walton, Healy, Blake (Joachim 19).

Subs Not Used: Carson, Ricketts, Griffit.

Att: 25,159

Ref: G Poll (Hertfordshire).