Mikael Forssell scored his first Premiership goal in open play for two years to lift Birmingham out of the bottom three and wreck Robbie Savage's return to St Andrews with Blackburn.

Savage looked as if he had come back to haunt Birmingham by cancelling out Nicky Butt's opener with just 12 minutes remaining - his first goal for his new club.

But Forssell drilled home a cross from Julian Gray in the 87th minute to move Steve Bruce's side ahead of Portsmouth on goal difference.

Savage had already upset David Gold when he declined to shake hands with the Blues chairman before the game.

But his contribution on the field was the biggest dagger into the heart of Gold and Birmingham - until Forssell's late strike.

Birmingham's problem all season has been their inability to convert their opportunities and in the first half the otherwise impressive Chris Sutton was guilty of one of the misses of the season.

Rovers were also indebted to goalkeeper Brad Friedel for keeping them in the hunt during the opening 45 minutes against a pumped-up home side for whom Butt was a key figure in midfield.

The second half saw both sides have chances to wrap up all three points but no-one will begrudge Forssell his moment of glory after a succession of injuries which have dogged his career with City.

Predictably Birmingham supporters booed Savage every time he touched the ball in the opening stages of a match which started in driving rain.

But of more concern for the home side was a victory and it needed a superb save from Friedel to prevent Blues taking the lead in the 12th minute.

Jermaine Pennant's low cross picked out fit-again Gray - and his powerful shot on the turn from 12 yards out was tipped over at full stretch by Friedel.

Emile Heskey could have eased the tension after Damien Johnson sent over an inviting centre but his far post header flew over the bar when he should have at least hit the target.

Savage did not make much of an impression in the opening quarter but his persistence in battling for the ball in the box set up half a chance for Morten Gamst Peersen - but his first-time shot flew wide of Maik Taylor's goal.

Blackburn began to exert a spell of pressure via a succession of free-kicks and corners which often meant the home side dragging all 11 players back behind the ball.

But Friedel was called into meaningful action for a second time to turn aside a 25-yard piledriver from Johnson.

Birmingham's injury jinx struck again after 36 minutes when Pennant - their main source of danger - limped out of the action to be replaced by Mario Melchiot.

Steven Reid made an important interception for the visitors on their edge of their box as Sutton prepared to shoot.

But former Blackburn player Sutton was guilty of a shocking miss two minutes before the interval when it seemed easier to score.

Gray's low centre picked out Sutton completely unmarked on the six yard line but he somehow sliced his shot wide.

Blackburn boss Mark Hughes replaced Pedersen with Sergio Peter for the second half and his side made a positive start to the second period.

Blues central defender Martin Taylor made a timely tackle to block a shot from Brett Emerton, who then drilled a 20 yard effort straight at Maik Taylor.

David Bentley curled a shot just past the post and Maik Taylor clung onto a skidding drive from Zurab Khizanishvili at the second attempt.

But Birmingham retaliated and squandered another clear-cut chance when Martin Taylor headed Gray's inswinging free-kick wide.

Blackburn were now looking far more dangerous and Khizanishvili hit the post with a glancing header from Bentley's centre.

But after 62 minutes Butt broke the deadlock for the home side when he turned in a low centre by Gray from close range.

Savage silenced the home fans when he netted after Maik Taylor had blocked Peter's powerful drive - before Forssell decisively turned home another menacing low cross from Gray.

Sutton and Gray joined Olivier Tebily, Johnson and Cunningham in the notebook of referee Uriah Rennie in the closing seconds as Blues held on for three crucial points.

Teams:

Birmingham Maik Taylor, Tebily, Cunningham, Martin Taylor,Sadler, Pennant (Melchiot 37), Johnson, Butt, Gray, Sutton,Heskey (Forssell 67).

Subs Not Used: Vaesen, Kilkenny, Bruce.

Booked: Cunningham, Tebily, Johnson, Gray, Sutton.

Goals: Butt 62, Forssell 87.

Blackburn Friedel, Neill, Todd (Mokoena 74), Nelsen,Khizanishvili, Emerton (Kuqi 71), Reid, Savage,Pedersen (Peter 45), Bentley, Bellamy.

Subs Not Used: Enckelman, Dickov.

Goals: Savage 78.

Att: 25,287

Ref: U Rennie (S Yorkshire).