Birmingham returned to the automatic promotion places in the Coca-Cola Championship and heaped more pressure on relegation-threatened Leicester at the Walkers Stadium.

Radhi Jaidi's third goal in five games and Sebastian Larsson's eighth goal of the season in the first half, ensured the Blues leapfrogged Derby into second place and moved to within two points of leaders Sunderland.

Shaun Newton pulled a goal back for the Foxes with a well-executed free-kick eight minutes from time, but that proved to be too little too late and left the East Midlands strugglers without a win in 10 matches and just two points above the drop zone.

With so much at stake, both sides were visibly tense in the opening exchanges, but Birmingham soon got into their stride and were rewarded with the opening goal after 16 minutes.

The in-form Jaidi was the goalscorer, leaping highest to head Gary McSheffrey's right-wing corner firmly past Leicester goalkeeper Conrad Logan from just six yards out.

The goal seemed to stun the home side, who were clearly low on confidence, and Bruce's side capitalised on that by doubling their advantage just three minutes later.

Andy Cole was the architect, turning former Blackburn defender Nils-Eric Johansson one way then the other before getting to the left byline and providing an inviting cross for Larsson, who had the routine task of converting the pass with a simple right-foot finish.

The home side showed a positive response and almost pulled a goal back when Joe Mattock played in Matty Fryatt, who cut inside Jaidi and curled a right-foot strike narrowly wide of Colin Doyle's right-hand post.

And less than a minute later Johansson spurned an excellent opportunity to halve the deficit when he rose unchallenged to meet Newton's outswinging corner but failed to hit the target.

Normal service was resumed after the interval with Birmingham on the front foot and McSheffrey played a ball into the path of Fabrice Muamba, who dummied for the lively Cole and his right-foot finish was turned over the crossbar by Logan.

Cole looked certain to have scored his first Blues first goal when he got in front of Logan to head the ball goalwards, only for the retreating Alan Maybury to clear ball as it rolled towards the net.

And Worthington side's had an excellent opportunity to claw their way back into the game when Johansson headed Newton's right-wing corner towards goal and a combination of Doyle and Martin Taylor cleared off the line.

The temporary boss turned to fresh legs in a bid to salvage something from the game, with Danny Cadamarteri and Stephen Hughes replacing Fryatt and Jason Jarrett respectively.

Former Blues striker Geoff Horsfield was introduced with just over 15 minutes remaining and he made an immediate impact, with Jaidi fouling him on the edge of the area and Iain Hume forced a fine save out of Doyle with the resulting free-kick.

The home side were given hope when Larsson fouled Horsfield 20 yards from goal and Newton curled the resulting free-kick into the bottom corner of the net to set up a tense finish.

Leicester threw everything at the visitors in the closing stages and forced four corners in a short space of time before Hume's strike from the edge of the box was kept out by Doyle.

Mattock saw his left-foot strike flash past the post in stoppage time and Birmingham held on for a crucial three points.

Teams:

Leicester Logan, Stearman, Johansson, Kisnorbo,Maybury (Horsfield 75), Newton, Jarrett (Hughes 61),Wesolowski, Mattock, Hume, Fryatt (Cadamarteri 65).

Subs Not Used: Henderson, Sheehan.

Goals: Newton 82.

Birmingham Doyle, N'Gotty, Jaidi, Martin Taylor, Kelly,Larsson (Nafti 90), Muamba, Clemence, McSheffrey,Cole (Campbell 90), Bendtner (Jerome 84).

Subs Not Used: Maik Taylor, Vine.

Booked: Larsson, Nafti.

Goals: Jaidi 16, Larsson 19.

Att: 24,290

Ref: L Probert (Gloucestershire).