Colin Doyle saved a late penalty as Birmingham came from behind to beat local rivals Wolves and storm to the top of the Coca-Cola Championship.

Steve Bruce's side rarely looked like winning but went in front early in the second half through Andy Cole's first goal for the club before two goals in four minutes from Michael McIndoe put Wolves ahead.

Niklas Bendtner pulled the scores level and substitute Cameron Jerome grabbed a late winner, although the visitors still needed Doyle's heroics to secure victory.

Wolves started fiercely and had a shout for a penalty inside the first 30 seconds when Seyi Olofinjana went down just inside the area, but referee Graham Laws was unmoved.

In the 21st minute, Michael Kightly worked his way into the area only to scuff his shot, Olofinjana heading the follow-up wide.

Four minutes later, Jay Bothroyd's cross was only cleared as far as McIndoe, who shot into the side-netting, before Matt Murray saved from Gary McSheffrey.

Blues fans must have wondered how they were not 1-0 up on the half-hour mark, when Stephen Clemence's flick hit the bar and the rebound trickled wide.

The game was coming to life now and a minute later Bothroyd fired over before a point-blank Andy Keogh header was somehow saved by Doyle.

Both crowds were urging their sides on and, after Cole had seen his shot edge wide, McIndoe and Kightly were denied by Doyle before McSheffrey's squared ball was just behind the onrushing strikers.

Bothroyd took on the entire defence in the 34th minute but watched Doyle palm away his shot.

Wolves started the second period with some urgency and McIndoe had an effort saved in the 50th minute before Keogh's shot on the turn flashed wide of the target.

It was a sucker-punch when Birmingham went ahead as Cole showed the predatory instinct which had made Bruce bring him to the club.

Stephen Kelly's 54th-minute free-kick was punted long into the box, flicked on by Bendtner, and Cole tapped it over Murray as the keeper went to ground.

Bothroyd headed wide on the hour mark as Wolves pushed forward and they got their deserved equaliser in the 67th minute.

Kightly, who had been a constant menace down the right flank, beat the full-back and swung in a cross from the byline which McIndoe rose highest to head off the post and in.

A carbon copy goal four minutes later then put Wolves in front, Keogh this time crossing from the right side of the area and McIndoe leaping unmarked to head past a stationary Doyle.

In the 77th minute, the Blues equalised against the run of play.

McSheffrey sent in a corner from the right and Bendtner powered the ball into the net.

Wolves responded immediately and Keogh fired a shot from the edge of the area fractionally wide, but again they were hit on the break.

Jerome, on as a substitute for Cole, beat the offside trap to latch on to a long ball and ignored his on-rushing team-mates to slot home from a tight angle.

But there was more drama to come as, in the first minute of stoppage-time, Radhi Jaidi was harshly adjudged to have felled Neill Collins inside the area and the referee pointed to the spot.

McIndoe lined himself up for the spot-kick but was denied his hat-trick as Doyle guessed the right way to guarantee his side the win.

Teams

Wolverhampton Murray, Neill Collins, Breen (Clapham 62),Craddock, McNamara, Kightly, Olofinjana, Potter, McIndoe,Bothroyd (Ward 86), Keogh.

Subs Not Used: Budtz, Mark Davies, Gleeson.

Booked: Breen, Olofinjana, Neill Collins, Bothroyd.

Goals: McIndoe 67, 71.

Birmingham Doyle, N'Gotty, Jaidi, Martin Taylor, Kelly,Larsson (Nafti 90), Muamba, Clemence, McSheffrey (Vine 90),Bendtner, Cole (Jerome 61).

Subs Not Used: Maik Taylor, Campbell.

Booked: Muamba, McSheffrey, Jaidi, Clemence.

Goals: Cole 54, Bendtner 77, Jerome 88.

Att: 22,754

Ref: G Laws (Tyne & Wear).