Substitute Claudio Pizarro kept Chelsea's Barclays Premier League title hopes alive with a late strike to earn them a 1-0 win against battling Birmingham at St Andrews.

The Peru international's only other goal for Blues since his summer move from Bayern Munich had been on the opening day of the season against the same opposition.

He struck 11 minutes from time to earn Avram Grant's side a fourth successive win despite again being decimated by injuries and African Nations Cup call-ups.

Chelsea seldom fired on all cylinders despite having more of the possession but would have been pleased with the contribution made on his full debut by £15million capture Nicolas Anelka.

Alex McLeish's side gave a performance as committed as the one which had seen them share the spoils with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium last weekend with skipper Damien Johnson impressive in the middle of the park.

But the former Scotland boss must be concerned by the number of goals his side concede from set pieces as Pizarro was first to react for the winner to a corner from Juliano Belletti.

Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips needed early treatment after landing awkwardly on an ankle following an aerial challenge with Johnson and he eventually was replaced by Pizarro.

Chelsea enjoyed the bulk of the possession for the majority of the opening 45 minutes with Michael Ballack and Florent Malouda impressive.

Birmingham midfielder Fabrice Muamba became the first player to be yellow carded after 11 minutes for a mis-timed challenge on Ricardo Carvalho.

Ballack was over-ambitious in going for goal from fully 40 yards out after Sebastian Larsson fouled Ashley Cole and the ball dribbled through to home goalkeeper Maik Taylor.

City were on the back foot for the majority of the time and full-back Stephen Kelly got an important touch on a fiercely driven free-kick by Ballack across the face of goal.

Birmingham were finding space on occasions in behind the two Chelsea full-backs on the counter-attack but could not take advantage of the situations with the final ball letting them down.

But Cameron Jerome could have put Birmingham ahead after 38 minutes after a blunder by Cech.

Cech made a mess of his clearance which flew at pace towards Jerome and his instinctive header from 18 yards out hit the outside of the post.

Birmingham started to build up some momentum towards the interval and Jerome was twice more denied by blocks in front of goal from Cole and Alex.

Chelsea seemed rattled and unsettled by the aggressive approach of Alex McLeish's side, who left the pitch at half time to a standing ovation.

Anelka gave a glimpse of his class when dummying Johnson but he dragged his 20-yard shot wide.

Birmingham were now having almost as much of the possession as the visitors and a half volley from Larsson was not too far off target.

The Swedish international then saw a low cross from Kapo bobble off his leg and wide after it had taken a slight deflection off Cech.

Kapo was an increasing influence and one deft pass played in Jerome whose shot was blocked by Cech, although the City striker had strayed marginally offside.

Chelsea created their best opening to date after 68 minutes when Malouda played in Anelka who found himself with only Taylor to beat.

But Rafael Schmitz got across just to make a vital touch on his eventual shot and Taylor was able to make the block.

McLeish made a double substitution after 73 minutes with the injured Jerome and O'Connor replaced by newcomer McFadden and Mikael Forssell.

And McFadden was soon in the thick of the action, forcing Cech to beat away his low drive.

But with 11 minutes left all the home side's hard work was undone as Pizarro headed in Belletti's corner despite the efforts on the line of Larsson to keep the ball out.

Teams:

Birmingham Maik Taylor, Kelly, Schmitz, Ridgewell, Queudrue,Larsson, Muamba, Johnson, Kapo, O'Connor (Forssell 72),Jerome (McFadden 72).

Subs Not Used: Doyle, McSheffrey, Parnaby.

Booked: Muamba.

Chelsea Cech, Belletti, Alex, Carvalho, Ashley Cole,Wright-Phillips (Pizarro 29), Makelele, Ballack,Joe Cole (Sidwell 85), Anelka, Malouda (Bridge 90).

Subs Not Used: Cudicini, Ben-Haim.

Booked: Pizarro.

Goals: Pizarro 79.

Att: 26,567

Ref: Rob Styles (Hampshire).