Keith Fahey's strike in first-half stoppage time proved to be the decisive goal as Birmingham made it successive 1-0 wins in the league.

After edging their Coca-Cola Championship fixture against Bristol City in midweek, Fahey crashed home the only goal of the game on the stroke of half time just as it looked as though the Saints might head in to the interval on level terms.

Saints boss Mark Wotte named an unchanged starting XI after Jan-Paul Saeijs was passed fit, while Morgan Schneiderlin continued to deputise for the injured Adam Lallana.

Alex McLeish also opted to stick with the same side that beat City in midweek. Radhi Jaidi recovered from a knock, while Ulises De la Cruz was named among the substitutes.

Striker Marek Saganowski had an early chance but his effort from the edge of the box flew wide of the right-hand post and never looked like troubling Maik Taylor in the Birmingham goal.

The Blues pinned the visitors back in their own half with Franck Queudrue trying his luck from distance - but to no avail.

The visitors almost took the lead in the 12th minute when Jason Euell, who kept his place in the side following his brace in the 3-0 win at Ipswich, lobbed a header over Taylor from a Simon Gillett corner but defender Carr was on hand to clear off the line.

Marcus Bent had to go off for the home side after picking up an injury and was replaced by Carlos Costly midway through the half.

But the Blues continued to press and Southampton goalkeeper Kelvin Davis did well to turn a Fahey header around the post.

And the deadlock was broken when a strong run by Cameron Jerome and clever ball into the box ended with Fahey drilling home.

Just after the break midfielder Lee Carsley had a chance to double the home side's lead but he curled wide of the left-hand post.

The visitors were reduced to shooting from distance with Rudi Skacel and Euell both firing tame efforts at goal.

Costly had a chance to settle the fixture in the 67th minute but Davis reacted well to his close range strike and managed to parry the ball to safety.

Southampton, who had the chance to temporarily climb out of the relegation zone providing they won, found chances increasingly hard to come by as the game wore on.

Striker Scott Sinclair hit the post in the closing stages as the hosts continued to examine the Saints defence.

And the Blues comfortably held on for all three points but the win comes at a cost for McLeish, who

after watching Bent limp off was also forced to withdraw Jerome because of injury.

Teams

Birmingham Maik Taylor, Carr, Jaidi, Martin Taylor, Queudrue,Larsson, Carsley, Bowyer, Fahey (Sinclair 68),Jerome (Bouazza 76), Bent (Costly 18).

Subs Not Used: Doyle, De la Cruz.

Goals: Fahey 45.

Southampton Davis, Perry, Saeijs, Skacel (Smith 75), James,Schneiderlin (Liptak 84), Gillett, Surman,McGoldrick (Paterson 46), Euell, Saganowski.

Subs Not Used: Forecast, Wotton.

Booked: McGoldrick, Saeijs, Liptak.

Att: 16,735

Ref: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).