Ten-man Birmingham secured a priceless victory over local rivals Wolves in their top-of-the-table Championship showdown at St Andrews.

Blues' experience proved too much for Wolves' youth in an encounter that was ultimately settled by repeated hesitancy in the visiting defence.

Cameron Jerome had already wasted a glorious one-on-one after a misjudged back pass from Stephen Ward when he capitalised on some confusion in Wolves' six-yard box to bundle the ball home from close range in first-half injury time.

Substitute Garry O'Connor then wrapped up the points in the 69th minute after Christophe Berra failed to get enough purchase on his header back to Wayne Hennessey.

The main talking point up until the opening goal had been Blues captain Lee Carsley's 36th-minute dismissal for a dangerously high challenge on Chris Iwelumo - which left huge concerns over the seriousness of the injury.

The victory takes second-placed Birmingham to within two points of the league leaders with five games remaining, setting up a thrilling finale in the bid to reach the Barclays Premier League.

Both managers had stressed they were fully aware of the importance of the clash before kick-off, and they could not have had more mixed fortunes on the injury front.

A combination of calf and hamstring problems ruled out Championship top goalscorer Sylvan Ebanks-Blake for Wolves, while Michael Kightly was also merely a spectator due to a broken metatarsal.

In contrast, Alex McLeish handed Kevin Phillips his first Blues start since Valentine's Day, while Keith Fahey and David Murphy were also restored to the starting XI.

As expected, there was a high-tempo start to the promotion encounter yet neither side managed to fashion a clear-cut opening inside the first 20 minutes.

But Blues were gifted a great chance to break the deadlock after 22 minutes as Ward picked up the ball halfway inside the home half, only to be hustled all the way back to midway.

His attempted backpass evaded Berra and Jerome was free to bear down on goal.

But he hesitated far too long and Hennessey was able to smother his effort before the striker fired the loose ball wide.

Iwelumo then forced a solid save from Maik Taylor before Sebastian Larsson blasted a 25-yard free-kick inches wide.

The Scotland forward headed a good chance over from close range in the 34th minute but the striker was on the end of the crude challenge from Carsley shortly after.

A minimum of four minutes were added due to the injury and Jerome capitalised just before the whistle sounded, somehow smuggling the ball over the line as he wrestled for control of it with Hennessey.

The second half started in much the same manner as the first, with plenty of hesitancy in the Wolves defence.

The visitors were resorting to long ball tactics in an attempt to try and create something, with on-loan Aston Villa striker Marlon Harewood - who was making his debut - at the centre of most things.

But they were not creating much and Lee Bowyer forced a good stop from Hennessey at the other end.

And more confusion in the visiting defence made the game safe for Birmingham in the 69th minute.

Murphy pumped a long ball over the Wolves defence but Berra's header back to Hennessey fell short and O'Connor nipped in to round the goalkeeper before slotting home, with Berra unable to recover as he desperately chased back.

Matt Jarvis forced a good save from Taylor in the closing stages but it was Blues' night in front of a season-best crowd of 25,935.

Teams:

Birmingham Maik Taylor, Carr, Jaidi, Ridgewell, Murphy, Larsson (Bouazza 87), Carsley, Bowyer, Fahey, Phillips (McFadden 46), Jerome (O'Connor 57).

Subs Not Used: Doyle, Queudrue.

Sent Off: Carsley (37).

Goals: Jerome 45, O'Connor 69.

Wolverhampton Hennessey, Foley, Craddock, Berra, Hill (Jarvis 46), Edwards (Vokes 62), Henry, Jones, Stephen Ward, Iwelumo (Keogh 40), Harewood.

Subs Not Used: Higgs, Stearman.

Booked: Henry.

Att: 25,935

Ref: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).