Paul Furlong kept his cool to put away a decisive penalty 25 seconds from time and snatch a dramatic win for Birmingham against Bradford at St Andrew's.

Birmingham staged a successful late bid to snatch the game after being put under considerable pressure for long spells by the dominance of Bradford.

In the final minute Chris Holland put a through ball to Peter Ndlovu, who tumbled over the outstretched arm of defender Darren Moore, who had slipped making a challenge. Referee Scot Mathieson had no hesitation in awarding the penalty which was converted by Furlong for his 11th goal of the season.

It was a body-blow for second-in-the-table Bradford who had previously been unbeaten in seven games.

But it had been all Bradford for most of the first half. Robbie Blake, in particular, made an immediate impact as he caused considerable danger to Birmingham's defence.

Bradford were confident and positive in their general play as Birmingham struggled to stay in contention.

Lee Mills very nearly opened Bradford's account in their first attack with a glancing header which went just wide.

In the next minute a cross from Ndlovu was headed against the bar by Dele Adebola but Bradford quickly recovered their composure to hit the Midlanders with a series of attacks.

With Blake showing such outstanding form it was little surprise when the Bantams stormed into the lead in the 27th minute.

Blake master-minded the goal when he wriggled his way along the by-line before pushing an accurate pass across the face of Birmingham's goal for Jamie Lawrence to tap the ball home from a couple of yards.

A desperate Birmingham went through an anxious period as Bradford were well in control. But in a hectic finish to the first period Birmingham got themselves back into the game with an injury-time equaliser.

Adebola pushed the ball to Ndlovu who attempted to work his way through Bradford's defence only for the ball to run loose to Furlong, who stabbed in a vital goal for Birmingham.

Bradford appeared the more likely winners in the second half when Lawrence, who had not previously scored a league goal this season, could have added to his first-half strike.

Peter Beagrie also hit the cross-bar with a 35-yard curling shot, but Birmingham had the last laugh with Furlong slotting away the winning penalty.

Teams;

Birmingham: Poole, Gill (Hughes 85), Marsh (Grainger 46),Robinson, Ablett, Johnson, McCarthy, Adebola, Furlong, Holland, Ndlovu.

Subs Not Used: Purse.

Booked: McCarthy, Gill.

Goals: Furlong 45, 90 pen.

Bradford: Walsh, Wright, Jacobs, McCall, Moore, Westwood, Lawrence, Blake, Mills, Whalley, Beagrie.

Subs Not Used: Rankin, O'Brien, Ramage.

Booked: Whalley.

Goals: Lawrence 27.

Att: 19,291

Ref: S Mathieson (Stockport).