Birmingham stepped up their challenge for an automatic promotion place with their ninth away victory.

They were made to work very hard by in-form Tranmere who feel they should have got something from the game.

The decisive goal came a minute after half-time. Michael Johnson was the marksman with a looping header from a cross by Martin Grainger.

Birmingham had chances to add to their advantage, but Danny Coyne in the home goal made fine saves from Dele Adebola and Peter Ndlovu, while Gary Rowett flashed a header just over the bar following a corner.

Tranmere's outside play-off hopes probably disappeared with this seventh home defeat. They were not without their chances but enjoyed little luck in front of goal.

Substitute David Kelly almost grabbed a point three minutes from time, but his header from a centre by Alan Mahon just cleared the bar.

John McGreal, Graham Allen and Scott Taylor were all sound for the Merseysiders. Grainger was outstanding for the Blues and there was also some excellent work from Johnson and Bryan Hughes.

Jonathan Bass collected a first half caution for a foul. The Tranmere duo of Andy Thompson and Andy Parkinson were yellow-carded in the dying moments.

Both teams used all their substitutes, and it turned into a real thriller for the 7,184 crowd.

Teams

Tranmere: Coyne, Allen, Thompson, McGreal, Hill (Challinor 64), Irons, Mahon, Parkinson, O'Brien (Kelly 64), Taylor,Jones (Koumas 72).

Booked: Thompson, Parkinson.

Birmingham: Poole, Bass, Charlton, Hyde (McCarthy 77), Rowett, Johnson, Grainger, O'Connor, Adebola (Furlong 73), Hughes, Forster (Ndlovu 58).

Booked: Bass.

Goals: Johnson 46.

Att: 7,184.

Ref: M Messias (York).