Birmingham defender Gary Rowett claimed his first goal of the season with an
83rd minute header which could prove vital in the Blues quest for Premiership
football next season.
Trevor Francis' side had struggled to take command of the game as Swindon
battled to erase fears of a drop into the relegation zone with a fine first half
display.
Swindon had half a dozen good chances to score in the first half but found
goalkeeper Kevin Poole in fine form and also hit the woodwork.
It was left to Rowett to grab a late winner for Birmingham as Swindon's
defending let them down with just seven minutes to go.
A careless foul by Ty Gooden on the edge of his own penalty area handed Martin
Grainger the chance to float in a free-kick from the right and Rowett arrived
unmarked at the far post to head home his first goal of the season.
It was the only genuine chance of the second half and Swindon were powerless
to get back into the game despite the best efforts of substitute Mark Walters.
In the first half on-loan Southampton striker Shayne Bradley had several good
chances to score his first goal for Swindon but the teenager's finishing let him
down.
Bradley had the best chance of the first half after 40 minutes when Birmingham
enjoyed an amazing slice of luck which turned the game.
Bradley did well to provide a pass for Kevin Watson whose right-foot shot beat
the diving Poole - but hit the inside of his right-hand post.
Teams
Swindon: Talia, Linton, Davies, Taylor, Hall, Watson,
Howe (Walters 68), Ndah, Onuora (Hay 74), Bradley, Gooden.
Subs Not Used: Williams.
Birmingham: Poole, Rowett, Grainger, Hyde, Holdsworth,
Johnson (O'Connor 46), McCarthy, Forster, Adebola (Ndlovu 68),Hughes, Robinson.
Subs Not Used: Bradbury.
Goals: Rowett 83.
Att: 8,896.
Ref: R Furnandiz (Doncaster).
The ball flew to Bradley who had the goal at his mercy but he snatched at his
shot and his effort hit the side netting.
Poole had already denied Bradley with a left-foot shot after 27 minutes and
Gooden had a shot cleared from inside the six-yard box by Michael Johnson.
Poole also recovered brilliantly to get the faintest of touches on a
goal-bound shot from Bobby Howe in the 42nd minute.
Then a long-range volley from George Ndah also tested the Birmingham keeper
but once again his handling was impeccable.
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