Dele Adebola's last-minute goal kept alive Birmingham's hopes of making the First Division play-offs and pushed relegation haunted Manchester City a step nearer to Division Two.

Adebola raced onto Darren Purse's long ball inside his own half to draw City goalkeeper Martyn Margetson and slot his shot beyond him and in off the far post from the left side of the box.

City had begun the game with a flourish and only a fine eighth-minute save by Birmingham goalkeeper Ian Bennett denied Joe Royle's men a goal.

Bennett's brilliant point blank block denied City skipper Jamie Pollock after he had reacted quicker than the visitors' defence when Richard Jobson floated a long ball into the box.

Birmingham's defence was again in trouble 10 minutes later when they failed to clear a Kevin Horlock free kick from the lift.

Gerard Wiekens pounced on the loose ball on the edge of the penalty area to hit a ferocious shot which hit the underside of the bar before being scrambled clear.

Lee Bradbury squandered a 21st-minute chance for the home side after being found in space by Shaun Goater's delightful flick. He could only drag his shot wide from only 10 yards.

Birmingham brought on Purse and Steve Robinson for John Bass and Bryan Hughes at the start of the second half and their momentum increased.

In the 48th minute, Adebola's cross from the right found Martin O'Connor free and in space only 10 yards out, but he miss-hit his shot well wide.

Robinson forced a save from Margetson with a far post header from Jon McCarthy's corner and Peter Ndlovu was inches wide with a low 30-yard effort after 55 minutes.

Adebola went close with a speculative 25 yard chip and the bubbling Robinson tested Margetson when he cut in from the right and fired in a teasing cross-cum-shot.

City's first real chance in the second half fell to Bradbury in the 76th minute when he cut into the box from the left and forced Bennett to take his cross at full stretch.

Bennett denied City again in the sixth minute of injury time when Goater connected with Horlock's cross from the left. The Birmingham keeper made a superb diving save to keep out the header.

Teams

Man City: Margetson, Edghill, Horlock, Jobson (Brannan 70), Weikens, Vaughan, Whitley, Pollock, Goater, Bishop (Brown 66), Bradbury (Rosler 79). Booked: Horlock, Weikens, Brown.

Birmingham: Bennett, Bass (Purse 45), Charlton, Bruce, Johnson, Marsden, McCarthy, O'Connor, Adebola, Hughes (Robinson 45),

Ndlovu (Forster 82).

Booked: Bruce, Purse.

Goals: Adebola 90.

Att: 29,569

Ref: T Heilbron (Newton Aycliffe).