Kevin Keegan's free-wheeling Manchester City chalked up their 100th goal in all competitions this season.

Perhaps of more importance to the Maine Road manager, his team moved to within two points of leaders Wolves with a game in hand.

Considering they have scored goals for fun this season, Keegan's decision to invest £5million in striker Jon Macken must be a bit of a worry for their promotion rivals.

The 24-year-old spent the game on the bench after his swift move from Preston which was completed last night.

City had to dig deep before playing the type of football that has become former England manager Keegan's trademark at club level.

Niclas Jensen dragged them back into the game by getting the equaliser after Michael Johnson's opener.

That came in the fourth minute when defender Richard Dunne was hauled up by referee Bill Jordan for a lunge at Geoff Horsfield.

Paul Devlin delivered the free-kick from the left and Johnson glanced a header beyond keeper Nicky Weaver.

Keegan saw his team pour forward after the early setback and keeper Ian Bennett did well to beat away Shaun Goater's effort.

Then Darren Huckerby found space in the penalty area, but he delayed his shot and Bennett was able to clear.

City kept up the pressure and Shaun Wright-Phillips latched onto a pass from Ali Benarbia to sting Bennett's hands from 25 yards.

Birmingham hit back and Johnson came close, only for Bennett to make two more stunning stop from Wright-Phillips in quick succession.

Keegan was forced to change his goalkeeper after 33 minutes when Nicky Weaver, who had been suffering from a thigh strain, came off. He was replaced by Carlo Nash.

Birmingham were again forced on the defensive before the break, Darren Purse hacking the ball clear as Benarbia tried to release Goater.

Jensen equalised on the stroke of half-time when Benarbia played the ball through to Huckerby.

He looked offside, but squared it to Jensen, who made no mistake for his first goal for the club following his £750,000 move from FC Copenhagen two months ago.

City looked bright and busy after the re-start, but Bennett was proving a formidable barrier as the visitors went in search of the equaliser.

Bennett made a superb double save from Goater that had the City striker beating the ground in frustration.

Birmingham, however, made a quick break and Geoff Horsfield picked out Stern John, but his effort went into the crowd.

It was only a brief respite for Birmingham and Bennett with the keeper doing well to tip away Benarbia's delicate chip.

City reached their century of goals when Kevin Horlock put them ahead after 67 minutes when he drilled the ball home from the edge of the area.

It was the midfielder's sixth goal of the season and dampened Birmingham's hopes of reaching the play-offs.

Teams

Birmingham: Bennett, Kenna, Purse, Michael Johnson, Grainger (Andrew Johnson 73), Devlin, Hughes, Carter, Mooney, John (Hyde 73), Horsfield.

Subs Not Used: Vaesen, Eaden, McCarthy.

Booked: Purse.

Goals: Michael Johnson 4.

Man City: Weaver (Nash 33), Dunne, Howey (Mettomo 71), Pearce, Wright-Phillips, Benarbia, Horlock, Tiatto, Jensen, Goater, Huckerby.

Subs Not Used: Jihai, Ritchie, Macken.

Booked: Pearce, Wright-Phillips.

Goals: Jensen 45, Horlock 67.

Att: 24,160

Ref: W Jordan (Tring).