Peter Ndlovu struck twice as Birmingham inflicted a damaging defeat at Molineux on play-off rivals Wolves.

Trevor Francis' side had to do it the hard way, though, coming from behind to pick up three precious points after Dougie Freedman had put Wolves ahead with a beauty in the 14th minute.

But Zimbabwe international Ndlovu's brace plus another from the Blues' and recent signing Dele Adebola condemned Wolves to defeat.

Wolves started so well when Freedman, the Scottish World Cup hopeful who had seen off Wimbledon in Wednesday's FA Cup fifth round replay with a spectacular late goal, picked up where he left off by brilliantly volleying home after Lee Naylor had crossed deep from the left.

Freedman's 11th goal of the season came from virtually the first shot of the match but Birmingham moved up a gear almost immediately as Mike Stowell had to react sharply to hold a header from Bryan Hughes.

Ndlovu then sliced wide and Carl Robinson almost took full advantage at the other end with a tremendous shot that brought a save to match from Ian Bennett.

Birmingham continued in control and, after Hughes, Jon McCarthy and in particular Ndlovu had missed chances, the equaliser deservedly came in the 35th minute.

Dean Richards hesitated and Adebola found Ndlovu with a square pass which the he rifled home expertly from 22 yards.

The same player almost put Birmingham in front with a close-range shot that Stowell saved superbly following a twisting run but Wolves should have been back in front by half time as Mixu Paatelainen failed to beat Bennett from only a couple of yards out from Kevin Muscat's cross.

The second half was even and Paatelainen missed another opening, this time from 12 yards, before Stowell was relieved to escape punishment when he charged down an effort from Ndlovu with Birmingham appealing for hand ball.

Francis' side went in front in the 71st minute when Richards failed to clear McCarthy's right wing centre and Adebola nudged the ball home left-footed from close range.

It became 3-1 13 minutes from time when the unhappy Richards brought down Martin O'Connor in the area and Ndlovu sent Stowell the wrong way for his second goal of the afternoon.

Mark McGhee, with his side facing a fifth league defeat in seven games and their third at home in less than a month, sent on Steve Bull as sub straight away. The local hero almost pulled one back with a well saved shot from which Paatelainen squandered a golden opportunity from the rebound.

Birmingham used all three subs and one of them, Martin Grainger, smashed a late shot against the bar before Stowell saved well from McCarthy.

Teams

Wolverhampton: Stowell, Muscat (Simpson 75), Naylor, Atkins, Richards, Curle, Paatelainen, Robinson, Keane (Bull 78), Freedman, Osborn.

Subs Not Used: Williams.

Goals: Freedman 13.

Birmingham: Bennett, Johnson, Charlton, Bruce, Ablett, Marsden, McCarthy, O'Connor (Grainger 80), Adebola, Hughes (Robinson 61), Ndlovu (Forster 89).

Booked: Bruce.

Goals: Ndlovu 35, Adebola 71, Ndlovu 77 pen.

Att: 25,591

Ref: G Cain (Bootle).