Birmingham halted their worst sequence of defeats in the Premiership thanks to goals from newcomers Walter Pandiani and Robbie Blake.

Steve Bruce's took a major step to guaranteeing their own top-flight status for another season after dominating the opening 45 minutes.

But they were given a fright in the second half after Southampton substitute Henri Camara scored a superb goal on his debut.

The opening 45 minutes were one-sided with Birmingham, who had lost their previous four league games, in complete command from the first whistle.

Saints, who have the worst away record in the Premiership, could not cope with the runs and crosses of Jermaine Pennant and Julian Gray during that period.

Blake, only included in the side after Emile Heskey was injured in the warm-up, also impressed alongside Pandiani and inept Southampton looked ripe for a hammering.

But one of Birmingham's big failings this season has been an inability to produce sustained 90-minute performances.

And it was a different story after the break as Southampton - no doubt fired up by a half-time roasting from Harry Redknapp - posed more of a threat.

The catalyst to that was provided by Camara who has joined the Saints on loan from Wolves via Celtic and his superb goal meant Blues could not relax until the final whistle after a tense finale.

But for all their endeavours Southampton are now four points adrift of the safety mark and collected just two points out of 39 away from St Mary's.

Southampton midfielder David Prutton had the first half-chance but he scuffed his shot wide from the edge of the area - and after that it was one-way traffic towards the visitors goal.

Pandiani, nicknamed 'the Rifle' in Spain, came within inches of scoring after eight minutes. Gray sent over a deep cross which was headed back across goal by Pennant to the Deportivo La Coruna player who volleyed just past the post.

But Pandiani was not to be denied and after 12 minutes he grabbed the opening goal. Blake found Pennant on the right flank and he delivered another superb cross.

This time the unmarked Uruguayan make no mistake with a powerful close-range header which flew past Antti Niemi into the corner of the net.

Southampton were struggling to cope with the pace and movement of the home side with Pandiani not afraid to shoot and one long-range powerful effort cannoned off Claus Lundekvam for a corner.

Then Niemi produced a superb save at full stretch to keep out Jamie Clapham's 29th-minute piledriver from fully 35 yards.

It was one-way traffic towards the Saints goal with Pennant a constant threat and the former England under-21 player was only just too high with a dipping effort after exchanging passes with Blake.

But after 40 minutes Blues deservedly doubled their lead with Blake's first goal for the club since his £1.25million move from Burnley.

Mario Melchiot was brought down in the penalty area by Jamie Redknapp and up stepped Blake to hammer the spot-kick high into the net.

Prutton was booked for a crude challenge on Jamie Clapham and incensed Blues boss Steve Bruce had to be restrained by the fourth official.

Camara came on in place of Kenwyn Jones for the second half. But Blake had the chance to add to Birmingham's lead within two minutes of the restart after seizing onto a low cross from Pandiani.

He turned sharply to create a clearcut opening for himself but from eight yards out drilled his shot just wide.

Then out of the blue Camara brought Southampton into the game with a stunning goal after 52 minutes.

Peter Crouch won the ball in the air and Camara seized on it and in one movement drilled an unstoppable left-footed shot past Maik Taylor into the roof of the net.

The home side suddenly looked vulnerable whenever Southampton attacked and a mistake by Clapham let in Prutton but he drove his shot wide.

Blues weathered the storm and Niemi denied Stephen Clemence at close range and Clapham's shot was deflected wide.

Teams

Birmingham Maik Taylor, Melchiot, Cunningham, Upson, Clapham, Pennant (Carter 77), Johnson, Clemence, Gray, Blake (Morrison 90), Pandiani (Tebily 80).

Subs Not Used: Vaesen, Nafti.

Goals: Pandiani 12, Blake 41 pen.

Southampton Niemi, Telfer, Davenport, Lundekvam, Bernard, Delap, Prutton, Redknapp, Van Damme (Anders Svensson 69), Jones (Camara 45), Crouch.

Subs Not Used: Jakobsson, Smith, Higginbotham.

Booked: Prutton, Bernard.

Goals: Camara 52.

Att: 28,797

Ref: P Walton (Northamptonshire).