Elano nets City winner

Yet Birmingham felt his goal in the 37th minute should not have stood, claiming Fabrice Muamba was fouled by Michael Johnson in the build-up.

The City midfielder then released Vedran Corluka and he set up Elano, who applied a cool finish.

Steve Bruce's side quickly regained their composure and Olivier Kapo should have equalised a minute later. He found himself clear in the area, but his weak shot failed to test goalkeeper Joe Hart.

City made a bright start to the second half and Martin Petrov tried a dipping half-volley from distance but saw his ambitious effort go wide of the target.

Birmingham swept back downfield and Gary McSheffrey delivered a corner from the left. Rafael Schmitz got away from his marker but headed over the bar.

Petrov whipped in a corner in the 52nd minute that Stephen Kelly did well to clear at the back post.

There was a moment of anxiety for City when defender Micah Richards took an awkward fall and lay prostrate on the turf. However, he quickly recovered and resumed his place alongside Richard Dunne at the back.

Petrov almost added a second in the 60th minute, cutting inside before delivering a shot that Maik Taylor did well to take cleanly.

Substitute Georgios Samaras immediately made a nuisance of himself and the ball broke to Petrov, but he sent his effort over the bar. Birmingham substitute Garry O'Connor rattled in a shot that Corluka did well to block.