Taylor brace enough for Latics

Ryan Taylor's brace and the foolishness of captain Damien Johnson sealed Birmingham's downfall.

With his side trailing 1-0 late in the first half, Johnson launched into an ugly two-footed lunge on Kevin Kilbane and was rightly sent off.

Wigan took the lead when Antonio Valencia picked out Taylor at the far post and he confidently finished into the bottom corner.

And they could have been 2-0 up when Valencia's shot was spilt by Maik Taylor, but Marcus Bent could not connect with the loose ball.

Birmingham's first shot on target was a 25th-minute Gary McSheffrey effort straight at Chris Kirkland from 20 yards.

With less than 10 minutes of the half remaining, Johnson got plenty of the ball, but the recklessness of his tackle on Kilbane warranted his ejection.

Wigan went further ahead when they made the most of a goalmouth scramble. Valencia's cross was nodded off target by Bent, but Wigan kept the ball alive in the confusion that followed and Taylor forced the ball over the line.

Martin Taylor prevented a third goal when he got back on the line to clear Bent's lob after his keeper had come rushing out.

Shortly past the hour mark, Kirkland was nearly caught out by a Mikael Forssell back header which landed inches wide.