Gary Taylor-Fletcher's goal helped Blackpool to inflict a first defeat of the season on Birmingham.
Taylor-Fletcher hits the only goal of the game at St Andrews
Gary Taylor-Fletcher's goal helped Blackpool to inflict a shock first defeat of the season on Birmingham City at St Andrews.
Blues took a 100 per cent home record into the game, and had also not conceded in front of their own fans, before Taylor-Fletcher struck two minutes after half-time.
Alex McLeish's men then rarely tested Blackpool goalkeeper Paul Rachubka as the visitors saw out the closing stages with few alarms.
Birmingham striker Cameron Jerome, buoyed by his recent form, had the first real effort of the game, drilling wide of the target from the edge of the area after just six minutes.
Dangerous
But the visiting Seasiders refused to be intimidated by Blues' lofty standing in the table and posed a threat during the early stages, imposing their physical presence in midfield while looking dangerous from set-pieces.
And as the opening 45 minutes drew to a close, Maik Taylor produced a fantastic save to tip David Vaughan's effort around a post from 12 yards out when he really should have scored.
Marcus Bent came on for Kemy Agustien at half-time as McLeish looked to shake things around but it was Blackpool who rocked the hosts just two minutes into the second half.
Ben Burgess was guilty of missing a great chance just seconds after the restart, firing straight at Taylor with the goal at his mercy.
Reprieved
But he was reprieved a minute later as the home defence went AWOL and Taylor-Fletcher latched onto a pass from Keith Southern to fire home unmarked from 10 yards.
Prolific veteran Kevin Phillips was introduced in the 57th minute but Birmingham were failing to really create any chances of note as a disgruntled home support started to voice their disapproval.
Blues keeper Taylor produced another great stop to deny Burgess as the clash entered the final 20 minutes.
Phillips then saw his goalbound effort deflected wide as Blues adopted a 3-4-3 formation in search of an equaliser.
But it was to no avail as a stubborn Blackpool side held out for a deserved victory and left Birmingham boss McLeish with much to ponder.
