Birmingham City 0 Aston Villa 1: Full time analysis
Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor scored a late winner to settle a scrappy west Midlands derby against Birmingham at St Andrew's.
Agbonlahor struck with six minutes remaining to lift Martin O'Neill's side into sixth place in the Barclays Premier League.
City had dominated the second period but failed to create anything of note to trouble Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel and they paid for their lacklustre display when Agbonlahor pounced to score from close-range.
Villa, with three debutants in defence, James Collins, Richard Dunne and Steven Warnock, coped easily with Birmingham's initial advances into their half.
It was the visitors who had the first real chance to get on the scoresheet in the seventh minute when Gabriel Agbonlahor slipped the ball to James Milner inside the penalty area.
But the Villa midfielder wanted too much time and his right-foot shot was well wide of Joe Hart's right-hand upright.
But City bounced back immediately and Villa were forced into some desperate defending as shots from Gary O'Connor and Sebastien Larsson were prevented from reaching their target.
There were plenty of fierce tackles in the opening exchanges but referee Howard Webb did well to keep things under control instead of resorting to a flurry yellow cards.
Both sides struggled to gain control in the midfield but the home side, boosted by the speed of James McFadden on the left and the work-rate of Larsson on the right, often had Villa on the back foot.
In the 21st minute though it was Villa's Milner again who squandered a great chance to put the visitors in front.
Agbonlahor's pace again proved too much for the City defence and when his low cross arrived into the penalty area, Milner's first-time effort scuffed off his
boot and out of play.
City's first real opening arrived on the half-hour when a neat flick-on by O'Connor put Lee Bowyer in the clear.
The City midfielder tested Brad Friedel in the Villa goal with stinging right-foot drive that the American keeper did will to punch to safety.
Moments later a long range effort from Keith Fahey flashed just wide of Friedel's left-hand upright.
