Birmingham 1 Bolton 2: Full time analysis
Blues retaliated and after 30 minutes Tainio came close to equalising for Blues.
Bowyer found the overlapping Gregory Vignal in space on the left flank and his first time cross picked out the run of Tainio into the box.
His volley contained plenty of power but flashed a yard wide with Jasskelainen well beaten.
Another probing cross from Vignal was turned goal-bound by Barry Ferguson and took a deflection off Gary Cahill before forcing a fine save out of Jaaskelainen.
Blues appealed for handball against Cahill, who came close to joining them from Aston Villa last season, but their protests were waved aside by referee Steve Bennett.
City were now enjoying most of the possession and Keith Fahey thundered a fierce 20 yarder against the Bolton crossbar.
Ferguson was also just off target with a volley after Bolton were guilty of some slack defensive play. Bowyer also claimed a penalty after a challenge by Jlloyd Samuel but it would have been a harsh had Bennett pointed to the spot.
Birmingham began the second half on the offensive but a 20 yard drives from Benitez and Larsson caused no problems for Jaaskelainen.
Bolton boss Gary Megson made a substitution after 54 minutes with Klasnic replaced by Lee with Davies reverting into the central striker role.
Birmingham fans began chanting '4-4-2' in response to McLeish continuing with Benitez on his own upfront.
Lee could have doubled Bolton's lead when he seized onto a pass from Davies and went around Hart but the angle became narrow and he dragged his shot across the face of goal.
McLeish switched to 4-4-2 after 62 minutes with Tainio replaced by Garry O'Connor.
Johnson became the first player to be yellow carded two minutes later for dissent.
Megson brought on Gavin McCann in place of Gardner with 20 minutes remaining and he came close to scoring only to be denied by Hart who came quickly off his line to block his shot.
Phillips replaced Vignal and levelled for Birmingham with five minutes remaining after collecting a pass from Benitez.
But Lee grabbed the winner a minute later after Taylor's free-kick had hit a post.
