Birmingham catapulted themselves out of the Barclays Premier League relegation zone with victory over Bolton at St Andrew's.

Veteran Blues striker Kevin Phillips made the most of being handed his first league start of the season by opening the scoring in the fourth minute, the 37-year-old meeting Sebastian Larsson's corner and unleashing an effort that Jussi Jaaskelainen could not stop going in.

Craig Gardner made it 2-0 just before the hour mark with a strike that crashed in off the post and although Johan Elmander's reply for Wanderers set up a tense finale, the hosts hung on for three vital points.

The win moves Alex McLeish's team, who had started the day 19th in the table, up five places, although they remain only two points above the drop zone.

Birmingham appeared keen to make amends for their 3-2 home defeat to Bolton in the FA Cup quarter-final just three weeks earlier and having made a lively start, they took an early lead.

Gardner won a corner with a deflected shot and Larsson's delivery skimmed over the head of Roger Johnson before falling to Phillips, who rifled the ball in off Jaaskelainen.

Gardner tried his luck from outside the box three minutes later but his drive went across goal and wide.

Almost immediately, Elmander had a chance at the other end on the turn which he was unable to get much power on, Ben Foster collecting the ball comfortably.

Daniel Sturridge then cut into the box after finding some space only to blaze off target.

Lee Bowyer volleyed over in the 25th minute having received a bouncing ball across the area from Larsson and the Sweden winger then teed up Gardner, who struck wide from distance.

Bolton looked dangerous whenever they broke forward and after Sturridge had made weak contact with a header towards goal, he fired in a far more potent effort from the edge of the box which Foster got down to block.

The England goalkeeper then held on to a deflected shot from Elmander before seeing Kevin Davies lift the ball over the bar.