Plymouth 0 Birmingham City 1

Dec 9 2008 By Press Assocation reporters

Lee Carsley`s first goal for Birmingham handed them a barely-deserved victory over battling Plymouth to keep Alex McLeish`s side in touch with Coca-Cola Championship leaders Wolves.

The home side dominated for large swathes but wasted a host of clear-cut chances, with Carsley taking full advantage as he drove home the winner after 62 minutes.

Argyle had chances to pull level but were left to rue their wastefulness in front of goal as the Blues consigned them to their fifth home defeat of the season.

Plymouth emerged for kick-off in their tangerine away strip following complaints from Argyle’s players that they were not easily visible when playing in their normal green kit at Home Park.

And the home side began brightly, on-loan Blackburn striker Paul Gallagher firing in a snap-shot that Blues keeper Maik Taylor did well to cling on to.

Marcel Seip also forced Taylor into a smart save with a right-footed effort from outside the area as the home side asserted some early dominance on Birmingham’s defence.

With the Blues offering little in attack Plymouth continued to press and came close again when Gallagher’s scissor-kick from six yards flew just over Taylor’s crossbar.

Midfielder Jim Paterson then crossed for Rory Fallon but his free header from 12 yards was dealt with comfortably by Taylor.

Birmingham’s first chance of the half fell to the in-form Kevin Phillips, but the striker - who has five goals in his past five Championship games - failed to trouble keeper Romain Larrieu with a header from inside the area.

Argyle hit back almost immediately, with the impressive Luke Summerfield firing in a shot from distance that was well blocked by the recalled Stuart Parnaby.