Birmingham 2-1 Bolton: Blues out of drop zone

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 fine effort 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.

Birmingham had midfielder Lee Bowyer back in their starting line-up for this afternoon's Barclays Premier League clash with Bolton at St Andrew's.

Bowyer returned to the City side having overcome a hamstring problem in one of three changes made by manager Alex McLeish from the defeat at Wigan a fortnight ago.

Kevin Phillips and Stuart Parnaby also came into the first XI, while Blues top-scorer Nikola Zigic, recently sidelined with a groin complaint, was named among the substitutes.

The visitors were without Stuart Holden, who had been ruled out for up to six months following the knee injury he sustained at Manchester United.

Tamir Cohen stepped in to deputise in midfield - the Israeli making his first league start of the season - with Wanderers boss Owen Coyle making one further adjustment by bringing Marcos Alonso into the defence in place of Paul Robinson.

Birmingham looked 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 the lead after four minutes.

Craig Gardner won a corner with a deflected shot after connecting with Bowyer's knock-down and Sebastian Larsson's delivery fell to Phillips, who rifled the ball in off Jussi Jaaskelainen.

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

Almost immediately, Johan 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 having found some space only to blaze over.

Birmingham thought they had doubled their advantage three minutes after the restart but were denied by the assistant referee's flag.

Jaaskelainen parried Phillips' shot, the ball was headed back across goal and Larsson slotted home only to have his effort disallowed for offside.

Sturridge continued to cause problems for the Blues with another shot from the edge of the area, but soon after it was Jerome shaping to shoot, Gretar Steinsson just getting in to nod the ball away.

From the resulting corner, Jerome set up Johnson, whose attempt was pushed around the post by Jaaskelainen.

Four minutes later, the hosts had a second goal as Gardner played a delightful one-two with Jerome before slamming the ball beyond Jaaskelainen and in off the post.

McLeish shuffled his pack, introducing Keith Fahey and David Bentley for Bowyer and Stephen Carr, but with 20 minutes remaining, Bolton got themselves back in the game.

Wanderers skipper Davies chested the ball down for Elmander, who leapt to connect with it and power into the net.