Bowyer goal settles derby clash

Lee Bowyer was Birmingham's match-winner for the second game in succession as his second-minute strike settled the derby clash following a 1-0 victory over Wolves at Molineux.

The former England midfielder, who had netted the only goal in the home clash with Fulham, lifted Alex McLeish's side into 11th spot in the Barclays Premier League with his fifth goal of the campaign.

Victory also extended City's unbeaten league run to five matches from which they have gathered 11 points - their best run without a defeat under McLeish who was celebrating two years in charge at St Andrew's.

But defeat kept second from bottom Wolves four points adrift of the safety zone and they have now gone eight league games without a victory.

Blues were the dominant force in the opening 45 minutes with Bowyer again impressing in the centre of the park as his side posed the bigger threat and showed more creativity.

Wolves enjoyed more possession after the interval but seldom looked like breaching the visitors' rearguard with Roger Johnson and Scott Dann producing their usual solid performances at the heart of defence.

Birmingham began on the offensive, knocking the ball around in confident fashion, and after two minutes they went ahead through Bowyer.

Christian Benitez and James McFadden linked up well down the right flank with some neat one-touch football before the ball was worked back to Bowyer on the edge of the box.

He spotted recalled goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann off his line and his chip floated over the head of the former Reading player into the roof of the net.