Wolverhampton Wanderers travelled to Birmingham City in search of the three points that would lift them out of the bottom three in the Championship.
Dean Saunders's side stunned their hosts by storming into a 3-0 lead before half time, but they were made to work for the victory in the second period.
Birmingham hit back early in the second half through a Wade Elliot penalty, and the midfielder reduced the deficit even further in stoppage time.
However, a last-gasp equaliser proved to be a bridge too far for Lee Clark's men.
Find out of all the action unfolded with out minute-by-minute text commentary below.
Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Championship clash between Birmingham City and Wolverhampton Wanderers. The teams are in, so we'll have those for you in just a moment...
BIRMINGHAM: Butland, Davies, Hancox, Caddis, Robinson, Ferguson, Morrison, Elliott, Redmond, Zigic, Thomas
SUBS: Doyle, Caldwell, Mullins, Ambrose, Arthur, Reilly, Lovenkrands
SUBS: Doyle, Caldwell, Mullins, Ambrose, Arthur, Reilly, Lovenkrands
Keith Fahey and Chris Burke have both failed late fitness tests for Birmingham. Had the former been fit, I suspect Lee Clark would have named an unchanged side from the one that thrashed Crystal Palace 4-0 in their last outing. That really was an impressive result for the Blues.
WOLVES: De Vries, Johnson, Robinson, Gorkss, Doherty, Hunt, O'Hara, Davis, Ebanks-Blake, Sigurdarson, Doyle
SUBS: McCarey, Ward, Batth, Henry, Hammill, Doumbia, Dicko
SUBS: McCarey, Ward, Batth, Henry, Hammill, Doumbia, Dicko
Wolves boss Dean Saunders is without a couple of key players for this vital clash. Bakary Sako (hamstring) and Dave Edwards (metatarsal) are both missing, but there is a place on the bench for recent loan signing Nouha Dicko.
A draw could be enough to move 22nd-placed Wolves out of the relegation zone, while a win could take them as high as 17th if other results go their way.
Birmingham have renewed hope of nicking a playoff place come the end of the season following an impressive run of form, and history is in their favour today. It's been 12 years since Wolves took maximum points from St Andrews.
Wolves won the reverse fixture thanks to a Marlon King own goal, but have not gotten the double over the Blues in the last 14 years. I wonder what Saunders would be willing to give to change that?
Just under 10 minutes to go until kickoff, so now would be a good time for me to offer my prediction. I'm going to have to sit on the fence for this one. Birmingham are in excellent form, but Wolves will be fighting for their lives. I think we are looking at a 1-1 draw.
It's a freezing afternoon at St Andrews, with patches of snow still visible around the edges of the pitch. There are a few empty seats dotted about the stadium, but it's a good crowd here this afternoon.
We are under way here at St Andrews. Birmingham are kicking from right to left in this first half.
Birmingham go straight on the attack after winning an early free kick. Shane Ferguson gains possession the area, only to be ambushed by a trio of Wolves defenders. They can't prevent a corner from being conceded, though.
Wade Elliot's corner comes in from the left towards the head of Zigic, but Kevin Doyle, who is back defending, heads it clear. Wes Thomas sends a cross back in to the Wolves box, which De Vries claims without too much difficulty.
SHOT! Nathan Redmond gains possession from Paul Caddis on the right. He bears down on goal and lets fly from just outside the box, but De Vries gets his body behind it and makes a comfortable save.
Wolves are venturing forward now and have just won two corners in quick succession. Zigic clears the danger, but only as far as Davis, whose cross is toe-poked towards goal by Ebanks-Blake, forcing Butland into a save.
Birmingham have had the better of the early possession, but Wolves have just made a statement of intent through Ebanks-Blake there. I don't think they are going to be walked over today.
Elliot and Caddis play a neat one-two and the ball ends up with the latter in the danger zone. Gorkss anticipates the danger and makes the clearance, conceding a throw in the process.
Davis goes in late on Zigic and is lucky to escape a booking. The Birmingham man was down clutching his leg for a moment, but is back on his feet now.
Gorkss plays a long ball into the Birmingham area. Elliot heads it behind for a corner, from which Wolves win another as Davies hits it behind. Hunt swings in another cross, but the Blues clear the danger at the second time of asking.
Hunt plays a measured ball over the top and Doyle times his run to perfection to beat the offside trap. Unfortunately, the Irishman committed a handball as he latched on to the lofted pass.
GOAL! Birmingham City 0-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers (Hunt)
Wolves take the lead through Stephen Hunt! Davis picks the ball up on the edge of the box and lets fly. Butland saves to his left but parries the shot to the feet of Hunt, who beats the England international from a tight angle.
Birmingham look for an instant response as Hancox shoots from range. It was a clean hit from the youngster, but ended up wide of the mark. I think De Vries would have had it covered had it been on target.
Another half-chance falls to the Blues as Zigic beats Gorkss to a cross inside the box and flicks one towards goal, only to see his effort sail wide. Lee Clark's side are piling on the pressure as they search for a quick equaliser.
GOAL! Birmingham City 0-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers (Ebanks-Blake)
Superb stuff from Wolves. Davis swings in a wonderful cross from the right and Ebanks-Blake beats Butland from close range with a diving header! Is there any way back for Birmingham now?
All credit to Dean Saunders's side. They don't have the greatest of away records but have withstood the early pressure and taken their chances well.
Birmingham have a free kick right on the edge of the Wolves box. Jamie O'Hara receives the first yellow card of the game for his part in conceding it. It looks like it will be either Zigic or Ferguson to strike this...
OFF THE POST! Ferguson curls an effort over the wall and hits the outside of the post. Agonisingly close for the Blues! There is no way De Vries would have kept that out.
Dolye tussles with Robinson at the byline and sends the Birmingham man clattering into the sponsorship boards. I don't think there was any malice in that, but he will be sore in the morning!
PENALTY TO WOLVES!
Doyle is sent clean through on goal and is brought down by Butland in a one-on-one situation. Butland receives only a booking for the offence, which should have been a red! Saunders does not look happy! Ebanks-Blake steps up to take the pen...
GOAL! Birmingham City 0-3 Wolverhampton Wanderers (Ebanks-Blake)
Ebanks-Blake keeps his cool and sends Butland the wrong way to put Wolves 3-0 up. A confident finish from him!
Birmingham look shell shocked now, and who can blame them. It's hard to believe that this is the same side that put four past Crystal Palace. Not to take anything away from Wolves. They have been clinical in this first half.
Davis shoots well wide from just outside the box, failing to capture the kind of form he has displayed throughout the game. Birmingham have a chance to break at the other end, but the move breaks grinds to a halt when Thomas hits it out for a throw.
Johnson goes into the book for a late tackle on Thomas, as the fourth official indicates that there will be a minimum of two minutes stoppage time to be played. You can probably add a few more seconds onto that following Johnson's challenge.
Controversial scenes in stoppage time as Zigic appears to have been pulled back by Robinson in the area. That could easily have been a penalty to the Blues. You see them given for less than that all the time.
HALF-TIME: Birmingham City 0-3 Wolverhampton Wanderers
No prizes for guess which of the two managers will be most pleased with that first half display. I don't think Wolves have played this well all season, but they have been aided by some poor defending from the hosts.
The visitors were under the cosh in the early stages, but stunned their opponents with some clinical finishing in front of goal. Is there any way back for Birmingham? Not to write them off completely, but I don't think so.
In other good news for Wolves supporters, as things stand they are out of the bottom three. Should things remain as they are, they will end the day in 19th place, level on points with Blackpool above them.
If you've just joined us, you can catch up with all the action from the first period with our half-time report. That can be found here.
Birmingham will remain in 10th place providing things elsewhere don't change, but their slender hopes of securing a playoff place look like they are about to receive another dent.
Wolves get the match back under way. Can Birmingham stage an unlikely comeback? The next 45 minutes will yield the answer to that question.
Zigic gains possession in the Wolves box, but commits a handball offence. The ref plays the advantage as Wolves regain possession and surge forward.
Cadiss bursts down the flank and plays a ball into the Wolves area. Gorkss intercepts and Hunt hacks it clear as the visitors stand their ground.
Davis is shown the yellow card for a foul on Redmond. Elliot plays the resultant free kick long but De Vries claims the cross without any difficultly.
It's two bookings in as many minutes for Wolves players as Robinson hacks Thomas and leaves the Birmingham man requiring treatment off the pitch. The Blues have a free kick in a good position now...
PENALTY TO BIRMINGHAM!
Ferguson's free kick causes havok in the box! Wolves fail to clear the danger and O'Hara's desperate defending results in a foul to gift Birmingham a penalty kick. Elliot steps up to take it...
GOAL! Birmingham City 1-3 Wolverhampton Wanderers (Elliot)
Elliot buries the spot kick, sending De Vries the wrong way to give is side a lifeline. Is this the start of a fightback? The home fans think it could be based on the amount of noise coming out of them at the moment!
Lee Clark's half-time talk appears to have done the trick. Birmingham have been quickest off the starting blocks in this second half, and have had Wolves under pressure since the restart. They have just over half an hour to claw their way back into this.
CHANCE! Ferguson plays in a cross from the left and Thomas manages to connect, but strikes his effort into the ground, allowing De Vries to gather on the bounce. A let-off for Wolves there!
Ebanks-Blake is down and he looks to be in some pain. He is signalling over to the bench, suggesting his afternoon could be over. He was hurt during a challenge with Robinson, but the Birmingham man got the ball.
WOLVES SUB: Dicko comes on to replace his fallen comrade. This is his Wolves debut after he joined the club on loan from Wigan Athletic.
From a neutral perspective, Elliot's penalty has worked wonders for this game, turning it into a contest and giving it the edge it needed.
Half-chance for Wolves at Sigurdarson drags an effort wide. Wasteful play from the Icelandic striker, who let fly from the edge of the box when other options were available.
Wolves put Birmingham under pressure for the first time in this second period as Hunt cuts inside and plays a lofted pass across the face of goal towards Dicko. Robinson makes a vital interception and concedes the corner.
Zigic collides with De Vries and goes to ground. The big Birmingham forward appeals for a foul, but the ref isn't interested. Clark doesn't look too happy over on the touchline.
Wolves are really under the cosh now. They can't seem to get the ball out of the danger zone. Birmingham's attack is stalled as Sigurdarson hits the ball out from a throw in...
OFF THE POST! Birmingham continue to press as Thomas gets up for a glancing header that beats De Vries, but not the woodwork! Frustration for the hosts, but they are getting closer to pulling another one back.
It's end-to-end action at the moment. Hunt just went down in the box but was told to get to his feet by the ref. At the other end, Zigic chases a long ball but is beaten to it by the on-rushing De Vries.
CHANCE! Thomas races away from Gorkss and shows off his deft ball control, only to fire wide with only De Vries to beat. Birmingham continue to create chances, yet they cannot take them.
Less than 10 minutes left on the clock now, and things are looking bleak for the home side. They are gearing up to bring on Lovenkrands to boost their attacking options.
SHOT! Redmond shoots towards goal, but his dipping effort sails narrowly over the bar. That will be his last contribution today as Lovenkrands comes on to replace him, taking up a place on the right of midfield.
Lovenkrands almost makes an immediate impact, powering along the right and playing a pass across the face of goal, forcing Johnson to turn it behind. Birmingham sum up their afternoon by squandering the set piece.
Robinson concedes another free kick just outside the Wolves box. Ferguson steps up to take it, but blasts it over the bar. The Blues have been very wasteful from set pieces today.
CHANCE! Another glorious Birmingham opportunity goes begging as Thomas picks up a bad backpass from Robinson. Gorkss forces him wide, but he manages to round De Vries, only to fire into the side netting!
Thomas has taken a knock, delaying play slightly. Expect at least a few minutes of added time to be announced...
There we have it... six additional minutes. Not enough for Lee Clark, too many for Dean Saunders no doubt!
Nothing to report on in this stoppage time. Wolves are content to hold on to possession, while Birmingham are lacking the determination required to win it from them and carve out any late opportunities.
PENALTY TO BIRMINGHAM!
Robinson loses himself in a crowd of players and handballs in the box! A moment of madness from him. Elliot will take Birmingham's second spot kick of the afternoon...
GOAL! Birmingham City 2-3 Wolverhampton Wanderers (Elliot)
Elliot's initial pen is poor! De Vries makes the save but the Birmingham man buries the rebound to make it 3-2 with less than a minute to play...
FULL TIME: Birmingham City 2-3 Wolverhampton Wanderers
There was a real heart-in-mouth moment for Wolves at the death there as Birmingham were awarded a free kick in the danger zone. Elliot played in a cross, but the visitor's managed to scramble it away, much to the relief of the travelling supporters.
A good win for Wolves, but they were made to work for it in that second half. Dean Saunders's side are now out of the bottom three, climbing to 18th place, level on points with Blackpool above them.
That's all from me here today. You can read our full match report here. Many thanks for joining Sports Mole for this Championship clash.
Written by
Mark Langshaw
Mark Langshaw
