Huddersfield Town 0-1 Birmingham City

Cotterill (left) has scored three goals in his last four games

David Cotterill's stunning second-half free-kick earned Birmingham victory at Huddersfield to maintain their fine form since Gary Rowett became manager.

Blues were lucky to be awarded the free-kick when Clayton Donaldson seemed to run straight in to Anthony Gerrard.

But Cotterill made the most of the chance, beating goalkeeper Alex Smithies with a dipping 25-yard strike.

The goal ended Huddersfield's seven-game unbeaten home run, while Blues have won five from eight under Rowett.

Victory enabled the rejuvenated visitors to make further progress up the Championship table to 15th place, having lost just once since the former Burton boss was appointed.

The first half was a huge disappointment, with Huddersfield's shackling of Blues playmaker Andy Shinnie - a player transformed in recent weeks - proving a key factor.

Blues keeper Darren Randolph's one-handed near-post reflex save from the unmarked Grant Holt was the only real moment of note.

Conor Coady almost teed up a Terriers goal after the break when his low cross caused confusion, while Gerrard headed wide from close range.

But, with 20 minutes left, Blues won it when Cotterill lashed in his fifth goal of the season.

The visitors had to survive a frantic five minutes of injury time, during which Randolph saved brilliantly from Joe Lolley.

The lively Terriers sub also won a corner, which Blues somehow kept out after an almighty scramble as they hung on to claim a fourth clean sheet in those eight games under Rowett.

Huddersfield Town boss Chris Powell said:

"The teams were either going to cancel each other out or a moment of quality would decide it, and that's what happened.

"It was a wonderful strike. It was one of those free-kicks that players are trying these days and sometimes they come off and sometimes they don't.

"We had a few chances, particularly towards the end when we were chasing the game, but we were beaten by a set-piece. We have to channel our disappointment and take it into the next game."

Birmingham manager Gary Rowett told BBC WM:

"As a gritty away performance to follow up a magnificent result at home, you couldn't ask for more.

"I just felt we weren't positive enough in the first half, and at half-time, we said to the lads either we can look to get a 0-0 and try to nick one, or we can aim to get higher up the pitch and take the game more to them, which is what we did.

"They really responded and we controlled more of the game. I've told them that we have to find other ways to win games. I just wasn't expecting it to be a thunderbolt.

"I was just about to take off David Cotterill, as he wasn't as impressive as he has been in recent games, but that was a moment of brilliance. It's what you get from a player like that.

"David Davis was our stand-out player. He showed a real maturity. Best game he's had for us."

Birmingham winger David Cotterill told BBC WM:

"We've been working on that one in training for a while. I've had a few goes in previous games and it's nice when they come off.

"They don't normally end up there. It wasn't the prettiest of games, but we knew it might be like this up there, where it always seems to be cold and windy."