Birmingham City 1-0 Blackpool: Lukas Jutkiewicz hits late Blues winner
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Blackpool are winless in seven league visits to Birmingham City since 2009
Birmingham City substitute Lukas Jutkiewicz scored the only goal of the game just six minutes after coming on to edge past Blackpool at St Andrew's.
Jutkiewicz's close-range 81st-minute winner, his first goal in three months, ended a winless three-game run for Lee Bowyer's side.
The Seasiders bossed possession for long spells but it was not until the 64th minute that Birmingham striker Troy Deeney finally had the game's first shot on target.
City, who gave teenage midfielder Jordan James his first start in the absence of suspended duo Gary Gardner and Ryan Woods, move up to 13th in the table, while Blackpool remain 11th - a point better off.
In a] first half of few chances, Blues wing-back Jeremie Bela hit the side netting with a 25-yard drive which had some home fans mistakenly celebrating before visiting keeper Daniel Grimshaw tipped over Blues' Kristian Pedersen's header from a long throw-in.
Callum Connolly then had to throw his body on the line to block a shot and prevent the Seasiders from going behind, but Neil Critchley's side started to find their feet as half-time approached.
A bending free-kick from Demetri Mitchell from just outside the area whistled past the post, before a counter-attack he started culminated in Gary Madine heading wide.
After the break, following a tactical switch to a flat back four, Blues captain Deeney tried to lead by example. His quick passing exchange with fellow striker Scott Hogan resulted in a shot that Marvin Ekpiteta blocked brilliantly.
At the other end, substitute Josh Bowler's low effort was kept out by keeper Matija Sarkic. Then Shayne Lavery's tumble inside the area after a challenge from Ivan Sunjic brought calls for a penalty.
But, after coming on for Deeney, Jutkiewicz settled it when Riley McGree and Pedersen opened up Blackpool down the left, teenager James headed on and the big striker bundled the ball home off his thigh from six yards.
Birmingham City head coach Lee Bowyer told BBC Radio WM:
"It has been tough for Lukas because he hasn't done much wrong, and Troy has played in the last few weeks and got assists.
"I told him I still feel the same way about him but that he's got to be pushing and then when he gets his chance, grab it. I said to him to go and win us the game and he did.
"A lot of things have been going against us. It feels like people are against us. You can either roll over and use it as an excuse, or you can just fight and stick together.
"We went for the latter and thankfully we got the three points. It was a gamble going to a back four, but it was a gamble that I was prepared to take. Thankfully it paid off."
Blackpool manager Neil Critchley told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"I'm really disappointed with the outcome of the game. We were the better team first half.
"We had some good moments, counter-attacked well, moved the ball well.
"I felt we needed to score in that period of the game. They'd not really had any concerted pressure on our goal.
"If you don't score at one end, they've only got to get one ball into the box which falls for them. That's what's happened."