Birmingham City 0-2 Cardiff City: Late goals end Cardiff winless run

Cardiff City had won just two of their last 20 away league games against Birmingham

Two late goals gave Sabri Lamouchi his first victory as Cardiff City boss as they ended their run of 14 games without a win at St Andrew's.

In a game of few chances, Perry Ng's brilliant free-kick put Cardiff ahead.

The Bluebirds extended their lead in stoppage time when substitute Callum Robinson scored a solo effort to earn Cardiff a first win since 5 November.

The hosts, who rarely tested Cardiff goalkeeper Ryan Allsop, were booed off by their supporters at full-time.

Victory lifts Cardiff three points clear of the Championship relegation zone as they took advantage of a poor display from a consistently inconsistent Blues side who slip to 18th.

Birmingham were looking for a third successive win after following up their dramatic 4-3 victory at Swansea with a morale-boosting win against rivals West Brom.

Blues welcomed back midfielder Harlee Dean, as the 31-year old defender made a first start since 5 November in their only change.

Birmingham have a rotten record in recent years against the Bluebirds, having failed to beat them in eight league games, but they would have been encouraged by Cardiff's recent form.

Winless in 12 league games and above the Championship relegation zone only on goal difference, Cardiff were looking to address their chronic lack of goals, having previously found the net only 22 times in 31 league games.

Lamouchi named two strikers in his starting XI as he switched to three at the back, with Connor Wickham fit enough to be on the bench after joining the club earlier in the day as a free agent.

Lamouchi was still searching for a first point or goal since becoming the third Cardiff boss of the season at the end of January.

His side produced efforts from Sory Kaba, Cedric Kipre and Ng in the opening 30 minutes, but none found the target, and when Ryan Wintle forced Birmingham goalkeeper John Ruddy into a comfortable save just before the interval, it proved the only first-half effort on target.

And Blues striker Lukas Jutkiewicz's weak header after the break was the first save of the game for Cardiff goalkeeper Ryan Allsop.

Cardiff threatened twice from volleyed efforts by Kaba as they sensed a chance to end their long winless run, before Birmingham's lacklustre display prompted a quadruple substitution from Blues boss Eustace.

Lamouchi waited 73 minutes before introducing Wickham and he was instantly into the action, forcing Ruddy into a rare save.

The contest seemed highly liable to end in a stalemate but Ng had other ideas when he curled home a fabulous freekick after Callum O'Dowda had been fouled.

Wales Under-21 international Jordan James missed a good chance to level for Blues from close range on 89 minutes, but Robinson made the result safe when the former West Brom striker scored on the break, beating Ruddy at his near post after a mazy run.

Who's next?

Birmingham now face successive away games, at Neil Warnock's Huddersfield on Saturday before next Tuesday night's trip to Norwich.

Cardiff's next game is at home to Reading this Friday night.

Birmingham boss John Eustace:

"I don't think we deserved to lose. It was a very scrappy game, a typical Championship game really. Both teams cancelled each other out.

"We won a lot of first contacts, second ball in midfield but we weren't great going forward. We never looked a threat.

"Obviously, the manner in which we lost was from a fantastic free-kick. That was the difference between the two teams.

"It was difficult to get going, to press them, to go against them as they went very long, very direct and very early, so we had to show a different side. We stood up to it and did very well."

Cardiff boss Sabri Lamouchi told BBC Sport Wales:

"It feels incredible. I'm so happy for my players, happy for the fans, but especially for the players. What a win, what a game, what a performance.

"I'm happy for them as they didn't deserve to be in this situation. They lost confidence but what we're doing in training with the quality, I know I have a good squad.

"At the same time, I know it's just one victory but the last one was in November which was a long time ago.

"They deserve to enjoy it with the fans, to be happy in the dressing room, but we now need to think about Reading in the next game."