Millwall 0-1 Birmingham City: Lukas Jutkiewicz clinches Blues victory
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Birmingham handed 17-year-old Jobe Bellingham only his second league start
Lukas Jutkiewicz's fifth league goal of the season secured victory for Birmingham against promotion contenders Millwall.
The veteran striker ran on to Reda Khadra's pass and found the net just before the half-hour mark at The Den.
Birmingham withstood sustained pressure, with substitute goalkeeper Neil Etheridge making a string of saves to protect the lead.
Etheridge produced a double stop to deny Callum Styles and Tom Bradshaw late on.
Birmingham had an early penalty appeal waved away by referee Dean Whitestone when Tahith Chong burst into the box and went down under Jake Cooper's challenge.
But the visitors continued to threaten as the dangerous Khadra collected Chong's pass and made inroads on the left flank, threading a clever ball through for Jutkiewicz to steer around George Long and slot home from a tricky angle.
Birmingham were forced into a change in goal when John Ruddy hobbled off injured following his challenge on Oliver Burke, although replacement Etheridge - making his first league appearance this season - was initially given little to do.
The Lions' best opportunity of an equaliser before the break came when Cooper rose at the far post to meet Scott Malone's corner, but the centre-back's header whistled fractionally wide.
Khadra tested Long just after the restart with a half-volley that the goalkeeper tipped over the bar, but from then on the Lions dominated.
Zian Flemming set up a chance for Burke, who was denied by Etheridge, before Andreas Voglsammer breached Birmingham's back line and attempted a lob that the keeper plucked out of the air with ease.
It looked as if Millwall had finally achieved a breakthrough with seven minutes remaining when Styles' low drive was parried by Etheridge, but the keeper reacted quickly to foil Bradshaw as he pounced on the loose ball.
The Blues clung on through five added minutes to seal their first win in four games - one that lifted them to 15th place in the table, while Millwall stay fifth.
Millwall manager Gary Rowett told BBC London:
"In the first half we didn't do enough. We huffed and puffed and forced too many long balls down their throat.
"We need to be clinical in games like this. What you can't do is concede a poor goal, because at the moment we're not scoring with enough regularity to handle the pressure of doing that.
"Second half we made one or two adjustments and I thought we moved the ball really well and caused them lots of problems.
"We got into some fabulous positions and had lots of shots and, if it wasn't their keeper making a save, it was us being a little bit wasteful."
Birmingham head coach John Eustace told BBC Radio WM:
"We knew there were going to be difficult moments throughout the game. Every one of those players on the pitch sweated blood for the team.
"It was another good footballing goal, with the craft of Khadra, Bacuna and Chongy. All three of them were magnificent - and the big man popping up with the winner as well.
"It just shows that, if you do things right every day in training, you get your rewards. His performance again tonight was outstanding.
"Neil (Etheridge) is another very good professional. He really pushes John (Ruddy) very hard and when he's been called upon this season he hasn't let anyone down - he's been top drawer."