Loading...Birmingham 1-0 Bolton
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The former Juventus striker settled the issue eight minutes from half-time when he turned home a cross from Sebastian Larsson for the only goal of the game.
Blues deserved their second success of the season and Bolton now remain anchored in the relegation zone after losing for the fifth time in six matches.
A near full house of 28,000 responded to a performance of full-blooded commitment and passion from the home side.
City held the edge for long periods and posed the greater threat through the runs and crossing of Larsson and the pace of Cameron Jerome.
The midfield duo of Mehdi Nafti and Fabrice Muamba worked tirelessly for the 90 minutes and at the back Liam Ridgewell and Johan Djourou kept a tight rein on Nicolas Anelka.
The Totters' biggest threat was posed by El-Hadji Diouf, who enjoyed his customary love-hate relationship with the opposing fans, but he lacked sufficient support.
Jerome came close to giving Birmingham the lead after only two minutes.
A long clearance from Maik Taylor caused confusion between Bolton central defenders Abdoulaye Meite and Andy O'Brien and keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.
Jerome took advantage but failed to make proper contact on his shot which dribbled wide of the post.
Blues were looking to stretch the Bolton defence and a pass from Muamba picked out Larsson on the left flank.
The former Arsenal player cut inside and his fierce shot looked goal-bound, only to strike the back of Meite.
The home side appealed in vain for a penalty after a challenge by Jlloyd Samuel on Larsson after he had cut into the area, but referee Phil Dowd waved play on.
Bolton had their first half-chance when skipper Kevin Nolan scuffed his shot wide from 15 yards out after Ridgewell's clearing header had fallen into his path.
But City were looking the more likely to break the deadlock and Jaaskelainen was forced to turn a glancing header from Muamba around the post from a skidding Larsson free-kick.
Bolton started to come more into the game and the impressive Diouf spotted the surging run of Samuel into the Birmingham area with his fiercely-struck shot parried out for a corner by Maik Taylor.
An inswinging corner from Diouf found its way through a posse of players to O'Brien at the far post. But the former Portsmouth player seemed to be surprised the ball had reached him and headed over the bar.
Nolan became the first player to be booked after 34 minutes for a challenge on Larsson who needed treatment before being able to resume.
Then after 37 minutes Birmingham broke the deadlock through Kapo's second goal of the campaign.
Larsson sent over a deep superb left-footed ball towards the far post and Kapo stuck his foot out and steered it past Jaaskelainen, who tried in vain to prevent it from crossing the line.
Blues opened the second half promising and a poor clearance from Jaaskelainen fell straight to Jerome, but he took two or three touches when the first-time shot was on and his eventual drive went well wide.
Home stand-in skipper Ridgewell was yellow-carded for a challenge on Diouf and Gary Speed followed him into the notebook for dissent after complaining for being penalised for a challenge on Nafti.
Nafti was winning several crunch tackles and produced an excellent challenge on Diouf in the box after he had created some space for himself with a neat turn.
Larsson had the beating of Samuel and forced Jaaskelainen into a superb save away to his left from a thumping drive.
Kelly came to City's rescue with a superb last ditch tackle to block the shot of substitute Daniel Braaten, who had made a 40-yard run into the box to meet Diouf's well measured pass.
Samuel was stretchered off with what looked like a hamstring injury after being caught by Larsson.
Nicky Hunt was booked for bringing down Jerome on the edge of the box and Larsson crashed the resulting free-kick against the crossbar.
Djourou then had a header cleared off the line by Gavin McCann from Larsson's centre.
Source: Soccernet.com
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