Birmingham 2 Southampton 1

Steve Bruce always said there would be more twists and turns in this season.

He also said that Derby County would continue to drop points. He even insisted that Andy Cole would make his first start in a Birmingham City shirt and that Nicklas Bendtner would soon start finding the net again.

Thanks to Bruce proving right on all four counts, Blues now have automatic promotion back in their sights.

It will still be tight ("It could go down to goal difference between Derby and Birmingham for the second place behind Sunderland," predicted Southampton manager George Burley) but after the roller-coaster that Bruce has experienced over the last fortnight, the Blues boss is happy to be back on an 'up' curve.

"After the win against Coventry, I was thinking another four or five of those would see us home and dry," he said.

"Last weekend, we came unstuck but we've put it back in our hands and that's all you can ask with four games to play."

Thanks to Ipswich Town's late winner against Derby County at Portman Road, Blues have moved to within a point of the Rams, three days sooner than expected.

Bruce's men will go second even if they draw against Leicester City at the Walkers Stadium tomorrow night. But, if losing on Monday to a Barnsley side beaten 5-1 by Ipswich 48 hours earlier was embarrassing, this time Bruce Snr was able to look his son, Ipswich defender Alex, in the eye.

On Saturday, Alex got involved in a dust-up with Derby goalkeeper Stephen Bywater that saw both men sent off, thereby denying the Rams the use of their first-choice No 1 for the last three games of the season.

"I know what he's like a personality," said Bruce. "He was up for it all week and kept saying 'We'll beat them, Dad'. He's just got too fired up, I suppose but there's no doubt about it that Ipswich have done us a turn."

Bruce made three changes to the team beaten on Easter Monday. Two of them, the return of Stephen Clemence and the delayed debut of Cole after injury, were predictable but came with an element of risk.

Bruce freely admitted that he was gambling with the pair's fitness, such was his need to have them in the team.

Bendtner also earned a recall alongside Cole, more as a reward for his second-half efforts at Barnsley rather than the part he played in triggering the brawl at the final whistle.

DJ Campbell and Cameron Jerome both paid the price for Monday's missed chances, as did Rowan Vine, who had once again started out of position wide on the right at Oakwell.

But, within 22 minutes, he was back there when Blues skipper Damien Johnson went off clutching his hamstring.

By then, Blues had made a bright start. But the Saints, 6-0 winners at Wolverhampton Wanderers a fortnight ago had the best two chances when Danny Guthrie fed John Viafara, who wanted too much time. Guthrie then threatened himself when his shot came back off the post.

Blues' response was impressive, going straight down the field to score. Clemence's clever ball set up Gary McSheffrey to cross for Cole, only for Darren Powell to stick out a toe.

But, when McSheffrey floated over his left-wing corner, Radhi Jaidi timed his jump to thump home a trademark header.

Cole then sent McSheffrey clear with a beautifully weighted pass, only for the

winger to fire over and the compliment was returned early in the second half when McSheffrey tied Alexander Ostlund in knots, crossed to the near post and Powell again got in just ahead of Cole.

McSheffrey, who has not found top gear since his month-long enforced break, was starting to come alive and he was involved in most of Blues' second-half effort.

Bendtner headed wide and forced Bartosz Bialkowski to save with his legs, Martin Taylor's near-post effort was blocked and Bendtner headed McSheffrey's corner against the bar.

Then came a moment of stunning quality as McSheffrey contrived a one-two on the edge of the box with Bendtner, whose return pass, chipped deftly over the top, was of stunning quality.

It was a 50/50 challenge for McSheffrey with the keeper and he was within his rights to go for it, but all he ended up with was a harsh booking.

Blues thought they had at last got that killer second goal when Vine sent Cole clear, but he does not have his pace of old and two more chances came and went, spurned by Cole and Bendtner, before they finally got the cushion they needed.

Bruno N'Gotty and Mehdi Nafti were both involved before Cole set up Bendtner and the Dane took the ball round Bialkowski to convert only his second goal this year.

There was still time for a response from a Southampton side who had actually wasted more good chances than they had enjoyed at Molineux but, this time, they had not brought their shooting boots.

Half-time substitute Kenwyne Jones and Danny Guthrie both shot straight at Colin Doyle, former Walsall loan man Andrew Surman fired a left-foot volley over the angle and John Viafara could find only the side netting with a great opening. Then Darren Powell's downward header shaved the post and when Marek Saganowski hit the bar, Jones put the rebound over the top. "We had six good chances," agreed Burley. "We took them at Wolves but not today."

Eventually, the law of averages told as Saganowksi headed his tenth goal in as many games from Viafara's cross but despite a final five minutes, plus four more of added time, which Bruce described as "a bit hairy", Blues were still worthy winners.

"It looked like it might be one of those days when we just could not get the second goal," said Bruce. "When we finally did get it, we let one in but it was still a very good performance from us on a difficult day."


Scorers: Jaidi (32) 1-0; Bendtner (79) 2-0; Saganowksi (85) 2-1.
BIRMINGHAM CITY (4-4-2): Doyle; N'Gotty, Jaidi, Taylor, Kelly; Johnson (Vine, 22), Clemence (Nafti, 79), Muamba, McSheffrey; Cole (Campbell, 85), Bendtner. Substitutes: Maik Taylor (gk), Jerome
SOUTHAMPTON (4-4-2): Bialkowski; Ostlund, Baird, Powell, Makin; Viafara, Guthrie, Wright (Pele, 75), Belmadi (Surman, h/t); Saganowski, Best (Jones, h/t). Substitutes: Davis (gk), Rasiak.
Referee: Russell Booth (Nottinghamshire).
Bookings: Blues — Kelly, McSheffrey (fouls)
Attendance: 19,754.