Norwich 1-0 Birmingham

Huckerby (left) put a dent in Birmingham's promotion hopes

Championship leaders Birmingham slipped up in their attempts for promotion by losing at Norwich.

The visitors failed to break down a resolute Norwich in the first half and suffered a blow when striker Rowan Vine went off injured after 40 minutes.

Norwich then took the lead when Darren Huckerby skipped past two tackles and powered in 25-yard strike.

A lacklustre Birmingham pressed for a late leveller but their efforts proved too little, too late.

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Norwich boss Peter Grant:
"I am delighted with the performance. It would have been a total injustice if we hadn't taken the three points.

"We played with a lot of determination and character, the things I always demand from my players.

"Darren Huckerby's goal wouldn't have meant anything if we hadn't defended as well as we did to keep a clean sheet."

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce:
"We improved a lot after the break and would have come away with something had we taken one of the chances that came our way.

"That is something of an Achilles heel for us. We haven't scored freely enough and that came back to haunt us again.

"But, overall, looking at the table now we're still in a good position, there's still everything to play for."

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Norwich: Warner, Hughes, Shackell, Doherty, Drury, Croft (Chadwick 83), Safri, Etuhu, Lappin, Huckerby (Fotheringham 89), Martin (Dublin 74).
Subs Not Used: Gallacher, McVeigh.

Goals: Huckerby 47.

Birmingham: Doyle, Kelly, Martin Taylor, Jaidi, Sadler, Johnson, Clemence, Muamba (Forssell 55), Larsson, Vine (Jerome 40), Bendtner (Gray 80).
Subs Not Used: Maik Taylor, Nafti.

Att: 23,504

Ref: R Booth (Nottinghamshire).