Birmingham 0-1 Leicester

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Les Ferdinand's goal gave Leicester a real tonic after 10 days of turmoil and boosted their survival campaign.

Ian Walker made good saves to deny Stan Lazaridis, Clinton Morrison and Bryan Hughes as Birmingham took charge of the match after Leicester started well.

But early in the second half Muzzy Izzet picked out Ferdinand, who scored from six yards with his left foot.

Olivier Tebily had a chance to equalise but shot wide from 10 yards as the Foxes moved out of the relegation zone.

The visitors first win 14 Premiership games could not have come at a more opportune time, with relegation rivals Portsmouth and Leeds losing.

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Leicester manager Micky Adams opted against selecting Paul Dickov, Keith Gillespie and Frank Sinclair after their release on bail from prison in Spain.

And Trevor Benjamin came in as a late replacement after Steve Guppy sustained an injury in the warm-up.

But Ferdinand was restored to the starting line-up and forced an early save from Maik Taylor as the Foxes cast aside their off-field problems to make an impressive start to the match.

Steffen Freund missed from long range and Martin Taylor was forced to clear after Benjamin connected with an Izzet corner.

But Birmingham gradually began to assert themselves and started to create chances.

Lazaridis was particularly menacing from the left-hand side and the Australian burst clear midway through the first half but Walker superbly saved.

KEY MOMENTS 24 mins: Walker saves from Lazaridis 40 mins: Morrison is denied by Walker 53 mins: Ferdinand opens the scoring

Walker was soon in action again, saving from Clinton Morrison with his chest.

The Leicester goalkeeper also denied Mikael Forssell after a neat interchange with Morrison and grasped Bryan Hughes' drive before the break.

But eight minutes into the second half Leicester scored.

A Riccardo Scimeca long ball forward was flicked by Benjamin to Izzet, who picked out Ferdinand from a wide position for the veteran striker to fire home.

Tebily scuffed his shot wide from 10 yards and Lazaridis tested Walker again with a long shot but Leicester held on to move out of the bottom three.

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Birmingham: Maik Taylor, Tebily, Cunningham (Barrowman 87), Martin Taylor, Upson, Hughes, Savage, Clemence (John 68), Lazaridis, Forssell, Morrison. Subs Not Used: Bennett, Cisse, Carter.

Leicester: Walker, Scimeca, Dabizas, Heath, Thatcher, McKinlay, Freund (Nalis 90), Izzet, Benjamin (Canero 80), Ferdinand, Bent. Subs Not Used: Elliott, Coyne, Priet.

Referee: M Messias (N Yorkshire).