Birmingham City consolidated fourth place in the Championship with a hard-fought victory over Burnley.

Striker Marlon King gave the away side the lead in the first half with a strike into the bottom corner.

Burnley hit back in the second period courtesy of a Danny Ings header, but moments later Jordon Mutch put the visitors in front again.

They completed the victory late on as full-back David Murphy was quickest to pounce after keeper Lee Grant's error.

The victory puts the Midlands side three points ahead of seventh-placed Middlesbrough with six games to go, though still 10 points behind second-placed Reading.

Birmingham's remaining games

  • Crystal Palace (h)
  • West Ham (a)
  • Bristol City (h)
  • Ipswich (a)
  • Brighton (a)
  • Reading (h)

King set them on their way to a second successive win with his 16th goal of the season.

Towering Blues striker Nikola Zigic flicked on a Murphy throw-in and King made the most of the space he was allowed to fire home, despite Grant getting a hand to his shot.

King almost added a second but he hesitated when clear and Michael Duff rescued Burnley with a last-ditch tackle.

Junior Stanislas came on for the injured Dean Marney and brought a new energy to the home side, and they almost equalised when Blues keeper Boaz Myhill was stranded and Charlie Austin's speculative long-range effort had to be headed behind by Curtis Davies.

The Clarets came even closer to a leveller when Ings latched on to a Stanislas cut-back only for his shot to hit the bar before Austin nodded the rebound against the woodwork.

The equaliser eventually came when Ings headed in an inviting cross from Ross Wallace.

Burnley barely had time to celebrate, however, before Birmingham restored their lead when King surged forward and found Mutch, who applied the finish.

Grant's 88th-minute blunder let Murphy put a slightly flattering gloss on the scoreline but Birmingham will see this as a vital win as they still have automatic promotion contenders West Ham and Reading still to play.

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (4)

Burnley

  • 01 Grant
  • 02 Trippier
  • 04 Duff Booked
  • 15 Edgar
  • 06 McCann
  • 07 Wallace Booked
  • 08 Marney (Stanislas - 59' )
  • 19 McQuoid (Howieson - 84' )
  • 20 Bartley
  • 14 Ings
  • 23 Austin

Substitutes

  • 12 Jensen
  • 11 Stanislas
  • 32 Howieson
  • 33 Hewitt
  • 39 Fletcher

Birmingham City

  • 01 Myhill
  • 03 Murphy
  • 04 Caldwell
  • 06 Ramage
  • 24 Davies
  • 07 Burke
  • 08 N'daw
  • 12 Mutch Booked
  • 15 Elliott
  • 09 King (Huseklepp - 90' )
  • 19 Zigic Booked (Townsend - 76' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Doyle
  • 10 Huseklepp
  • 11 Townsend
  • 14 Gomis
  • 22 Redmond
Ref: Waugh
Att: 13,221

Match Stats

Shots

14 11

On target

8 5

Corners

3 3

Fouls

7 10

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:07 Full time

Full Time The referee brings the game to a close.

90:00 +1:55

Shot by Danny Ings from deep inside the six-yard box clear the bar.

89:52

Free kick taken by Boaz Myhill.

89:52 Substitution

Substitution Marlon King leaves the field to be replaced by Erik Huseklepp.

89:52 Booking

Booking Ross Wallace is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.

89:42

Ross Wallace concedes a free kick for a foul on Jordon Mutch.

87:48

Jordon Mutch provided the assist for the goal.

87:48 Goal scored

Goal - David Murphy - Burnley 1 - 3 Birmingham Goal scored by David Murphy from close range to the bottom right corner of the goal. Burnley 1-3 Birmingham.

86:53

Free kick taken by Jordon Mutch. Jordon Mutch delivers the ball, save made by Lee Grant.

86:53 Booking

Booking The referee shows Michael Duff a yellow card.

86:44

Michael Duff challenges Andros Townsend unfairly and gives away a free kick.

84:57

The official flags Andros Townsend offside. Lee Grant takes the indirect free kick.

83:19

Boaz Myhill takes the indirect free kick.

83:19 Substitution

Substitution Cameron Howieson replaces Josh McQuoid.

83:19

The offside flag is raised against Ross Wallace.

79:10

Shot from just outside the box by Junior Stanislas goes over the bar.

78:52

Josh McQuoid fouled by Andros Townsend, the ref awards a free kick. Kieran Trippier takes the indirect free kick.

77:55

Kieran Trippier produces a cross, Curtis Davies manages to make a clearance.

75:59 Substitution

Substitution Andros Townsend replaces Nikola Zigic.

74:53

Assist by Marlon King.

74:53 Goal scored

Goal - Jordon Mutch - Burnley 1 - 2 Birmingham Jordon Mutch grabs a goal from inside the area to the top left corner of the goal. Burnley 1-2 Birmingham.

74:28

Nikola Zigic produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the target.

73:22

Assist on the goal came from Ross Wallace.

73:22 Goal scored

Goal - Danny Ings - Burnley 1 - 1 Birmingham Danny Ings finds the back of the net with a headed goal from close range. Burnley 1-1 Birmingham.

73:17

The ball is swung over by Ross Wallace,

70:18

Danny Ings takes a shot. Charlie Austin takes a shot. The referee blows for offside against Josh McQuoid. Indirect free kick taken by Boaz Myhill.

68:51

The offside flag is raised against Charlie Austin. Boaz Myhill takes the indirect free kick.

67:45

Jordon Mutch takes a outswinging corner to the near post, Josh McQuoid manages to make a clearance.

67:03

The official flags Junior Stanislas offside. Indirect free kick taken by Boaz Myhill.

66:22

Chris McCann takes a shot. Steven Caldwell gets a block in.

65:23

Charlie Austin takes a shot. Clearance made by Curtis Davies. Josh McQuoid decides to take a short corner. David Edgar takes a shot. Save by Boaz Myhill.

64:42

Marvin Bartley takes a shot. Blocked by Steven Caldwell.

62:45

Shot from just outside the area by Jordon Mutch misses to the right of the target.

58:34 Substitution

Substitution Junior Stanislas replaces Dean Marney.

53:21

Foul by Nikola Zigic on Dean Marney, free kick awarded. Direct strike on goal from the free kick comes in from Kieran Trippier, Boaz Myhill makes a save.

52:04

Dean Marney takes a shot. Jordon Mutch gets a block in.

50:20

Danny Ings takes a shot. Save by Boaz Myhill.

48:18

Marlon King takes a shot. Blocked by Michael Duff. Jordon Mutch takes the outswinging corner, clearance made by Charlie Austin. Effort from outside the penalty box by Guirane N'Daw goes wide right of the target.

45:47

Foul by Michael Duff on Nikola Zigic, free kick awarded. Strike comes in from David Murphy from the free kick, Lee Grant makes a save.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:00 +2:03 Half time

Half Time The referee blows for half time.

41:25

The assistant referee signals for offside against Chris McCann. Free kick taken by Boaz Myhill.

39:13

Ross Wallace crosses the ball in from the free kick.

39:13 Booking

Booking Booking for Jordon Mutch.

39:04

Free kick awarded for a foul by Marlon King on Danny Ings.

35:15

Free kick awarded for a foul by Kieran Trippier on Wade Elliott. Boaz Myhill restarts play with the free kick.

32:39

Foul by Guirane N'Daw on Dean Marney, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Kieran Trippier.

32:07

The assistant referee signals for offside against Marlon King. Indirect free kick taken by Ross Wallace.

31:28

The offside flag is raised against Charlie Austin. Boaz Myhill takes the indirect free kick.

28:05

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Kieran Trippier from the left by-line, Header by David Edgar from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.

26:26

Ross Wallace crosses the ball in from the free kick, Curtis Davies makes a clearance. Corner taken by Kieran Trippier from the left by-line to the near post, clearance by Peter Ramage.

26:26 Booking

Booking Nikola Zigic is booked.

26:09

Nikola Zigic gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kieran Trippier.

25:27

Free kick awarded for a foul by David Murphy on Charlie Austin. Kieran Trippier restarts play with the free kick.

24:43

Chris McCann is ruled offside. Indirect free kick taken by Boaz Myhill.

22:08

Wade Elliott takes a shot. Blocked by Chris McCann.

21:43

Corner taken right-footed by Jordon Mutch from the right by-line, clearance made by Michael Duff.

20:42

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Chris Burke by Ross Wallace. Jordon Mutch restarts play with the free kick.

17:36

Wade Elliott challenges Marvin Bartley unfairly and gives away a free kick. Kieran Trippier takes the direct free kick.

15:21

Jordon Mutch challenges Dean Marney unfairly and gives away a free kick. Dean Marney restarts play with the free kick.

12:19

Guirane N'Daw produces a right-footed shot from a long way out which goes wide right of the goal.

10:05

The assist for the goal came from Nikola Zigic.

10:05 Goal scored

Goal - Marlon King - Burnley 0 - 1 Birmingham Marlon King finds the net with a goal from inside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Burnley 0-1 Birmingham.

7:32

Free kick awarded for a foul by David Murphy on Danny Ings. Free kick taken by Lee Grant.

6:47

Chris McCann is caught offside. Free kick taken by Boaz Myhill.

5:05

Kieran Trippier concedes a free kick for a foul on Nikola Zigic. Direct free kick taken by David Murphy.

4:03

Guirane N'Daw concedes a free kick for a foul on Michael Duff. Free kick taken by Dean Marney.

1:34

Marlon King fouled by David Edgar, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Wade Elliott. Jordon Mutch takes a shot from a long way out which goes wide of the right-hand post.

0:59

Shot from just outside the area by Danny Ings misses to the right of the target.

0:00

The referee gets the match started.

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