Leroy Lita's brilliant 30-yard drive clinched a late victory for struggling Birmingham at Leeds.

Neither side impressed in a dull game at Elland Road before Lita's strike handed the perfect 40th birthday present to Blues boss Lee Clark.

It was only Birmingham's second away win in 11 months and helped move them further away from the bottom three.

Leeds' best chance fell to El-Hadji Diouf whose point-blank header was saved by England keeper Jack Butland.

For long periods it had looked as though a goalless draw would be the outcome of this Championship clash, with opportunities scarce and only Birmingham's Ravel Morrison and Leeds' Diouf looking dangerous.

Leeds were as uninspired as they were in their 1-1 draw with Charlton and failed to find their fluency.

Former Whites player Steven Caldwell snapped a volley over in the second minute, before Curtis Davies headed wide from a Nathan Redmond free-kick.

Leeds finally woke up from their slumber when Sam Byram cut in to drive a firm shot against the legs of Blues defender David Murphy.

But Birmingham were the more accomplished side, with Morrison impressing with his roaming runs, before Lita's moment of brilliance sealed victory 14 minutes from time.

Birmingham boss Lee Clark: "The beer will certainly taste sweeter tonight, that's for sure.

"I have family and friends coming down and they were hoping I would get a good result because they know what I am like when we lose. They didn't want a soppy faced 40-year-old hanging around them.

"The first half set the tone. We dictated the tempo and did what we set out to do by nullifying the crowd. Leeds came at us a bit more in the second half but the lads stood strong and defended well."

Leeds manager Neil Warnock: "The lads gave a much better performance in the second half. We lacked a bit of pace in the final third but I enjoyed it more than the other night when we drew with Charlton.

"The final pass was missing today and there were too many free-kicks into the keeper's hands.

"You need a bit of luck. Their keeper didn't even see Rodolph Austin's shot which hit his leg in the first half as he was moving the wrong way.

"Then we were beaten by a world-beater. You don't expect someone to shoot from there.

"The players gave me everything. It may not have been good enough at times but I have no complaints."

Lineup, Bookings (0) & Substitutions (4)

Leeds United

  • 01 Kenny
  • 02 Peltier
  • 04 Lees (White - 82' )
  • 05 Pearce
  • 08 Austin
  • 16 Pugh
  • 18 Tonge
  • 19 Norris (Hall - 82' )
  • 25 Byram
  • 10 Becchio
  • 21 Diouf

Substitutes

  • 12 Ashdown
  • 03 Drury
  • 07 Green
  • 14 White
  • 17 Brown
  • 30 Hall
  • 20 Gray

Birmingham City

  • 01 Butland
  • 03 Murphy
  • 04 Caldwell
  • 06 Davies
  • 30 Robinson
  • 08 Mullins
  • 12 Morrison
  • 15 Elliott
  • 22 Redmond (Burke - 67' )
  • 09 King (Spector - 90' )
  • 29 Lita

Substitutes

  • 13 Doyle
  • 23 Spector
  • 24 Packwood
  • 27 Hancox
  • 07 Burke
  • 10 Ambrose
  • 32 Diop
Ref: Salisbury
Att: 22,152

Match Stats

Shots

13 13

On target

8 6

Corners

11 3

Fouls

10 14

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:42 Full time

Full Time The referee ends the match.

90:00 +2:30

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Aidan White by Paul Robinson. El-Hadji Diouf crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, Jack Butland makes a comfortable save.

90:00 +1:46

Patrick Kenny restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +1:46 Substitution

Substitution Jonathan Spector on for Marlon King.

90:00 +1:46

Marlon King is ruled offside.

90:00 +0:54

Short corner taken by Christopher Burke from the right by-line.

88:42

Corner taken right-footed by El-Hadji Diouf to the near post, clearance made by Hayden Mullins.

87:53

Foul by Ryan Hall on Ravel Morrison, free kick awarded. David Murphy takes the free kick.

87:35

Marlon King takes a shot.

86:59

Shot from just outside the box by Rodolph Austin goes over the crossbar.

83:56

Unfair challenge on Luciano Becchio by Steven Caldwell results in a free kick. Strike on goal comes in from Michael Tonge from the free kick, blocked by Paul Robinson.

82:33

Inswinging corner taken by Wade Elliott from the left by-line, Patrick Kenny makes a save.

81:30

Jack Butland restarts play with the free kick.

81:30 Substitution

Substitution Ryan Hall joins the action as a substitute, replacing David Norris.

81:30 Substitution

Substitution Tom Lees goes off and Aidan White comes on.

81:30

Unfair challenge on David Murphy by Luciano Becchio results in a free kick.

77:57

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by El-Hadji Diouf, clearance by Curtis Davies.

76:11

Rodolph Austin fouled by Ravel Morrison, the ref awards a free kick. Danny Pugh restarts play with the free kick.

75:07

Assist by David Murphy.

75:07 Goal scored

Goal - Leroy Lita - Leeds 0 - 1 Birmingham Goal scored by Leroy Lita from just outside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Leeds 0-1 Birmingham.

73:23

Steven Caldwell challenges Luciano Becchio unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Lee Peltier.

72:15

Marlon King takes a shot. Blocked by Tom Lees.

71:09

The ball is sent over by Michael Tonge, save made by Jack Butland.

69:42

El-Hadji Diouf takes a shot. Brilliant save by Jack Butland.

69:04

The ball is delivered by Tom Lees, Paul Robinson makes a clearance.

67:31

Hayden Mullins has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

66:40 Substitution

Substitution Christopher Burke is brought on as a substitute for Nathan Redmond.

65:43

Corner taken right-footed by El-Hadji Diouf from the left by-line, Samuel Byram takes a shot. Save by Jack Butland.

65:23

Inswinging corner taken by El-Hadji Diouf from the left by-line played to the near post, clearance by Marlon King.

65:07

El-Hadji Diouf takes a shot. Blocked by David Murphy.

64:36

Leroy Lita challenges Lee Peltier unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Patrick Kenny.

63:20

El-Hadji Diouf fouled by Hayden Mullins, the ref awards a free kick. Michael Tonge crosses the ball in from the free kick.

63:08

El-Hadji Diouf takes a shot. Blocked by Paul Robinson.

62:22

Paul Robinson challenges El-Hadji Diouf unfairly and gives away a free kick. El-Hadji Diouf takes the free kick.

61:07

Michael Tonge decides to take the corner short.

60:37

Nathan Redmond concedes a free kick for a foul on Danny Pugh. Patrick Kenny takes the free kick.

60:12

Marlon King takes a shot. Save by Patrick Kenny.

58:05

The assistant referee flags for offside against Luciano Becchio. Jack Butland takes the indirect free kick.

57:42

Rodolph Austin takes a shot.

56:51

Ravel Morrison takes a shot from just inside the penalty box which clears the crossbar.

54:54

Long distance effort on goal by David Murphy goes wide left of the target.

52:24

El-Hadji Diouf takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Close range headed effort by Jason Pearce misses to the right of the target.

52:10

Corner from the right by-line taken by Michael Tonge, clearance made by Leroy Lita.

48:28

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Wade Elliott by Jason Pearce. Free kick taken by David Murphy.

47:29

Free kick awarded for a foul by Hayden Mullins on Rodolph Austin. Direct free kick taken by Patrick Kenny.

45:53

The official flags Samuel Byram offside. Jack Butland takes the indirect free kick.

45:27

Tom Lees fouled by Wade Elliott, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Tom Lees.

45:01

The referee gets the second half underway.

45:00 +1:05 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to signal half-time.

44:32

Samuel Byram produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the goal.

42:16

David Norris produces a cross, save by Jack Butland.

37:53

Hayden Mullins challenges Samuel Byram unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by El-Hadji Diouf from right channel, clearance by Curtis Davies.

35:59

Nathan Redmond delivers the ball, save by Patrick Kenny.

33:59

The ball is sent over by David Murphy.

30:58

Leroy Lita gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Lee Peltier. Free kick taken by Patrick Kenny.

30:04

Unfair challenge on David Norris by Ravel Morrison results in a free kick. Lee Peltier restarts play with the free kick.

29:14

Paul Robinson fouled by Luciano Becchio, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Jack Butland.

28:13

Corner taken by Michael Tonge, save made by Jack Butland.

27:58

Rodolph Austin takes a shot. Save made by Jack Butland.

27:18

The assistant referee flags for offside against Marlon King. Patrick Kenny restarts play with the free kick.

26:36

The assistant referee signals for offside against El-Hadji Diouf. Indirect free kick taken by Jack Butland.

24:47

Free kick awarded for a foul by Wade Elliott on El-Hadji Diouf. El-Hadji Diouf crosses the ball, Luciano Becchio has a headed effort at goal from close range which goes wide of the left-hand post.

24:02

Corner taken by Michael Tonge from the right by-line, Wade Elliott manages to make a clearance.

23:48

Nathan Redmond takes a shot. Lee Peltier gets a block in.

19:28

Foul by Danny Pugh on Paul Robinson, free kick awarded. Jack Butland takes the direct free kick.

18:45

Hayden Mullins takes a shot. Blocked by Lee Peltier.

17:21

Leroy Lita is caught offside. Patrick Kenny restarts play with the free kick.

16:37

Luciano Becchio concedes a free kick for a foul on Nathan Redmond. Direct free kick taken by Paul Robinson.

15:09

Samuel Byram takes a shot. Blocked by David Murphy.

14:24

Centre by Tom Lees, clearance by Curtis Davies.

13:41

Luciano Becchio takes a shot. Save by Jack Butland.

9:38

Lee Peltier challenges Leroy Lita unfairly and gives away a free kick. The ball is crossed by Nathan Redmond, Close range header by Curtis Davies goes wide of the left-hand upright.

8:41

Free kick awarded for a foul by El-Hadji Diouf on Paul Robinson. Paul Robinson takes the direct free kick.

7:56

Foul by Rodolph Austin on Hayden Mullins, free kick awarded. The ball is crossed by Wade Elliott, Nathan Redmond takes a shot. Save made by Patrick Kenny.

6:11

Effort from outside the penalty box by Nathan Redmond goes wide right of the goal.

5:28

Corner taken by Nathan Redmond from the right by-line to the near post, Michael Tonge manages to make a clearance.

3:13

Corner taken by El-Hadji Diouf from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance by Hayden Mullins.

2:43

Corner taken by El-Hadji Diouf.

1:16

Shot from just outside the area by Steven Caldwell goes over the bar.

0:41

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Leroy Lita by Lee Peltier. Free kick taken by David Murphy.

0:00

The referee gets the match started.

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