Late goals end Cardiff's winless run

Two late goals gave Sabri Lamouchi his first victory as Cardiff City boss as they ended their run of 14 games without a win at St Andrews.

The Bluebirds extended their lead in stoppage time as sub Callum Robinson scored a solo effort to earn Cardiff a first win since 5 November.

The hosts rarely tested Cardiff goalkeeper Ryan Allsop and were booed off by their supporters at full-time.

The victory lifts Cardiff three points clear of the Championship relegation zone as they took advantage of a poor display from a Blues side who are consistently inconsistent and slip to 18th.

Birmingham were looking for a third successive win after following up their dramatic 4-3 victory at Swansea with a morale-boosting win against rivals West Brom.

Blues welcomed back midfielder Harlee Dean, with the 31-year old making a first start since 5 November in the only change from the win over the Baggies.

John Eustace's side have a rotten record in recent years against the Bluebirds, having failed to beat them in eight league games, but they would have been encouraged by Cardiff's recent form.

Winless in 12 league games and above the Championship relegation zone only on goal difference, Cardiff were looking to address their chronic lack of goals, having found the net only 22 times in 31 league games.

Lamouchi named two strikers in his starting XI as he changed formation to three at the back, with Connor Wickham fit enough to be on the bench after joining the club earlier in the day as a free agent.

Lamouchi was still searching for a first point or goal since becoming the third Cardiff boss of the season at the end of January and his side did produce efforts from Sory Kaba, Cedric Kipre and Ng in the opening 30 minutes, but none found the target.

Ryan Wintle did force Birmingham goalkeeper John Ruddy into a comfortable save just before the interval, with Wintle's tame shot the only effort on target from either side before half-time.

The hosts were giving their fans little to cheer about in a contest where both goalkeepers were spectators for long periods, with Lukas Jutkiewicz's weak header after the break the first save of the game for Cardiff goalkeeper Ryan Allsop.

Cardiff threatened twice from volleyed efforts by Kaba as they sensed a chance to end their long winless run, with Birmingham's lacklustre display prompting a quadruple substitution from Blues boss Eustace.

Lamouchi waited 73 minutes before introducing Wickham and he was instantly into the action as he forced Ruddy into a rare save.

The contest seemed highly liable to end in a stalemate but Ng had other ideas as he curled home a fabulous freekick after Callum O'Dowda had been fouled.

Blues sub Jordan James missed a good chance to level from close-range on 89 minutes, but Robison made the result safe as he scored on the break by beating Ruddy at his near post after a mazy run.

Birmingham boss John Eustace said:

"I don't think we deserved to lose the game. It was a very scrappy game, a typical Championship game really, and I think both teams cancelled each other out.

"We won a lot of first contacts, second ball in midfield and again I thought we cancelled each other out. We weren't great going forward, we never looked a threat.

"Obviously, the manner in which we lost the game from was from a fantastic free-kick and that was the difference between the two teams.

"It was difficult to get going, to press them, to go against them as they went very long, very direct and very early, so we had to show a different side to our team and I thought we stood up to it and did very well."

Cardiff boss Sabri Lamouchi told BBC Sport Wales:

"It feels incredible. I'm so happy for my players, happy for the fans, but especially for the players... what a win, what a game, what a performance from them.

"I'm happy for them as they didn't deserve to be in this situation. They lost confidence but what we're doing in training with the quality, I know I have a good squad.

"At the same time, I know it's just one victory but the last one was in November which was a long time ago.

"They deserve to enjoy it with the fans, to be happy in the dressing room tonight, but from tomorrow we need to think about Reading in the next game."