WANDERERS' ASPIRATIONS of playing Champions League football next season took a stern blow at St Andrew's as Birmingham City moved out of the relegation zone with a 1-0 win.

Jiri Jarosik's first-half stunner gave Steve Bruce's men a perfect tonic which saw them leapfrog West Midlands rivals West Brom and, more importantly, away from the bottom three.

It was Wanderers' third defeat on the trot, and with games against Liverpool and Chelsea on the horizon, Sam Allardyce's men are in urgent need of a lift.

In the hope of ensuring history was to repeat itself, Allardyce reintroduced El Hadji Diouf, for the Senegalese's first start since January, as he picked a side that was determined to keep its European qualification hopes on track against a Birmingham City side that was fighting for its top-flight future.

The former Liverpool man netted the opening goal in this fixture last season which, with the help of Kevin Nolan's last-minute winner, ended a horrendous streak of form that brought six successive defeats and a draw - and served to be the catalyst that propelled Wanderers into Europe for the first time in their history.

Wanderers hadn't picked up a maximum on their travels since they trounced Everton 4-0 back in December. And with their first home defeat since the opening day still resounding in their minds, from Saturday's derby defeat against Manchester United, Allardyce knew that three points would be the order of the day if his side were to make the chase for fourth spot competitive, let alone qualify for the UEFA Cup.

Diouf, who had been sidelined with a problematic hernia following a sojourn with Senegal in the African Cup of Nations, came in for Gary Speed, who missed the game after picking up a virus during the week. Ricardo Gardner, also a victim of illness, was absent for his second successive game, which allowed Henrik Pedersen to deputise at left back.

After an edgy start from both sides, Oliver Tebily, the Blues right-back, inadvertently engineered the game's first effort after five minutes. The Frenchman chased a long ball down the right flank, and in his haste to deliver the ball into the box saw it just about clear Jussi Jaaskelainen's cross bar.

The hosts lost the services of Stephen Clemence with barely ten minutes of the game lapsed. Veteran Australian Stan Lazardis replaced the midfielder, who appeared to be the victim of a hamstring injury.

In-form Kevin Davies leapt above Blues captain Kenny Cunningham to reach Diouf's pinpoint centre, but could only head the ball over Maik Taylor's crossbar.

Stelios was the beneficiary of another Diouf cross ten minutes later, but the diminutive Greece international stretched as far as he could but only managed to head the ball for a goal kick.

Steve Bruce, the Birmingham manager, was left cursing his luck midway through the first-half, after losing Nicky Butt to a hamstring injury. It forced the Blues boss into bringing on Mikael Forrsell and moving Jiri Jarosik into the centre of midfield.

Joey O'Brien earned a reprieve just after the half-hour mark when he lost possession to Emile Heskey in the precarious position of just outside his own box. The former Liverpool hitman quickly found Forrsell, whose dipping shot crept over his compatriot's bar.

Abdoulaye Faye found plenty of space in midfield, and with Birmingham defenders keeping their distance, the Senegal international promptly fired a right-footer from 25 yards over Taylor.

The deadlock was broken in sublime fashion through Jarosik. The tall midfielder weaved his way through the Wanderers midfield, before placing a left-footed curler beyond the despairing dive of Jaaskelainen.

Within a minute, the Czech midfielder could have doubled his side's lead as the Blues broke away at breakneck speed. A Tal Ben Haim slip put the goalscorer through only to see his shot shave Jaaskelainen's right-hand stick.

The atmosphere within the ground had quickly become vociferous after initially sounding subdued.

Wanderers, though, nearly altered the ambience, when on the stroke of half-time Kevin Nolan enjoyed Wanderers' best chance of the half only to see Taylor save smartly.

Nicky Hunt was the only Wanderers change during the interval. The defender was a direct replacement for O'Brien. Hunt then became his side's saviour as he hooked away the loose ball with Forrsell ready to pounce from inside the six yard line.

The pressure was mounting on the Wanderers backline, and Jaaskelainen had to be at his most agile to tip over Damien Johnson's cross for a corner.

Stelios spurned a golden chance for the equaliser when he reached Davies's flick-on from Okocha's free-kick, his shot, however, went wide.

Forssell almost sealed the points with five minutes to go when he placed wide from a good position.

Allardyce threw on Ricardo Vaz Te to make it an attacking unit of four but unfortunately the hosts hung on to claim a precious three points.