Birmingham City 1 Leeds United 0

 Nikola Zigic’s first goal since February’s Carling Cup final handed Birmingham a narrow victory and extended their winning sequence to six games in all competitions – while ending Leeds’ seven-match unbeaten league run.

In an encounter between the Championship’s two most in-form teams a single goal was always likely to settle matters, and so it proved as the 6ft 8in Serbian fired home after 35 minutes.

Goalkeeper Boaz Myhill had earlier kept Blues on level terms with an impressive save to keep out Adam Clayton’s vicious volley before again coming to the hosts’ rescue late on to tip over a long-range effort from Ross McCormack – the Championship’s joint-top scorer with nine goals this season.

Zigic and substitute Chris Wood brought good saves from Paul Rachubka, otherwise there was little serious threat to the scoreline amid what remained an intriguing and hard-fought clash.

Leeds boss Simon Grayson felt his side deserved reward for their efforts at St Andrew’s but was ultimately left to rue a lack of killer instinct in the final third.

“I think we deserved something from the game,” he said. “I thought we played very well.

“We were the team who passed the ball around well and created some good opportunities. We worked their back four and the goalkeeper.

“Unfortunately we couldn’t do the hardest thing that happens in football and score a goal but we know Birmingham are a very organised and experienced team and you’ve seen from their record so far they don’t give much away.

“But I don’t think we could have done too much more in terms of trying to win the game.”

Birmingham boss Chris Hughton said: “Leeds were a very good team, played with a very good rhythm and are a high-energy team.

“You can see why they’ve very much been at the top ends of the table over the last few years and I would expect them to be there again.”