Matt finish takes shine of Birmingham

Birmingham 1 Charlton 2

Birmingham 1 Charlton 2

Two Matt Holland goals and Dean Kiely's inspired goalkeeping gave Charlton a 2-1 victory at Birmingham tonight, their third straight league away win.

It also marked a fourth success in five Premiership outings for Alan Curbishley's Addicks, and it took them up to seventh in the table - just one point behind Blues, who stay fourth.

Birmingham had kept three successive clean sheets in the league but went behind at St Andrews to Holland's 11th-minute header from a Claus Jensen corner - the Republic of Ireland international's first goal for Charlton since his summer switch from Ipswich.

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And the visitors could have doubled their lead just after the half-hour mark if Jonatan Johansson had not blasted a great close-range chance straight at City goalkeeper Maik Taylor.

However, the lead was increased on 59 minutes when another Jensen corner picked out Graham Stuart on the far side of the area and his powerful shot was deflected home by Holland.

Birmingham appeared down and out but after 64 minutes, Christophe Dugarry gave them a lifeline with his first goal of the season.

He had a header deflected over the bar but made no mistake with a similar effort when he connected with a Stan Lazaridis corner.

After that, it was all down to Kiely to keep Charlton's lead intact - and he did so with a series of stunning saves.

He superbly prevented Dugarry from claiming a headed equaliser from Bryan Hughes' cross and then stopped Mikael Forssell in the final stages.