Bobby De Cordova-Reid was sent off before halftime as the Foxes suffered their third consecutive loss after losing six points due to their violation of the EFL’s Profit and Sustainability regulations.
With two of the several chances the home team generated, Ibrahim Osman punished Ricardo Pereira’s terrible error to give Blues the lead in the third minute and Jay Stansfield scored the second, Leicester had little reason to be upset.
Abdul Fatawu’s memorable equaliser was a lone highlight for Andy King’s much-changed side, who have now taken just one point out of the last 15 and are only out of the relegation zone on goal difference.
In contrast Blues are now unbeaten in six and are two points adrift of the final play-off place.
On-loan Brighton winger Osman raced away before slotting past recalled goalkeeper Asmir Begovic after easily dispossessing dallying Leicester captain Pereira. It was the Ghanaian’s first goal for Blues.
The visitors had a surprise chance to equalise when De Cordova-Reid’s low shot was blocked by goalkeeper James Beadle after he latched onto Tomoki Iwata’s sliced overhead clearance.
Leicester levelled in the 21st minute with an unstoppable effort from Fatawu.
The exciting forward lashed an unstoppable volley into the corner of the net after chesting down Paik Seung-ho’s clearing header from Stephy Mavididi’s deep cross. It was the youngster’s seventh goal of the season.
Blues thought they had regained the lead in the 28th minute, but Phil Neumann’s header from Kai Wagner’s free-kick was ruled offside.
Carlos Vicente was twice denied for Blues, first when he failed to get enough on a header right in front of goal from a corner, then his angled shot was parried by Begovic after being picked out by Stansfield.
The flashpoint came in the 34th minute when De Cordova-Reid was dismissed for a touchline tackle on Osman.
Cordova-Reid did catch the winger on the ankle but he went for the ball and it looked like a harsh decision.
Marvin Ducksch’s acute-angled shot clipped the bar after lovely skill by Vicente in time added on at the end of the first half.
Osman scooped the ball over on the volley from Wagner’s cross as Blues started the second half on top.
Paik’s curling shot was parried by Begovic but Stansfield was offside trying to convert the loose ball.
Begovic foiled Jhon Solis’ fierce 25-yard curling shot before Stansfield got the goal Blues had been threatening in the 66th minute.
The striker pulled off a defender to latch onto a lovely pass from Ducksch and slotted beyond Begovic into the far corner of the net.
Substitute Patrick Roberts hit the sidenetting as Blues ended the game well on top.
The managers
Birmingham’s Chris Davies:
“Regardless of what happens on Tuesday night, I get the feeling that we are ready to compete right to the end of the season.
“We’ve got an improved squad from January, there’s a togetherness and hunger there and I’m excited to see how we attack every game and see where we end up.
“I spoke to Jay this week because I sensed his frustration and reassured him that he’s much more than a goalscorer.
“He gives us so much with his intensity, pressing and running, selflessness and link-up play, but he’s a striker and they all feed off goals.
“He took the goal really well and that will be a weight off his shoulders.”
Leicester’s interim boss Andy King:
“We have 15 games to make sure we are not below the line at the end of the season.
“I think if the lads give what they have given in the last couple of games then we will be all right.
“But we can’t be arrogant or naive about it to think we’re on a good run of form and everything will be all right.
“We have to accept that over a period of games now we haven’t been good enough results-wise and that has to improve.
“No one wants to be put in that position but over the course of 31 games, we haven’t been good enough.”
