BIRMINGHAM

SAMUEL SAIZ and substitute Stuart Dallas fired Leeds to the top of the Championship last night.

Saiz struck after 17 minutes before Dallas ended any hopes of a Birmingham revival with the second in injury-time as Leeds moved above Cardiff City.

The defeat condemned Harry Redknapp’s struggling side to a fourth straight defeat, but he can take heart from an improved performance.

The match attracted the biggest Elland Road crowd for a midweek fixture since Leeds were relegated out of the Premier League in 2004.

And hopes were high Thomas Christiansen’s side could live up to the expectations after an eightgame unbeaten start to the season.

Fresh from thrashing Burton Albion 5-0 at the weekend, Leeds flew out of the blocks.

But it was Birmingham, bidding to end a four-match losing run, who went closest early on when captain Michael Morrison looped a header wide.

Leeds hit back with Pablo Hernandez seeing a closerange effort cleared by Emilio Nsue before it could find the bottom corner.

But the hosts were not to be denied and Saiz, the £3.1million summer signing from Spanish club Huesca, gave them the lead with his sixth goal of the season.

David Stockdale did superbly to keep out a fiercely struck shot from Pierre-Michel Lasogga.

But Saiz was on hand to stab home from virtually on the goal line.

With their tails up Leeds charged forward and Lasogga and Hernandez both failed to make the most of decent opportunities.

And it could have proved costly as Birmingham ended an even first half strongly.

On-loan Chelsea midfielder Jeremie Boga skipped past Luke Ayling on the byline before dragging his shot wide.

And on the stroke of halftime Maxime Colin went closer still when he beat goalkeeper