LEEDS UNITED 1 Sacko (27) BIRMINGHAM CITY 2 Maghoma (15), Morrison (55)

MICHAEL MORRISON’S second-half strike condemned Leeds to defeat.

Birmingham stood firm against some intense early pressure, which saw the Yorkshire side hit the crossbar.

Blues then stunned Leeds when they went in front after Jacque Maghoma calmly fired home following a superb counter-attack.

Leeds got the equaliser that their superior possession and energy deserved when Hadi Sacko scored after a terrible goalkeeping blunder from Tomasz Kuszczak. But the Blues came out a different side after the break and showed more grit in midfield and better ball retention.

The visitors got their reward 10 minutes after the restart when Morrison smashed home from six yards after Leeds failed to clear a corner.

Kuszczak pulled off two good reflex saves in the closing stages as Birmingham survived seven minutes of injury time to hold on.

Birmingham had earlier hit the front against the run of play when Maghoma slotted home after 15 minutes following a brilliant counter-attack.

The Blues nearly extended their lead after 26 minutes when David Cotterill’s effort was deflected just past a post after Maghoma caught the Leeds defence napping.

But the Yorkshire side levelled when Sacko’s tame shot squirmed under the body of Kuszczak.

Kuszczak made slight amends for his blunder when he superbly blocked Luke Ayling’s long-range thunderbolt as Leeds continued to dominate.

Gary Rowett’s men started the second half much brighter and were rewarded when Morrison rifled the ball into the roof of the net for the winner after Leeds failed to clear a corner.