BIRMINGHAM CITY 2 Grounds (41), Gardner (pen, 76)

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 0

JONATHAN GROUNDS and Craig Gardner boosted Birmingham’s survival hopes, with crucial goals by beating Huddersfield at St Andrew’s.

It was Grounds’ second goal of the season and it could not have come at a better time as 10-man Birmingham recorded only their third win in 24 league games, which was sealed by Gardner’s penalty in the 75th minute.

Despite the success, Blackburn’s 1-0 win over Aston Villa means that Birmingham’s future will now be decided on the last day of the season at Bristol City.

Birmingham’s hopes of a vital victory seemed to nosedive on the back of two early incidents when Lukas Jutkiewicz missed a penalty and shortly afterwards Che Adams received a straight red card.

Huddersfield – assured of a play-off place after beating Wolves on Tuesday – made 10 changes and they created some early promising moves with Tareiq Holmes-Dennis gliding a low shot just wide of the far post. In a tense atmosphere, Birmingham then wasted a glorious opportunity to go ahead from the spot.

In only the eighth minute Adams was brought down by Mark Hudson, but Jutkiewicz’s low effort was kept put by Joel Coleman.

Worse was to follow in the 22nd minute as Adams was sent off for a challenge on Martin Cranie.

But in the 40th minute the hosts took the lead. Gardner’s cross was headed back across the goal by Jutkiewicz and Grounds forced the ball home at the near post.

Birmingham put the game to bed in the 75th minute. Jacques Maghoma was brought down in the area by Tommy Smith and Gardner lashed home the penalty.