GARDNER DIGS DEEP FOR BLUES

GARY GARDNER got his first goal for the club he has supported all of his life to stretch Birmingham’s unbeaten run.

He used to play at rivals Aston Villa but his love has always been across the city.

And Gardner, 26, got the opener, firing the ball over the line four minutes into the second half after Michael Morrison nodded down Jota’s corner.

Lukas Jutkiewicz headed his seventh goal of the season in the 70th minute to make it the perfect night for Gardner – with Birmingham jumping above Villa in the table. Yakou Meite grabbed a last-gasp goal for Reading, but Blues held on to remain 10-games unbeaten.