Samuel Di Carmine's goal gave 10-man QPR an unlikely win to knock Birmingham off the top of the Championship.

Rangers keeper Radek Cerny made superb early saves to keep out low drives from Cameron Jerome and Kevin Phillips.

And the home side had Mikele Leigertwood sent off for a crude tackle on Lee Carsley before half-time.

But Di Carmine found the top corner from 25 yards after the break and QPR held on after Phillips found the net in injury time but was flagged offside.

"I've a taste for it. It's something I want to pursue but I'm taking it game by game.

"If I'm in charge on Saturday I'll take us to Ipswich. I've had no indication, my only focus is on QPR winning."

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish:
"It was a great start, we looked dangerous but that was about the sum total.

"I'm disappointed we didn't put more pressure on them with 10 men but they had a bit of a cause.

"But the disappointment for me was the performance level. I can take a defeat but we had too many players off the boil in this match."

Booked: Cerny, Ledesma.

Goals: Di Carmine 54.

Birmingham: Maik Taylor, Parnaby (Wilson 12), Martin Taylor, Ridgewell, Queudrue, McFadden, Carsley, Nafti (Owusu-Abeyie 64), Agustien, Phillips, Jerome (Bent 64).
Subs Not Used: Doyle, Quashie.

Booked: Wilson, Queudrue.

Att: 13,594

Ref: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire).

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