Bolton Wanderers remain rooted to the foot of the Premiership after a soggy but valiant defeat at St Andrews.

Birmingham were ultimately easy winners through second-half goals from Darren Purse, Robbie Savage and Geoff Horsfield.

But Bolton, reduced to 10-men on 66 minutes when Ricardo Gardner was sent off, had given themselves brief hope when Jay Jay Okocha levelled at 1-1.

Bolton were denied an early chance when Blues defender Purse blocked Youri Djorkaeff as he was set to unleash a shot.

Birmingham keeper Nico Vaesen's reprieve turned quickly into a call to arms for Bolton stopper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

He was forced to save from point-blank range off Stan Lazaridis following Clinton Morrison's cross from the right.

The home side's fans were frustrated at the scarcity of openings but they were treated to a brief thrill when Stern John hit the post, though the offside flag had been raised.

But the St Andrews faithful suffered further ignominy when they thought they had won a penalty after Mike Whitlow appeared to catch Morrison but referee Chris Foy waved play on.

Birmingham began on the front foot immediately after the break when John and Aliou Cisse threatened.

Neither side looked much like taking the initiative but they were getting closer as Bolton's Okocha hit the woodwork on 54 minutes.

Bolton's afternoon took a further turn for the worse when Gardner was shown red for a foul on Birmingham substitute Horsfield - who had replaced Lazaridis.

But Okocha's equaliser gave them at least the hope of a remarkable comeback.

The dream was short-lived, though, when Savage struck for Birmingham's second minutes later and Horsfield added the third after Morrison's shot had rebounded off the post.

Birmingham: Vaesen, Kenna, Purse, Cunningham, Sadler, Devlin, Savage, Cisse, Lazaridis, John, Morrison. Subs: Bennett, Horsfield, Hughes, Kirovski, Powell.

Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Mendy, N'Gotty, Campo, Whitlow, Farrelly, Frandsen, Okocha, Gardner, Djorkaeff, Ricketts. Subs: Poole, Nolan, Dean Holdsworth, Charlton, Tofting.

Referee: C Foy (Merseyside)