Robbie Savage (top) gets to grips with Kevin Horlock

Robbie Fowler broke his Manchester City goal duck to leave Birmingham looking nervously over their shoulder following their defeat at Maine Road.

Fowler, who has been plagued by injuries since his �7m move from Leeds, showed all his striking instincts to notch his first goal in a Sky Blue shirt.

His 71st minute strike ended Birmingham's dogged resistance and leaves them just five points above the relegation places.

Birmingham were forced on to the back foot as Manchester made the early running and Robbie Savage showed bravery in blocking Gerard Wiekens shot from a corner.

Manchester City failed to cash in on their early superiority and after giving glimpses of their defensive brittleness, Christophe Dugarry lost his marker Wiekens to plant a diving header wide on 14 minutes.

TALE OF TWO CITIES 32 mins: Robbie Savage harshly booked. 50 mins: Robbie Fowler misses good chance. 71 mins: Fowler makes amends to put Man City ahead. 89 mins: Anelka fluffs chance to clinch the points. 90mins: Horsfield howler costs Birmingham dearly.

Birmingham were forced to man the pumps on 22 minutes when Wiekens' goal-bound header from a corner was blocked by Savage and the ball pinged around before Stan Lazaridis hacked clear.

Steve Bruce's side enjoyed a big escape on 24 minutes when Anelka first saw his close-range effort blocked by Ian Bennett, and he then squared the ball back to Marc-Vivien Foe who completely missed his kick from six yards out.

Powerful long-range efforts from Anelka and Kevin Horlock kept Bennett on his toes before Dugarry's sublime skill earned Birmingham a free-kick on the edge of the Manchester City penalty area.

But the free-kick proved costly for Birmingham as Savage was harshly cautioned for trying to take the kick quickly and his 10th booking of the season will earn him a ban.

Referee Matt Massias courted more controversy a minute later when he failed to show a yellow card to Anelka for a blatant dive as he tried to round Bennett after breaking clear.

Fowler was sent clear on 50 minutes by Anelka's slide-rule pass but the �7m striker drifted wide of the goal before slicing an ugly shot wide.

Robbie Fowler and Kenny Cunningham keep their eyes on the ball

Fowler looked short on confidence and match sharpness but he showed his goal-poaching instincts remain intact as he put Man City ahead on 71 minutes.

The former Liverpool and Leeds striker got in front of Kenny Cunningham to flick Ali Benarbia's cross past Bennett.

Manchester City had to defend their lead for the last 11 minutes when Niclas Jensen's foul on Lazaridis earned him a second yellow card.

Anelka wasted an opportunity to sew up the points as he dithered and allowed Bennett to save.

At the other end, substitute Geoff Horsfield missed an even better chance to salvage a point when he rounded Peter Schmeichel, only to miss his kick.

Manchester City: Schmeichel, Sommeil, Wiekens, Distin, Wright-Phillips, Benarbia, Foe, Horlock, Jensen, Fowler, Anelka. Subs: Nash, Belmadi, Dunne, Goater, Jihai.

Birmingham: Bennett, Kenna, Upson, Cunningham, Clapham, Damien Johnson, Savage, Clemence, Lazaridis, Morrison, Dugarry. Subs: Marriott, Devlin, Horsfield, John, Carter.