Troy Deeney, who wore the captain's armband having been recalled, fires home his second goal since joining Birmingham
Troy Deeney scored one goal and created another as Birmingham City beat Swansea City 2-1 to end their seven-game winless streak.
The recalled Deeney was handed the captain's armband and repaid boss Lee Bowyer with a clinical opener.
Swansea thought they had earned point when Michael Obafemi swept in his first goal for the club.
But Bowyer's side deservedly won it as Riley McGree tapped home at the second attempt after Deeney's pass.
It was a memorable day for Blues fan Deeney, who celebrated his first open-play goal since joining his boyhood club from Watford in August.
But it was a forgettable afternoon for a Swansea side who failed to hit the heights of their recent displays.
Russell Martin's team stay 15th, with Birmingham a point and two places worse off.
Swansea had come into the contest with momentum after rousing victories over Cardiff and West Brom, though it did not show in a tired performance.
Birmingham almost struck early when Ben Hamer fed Matt Grimes and his underhit lay-off presented possession to Gary Gardner 25 yards from goal.
Hamer was stranded, but Swansea wriggled off the hook as Gardner's first-time effort flew wide of the vacant net.
The visitors took charge of possession as they settled, creating a first sight of goal as Ethan Laird's pull-back was sliced wide by Olivier Ntcham.
But for all Swansea's control of the ball in the first half, it was Birmingham who found the net when Scott Hogan headed in from Tahith Chong's cross.
The hosts thought they had ended a goal drought which stretched back to 15 September only for a tight offside call to halt celebrations.
Birmingham's moment finally came just after the break, as they pounced ruthlessly on a loose touch from Laird.
Michael Obafemi celebrates a first Swansea goal in his fourth appearance for the club
Chong drove down the left flank and picked out Deeney, who took a touch before guiding a shot across Hamer and into the far corner.
Hogan should have scored as he ran clear only for Hamer to save Swansea, before fit-again Obafemi rolled one effort wide and then took his second chance in style.
Picked out by a measured Ryan Manning pass, the £1.5m signing from Southampton raced clear before firing under Matija Sarkic.
But Birmingham came again, with Deeney hooking a pass through to McGree, who was initially denied by Hamer but then had the simple task of tapping into the empty net.
Swansea head coach Russell Martin:
"He is offside, Chong, in the build-up [to the winner], I thought it was obvious. But it is what it is.
"We looked tired today. I thought first half we were okay. We put a lot of work into them without being threatening. They didn't have a threat either. We had one scary moment where we gave the ball away. We got in the box a lot and if we'd shown a bit more composure we have a chance.
"Second half they started really well and we didn't. That's what's cost us the game.
"It's down to energy. We were not quite ready for that. Emotionally and physically it's been a tough week for them. We will be ready at some point - we will get there.
"It's a small bump in the road today and we need to make sure we keep improving. I really like where we are heading."
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsBirmingham
Formation 3-4-2-1
13Sarkic21Sanderson4Roberts5Friend24Graham20Gardner34Sunjic3Pedersen9Hogan7Chong36Deeney
- 13Sarkic21Sanderson4Roberts5Friend24Graham20GardnerBooked at 53mins34Sunjic3Pedersen9HoganSubstituted forMcGreeat 63'minutesBooked at 90mins7Chong36DeeneySubstituted forAnekeat 85'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Etheridge6Woods10Jutkiewicz12Dean15Aneke17Sánchez18McGree
Swansea
Formation 3-4-2-1
18Hamer2Bennett26Naughton3Manning27Laird8Grimes7Smith22Latibeaudiere10Ntcham12Paterson17Piroe
- 18Hamer2BennettBooked at 52mins26Naughton3Manning27Laird8Grimes7SmithSubstituted forObafemiat 57'minutes22Latibeaudiere10NtchamSubstituted forWalshat 63'minutes12Paterson17PiroeSubstituted forCullenat 71'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Benda5Cabango6Fulton9Obafemi20Cullen28Walsh46R Williams
Referee:Oliver LangfordAttendance:16,132Match StatsHome TeamBirminghamAway TeamSwanseaPossessionHome28%Away72%ShotsHome15Away7Shots on TargetHome6Away1CornersHome6Away12FoulsHome16Away8Live TextPost update
Match ends, Birmingham City 2, Swansea City 1.
90'+6'Full Time
Second Half ends, Birmingham City 2, Swansea City 1.
90'+5'Post update
Attempt missed. Ethan Laird (Swansea City) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left.
90'+4'Booking
Riley McGree (Birmingham City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'+4'Post update
Matt Grimes (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90'+4'Post update
Foul by Riley McGree (Birmingham City).
90'+3'Post update
Attempt missed. Joel Latibeaudiere (Swansea City) header from very close range is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Jamie Paterson.
90'+1'Post update
Attempt missed. Liam Walsh (Swansea City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Joel Latibeaudiere.
88'Post update
Foul by Joel Latibeaudiere (Swansea City).
88'Post update
Tahith Chong (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
86'Post update
Ethan Laird (Swansea City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
86'Post update
Foul by Chuks Aneke (Birmingham City).
85'Substitution
Substitution, Birmingham City. Chuks Aneke replaces Troy Deeney.
82'goalGoal!
Goal! Birmingham City 2, Swansea City 1. Riley McGree (Birmingham City) left footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal.
82'Post update
Attempt saved. Riley McGree (Birmingham City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
80'Post update
Ryan Manning (Swansea City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
80'Post update
Foul by Riley McGree (Birmingham City).
77'goalGoal!
Goal! Birmingham City 1, Swansea City 1. Michael Obafemi (Swansea City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ryan Manning following a fast break.
76'Post update
Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Ben Hamer.
76'Post update
Attempt saved. Tahith Chong (Birmingham City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Jordan Graham.
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Source: bbc.com