STOKE, England (AFP) - – Birmingham extended their unbeaten run to 11 Premier League matches as Cameron Jerome's second half strike clinched a 1-0 win over Stoke on Monday.
Alex McLeish's side have now equalled the club's longest run without defeat in the top-flight - a record stretching back to 1908 - thanks to Jerome's scrambled winner at the Britannia Stadium.
A remarkable streak of seven wins and four draws has lifted unfancied Birmingham up to seventh place in the table and has Blues fans dreaming of European football next season.
While Birmingham are enjoying a superb first campaign back in the Premier League, Stoke have failed to score in five of their last six matches and are in danger of being dragged towards the relegation battle.
Tony Pulis's team put Birmingham under pressure in the early stages, but the visitors' defence held firm.
Ryan Shawcross had the best of Stoke's chances as he ran onto a Liam Lawrence cross, only to glance his header through the six-yard box.
Matthew Etherington also went close with a 20-yard effort that flashed over the bar.
While neither side had made much headway in the first half, Birmingham stepped up a gear following the restart.
They took the lead in the 50th minute when Scott Dann's header from James McFadden's corner struck Shawcross. The ball deflected kindly for Jerome, who managed to bundle home off Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen.
Stoke put Birmingham under heavy pressure in the closing stages but couldn't find a way past on-loan Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart.
After turning away a Tuncay Sanli header, Hart scrambled to his feet to keep out a poweful drive from Etherington.
Moments later, Dann bravely threw his body in the way of a stinging drive from Dean Whitehead.
Hart came to Birmingham's rescue one more time as he managed to push away a powerful header from Stoke captain Abdoulaye Faye.