Bolton Wanderers have won their first game of the season, beating Birmingham City 2-1 at St Andrew's.
The visitors had to hang on in the final minutes after going two up thanks to some poor defending.
After a bright start from Birmingham, it was Bolton who took the lead. Jermaine Beckford capitalised on some poor defending and slotted the ball past the goalkeeper for his first goal of the season.
The hosts responded well as Chris Burke threatened throughout the game, but could not manage an equaliser before the break.
City continued to press after half time but it was again Beckford who came closest, heading against the crossbar when he really should have scored.
It did not matter much to Bolton, though, who doubled their lead minutes later. Another mistake, this time from the goalkeeper, allowed Neil Danns to score from close range.
The home side did manage to get themselves back into the game with 25 minutes remaining. Burke was again the architect, crossing to the back post, where substitute Nikola Zigic was on hand to place a looping header into the corner.
Birmingham pushed hard for an equaliser as first Zigic was denied by a good block and then they were denied a penalty claim.
It was all too little too late for Lee Clark's men, though, and it was Bolton who picked up all three points.
Daniel Cross
