A tale of two penalties cost Palace dear at St Andrews.

While Marc Edworthy's tug was deemed worthy of a penalty, Bruce Dyer almost having the shirt ripped from his back was somehow not.

"Inconsistency", was the word an exasperated Terry Venables used to sum up the two incidents. Right though he was, Palace did not do enough to suggest they deserved the lucky break to take something from the game.

A late curler from Matt Jansen very nearly drew the sides level at 2-2 after Palace got themselves back in the game but that would not have done justice to a Birmingham side who were brimming with confidence.

The decision to switch to a 4-4-2 formation after only two games and play Attilio Lombardo in an unaccustomed left wing position seemed to bamboozle the team as much as the fans in the first half.

As did the decision to recall Andy Linighan against the pace of Peter Ndlovu and Dele Adebola, especially as he was selected ahead of the pacy Marc Edworthy who played out of position in a holding midfield role.

And an out of sorts Palace soon found themselves two goals down after Adebola's early strike and Martyn O' Connor's neatly converted penalty.

A much improved second half showing was inevitable and though the increasingly impressive Hayden Mullins pulled a goal back with a clever flick header from substitute Dean Austin's cross, Birmingham added a late third through Nicky Forster to seal the win and leave the Eagles still searching for their first win of the season.

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