Birmingham 2 Villa 1

Nikola Zigic scored the decisive goal as Birmingham won their first Second City derby since March 2005 and marched into the semi-finals of the Carling Cup.

The match looked to be heading for extra time after Gabby Agbonlahor had equalised Sebastian Larsson's opener from the penalty spot.

But Zigic – who had replaced the injured Alexander Hleb in Birmingham's starting line-up – netted the winner from close range with four minutes of the 90 remaining.

Villa manager Gerard Houllier made two changes from the side which lost to Arsenal, dropping Robert Pires for youngster Jonathan Hogg while Agbonlahor returned in attack at the expense of John Carew.

Blues began with real attacking purpose and Cameron Jerome found space early in the game, but Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel made a comfortable diving save to his left.

Villa strung together some intricate passing moves with Agbonlahor looking lively down the left flank, but it was the home side that took the lead in the 12th minute.

Lee Bowyer was put through and then brought down by a clumsy challenge from behind by Richard Dunne, with referee Chris Foy immediately pointing to the penalty spot.

Sebastian Larsson stepped up and calmly sent goalkeeper Friedel the wrong way from the resulting spot-kick.

McLeish's side almost grabbed a second when Zigic latched on to a cross, but with only Friedel to beat the giant Serbian striker had his pocket picked by Villa defender Luke Young who made a crucial interception.

Blues continued to pile on the pressure and provided the first half's biggest talking point when Zigic thought he had doubled the advantage from a corner.

Zigic appeared to have put the ball beyond Friedel, but the referee disallowed the 'goal' for offside with one of Keith Fahey or Liam Ridgewell thought to have been interfering as the American clawed the ball back.

Villa always looked dangerous on the counter attack and equalised in the 30th minute on the break through Agbonlahor.

Ashley Young, operating in a more central role, fed the ball through to Hogg and his pass found Agbonlahor who hit a low bobbling shot that fooled goalkeeper Ben Foster and nestled into the corner of the net.

The game continued to be played at a frantic pace after the half-time break and both sides had chances to go ahead in the early moments.

Friedel fumbled a Keith Fahey cross but Zigic was unable to capitalise and then Foster flapped at an Ashley Young effort before the ball was cleared to safety.

McLeish introduced Villa old boy Craig Gardner in the 65th minute to a chorus of boos from the away section and he unleashed a low drive moments later which whistled past the post.

Villa had a great chance to take the lead in the 81st minute when Agbonlahor left Stephen Carr for dust before he cut the ball back to Stephen Ireland.

The midfielder lashed a first-time shot but Foster was equal to it and Ashley Young was unable to capitalise on the rebound as Blues cleared the ball to safety.

McLeish's side then grabbed the decisive goal, as Villa were caught out on the counter attack three minutes later when Jerome crossed from the right.

His low ball was met by Zigic whose shot took a slight deflection off the unlucky Luke Young, before it looped over the wrong footed Friedel and into the net to spark wild celebrations behind the goal.

Villa threw everything at Blues in the remaining minutes, but the home side hung on before the Blues fans invaded the pitch to goad the visiting supporters.