O´Connor ends Birmingham´s away-day blues

Garry O’Connor ended Birmingham’s away-day blues as his late goal clinched a 1-0 win against Hull on Saturday.

Alex McLeish’s side had lost their first two away fixtures since winning promotion back to the Premier League, but Scotland striker O’Connor ensured a happy journey back to St Andrews when he came off the bench to snatch the only goal of a hard-fought game at the KC Stadium.

It was no more than Birmingham deserved after the visitors forced Hull keeper Boaz Myhill to make a series of fine stops.

Blues boss McLeish handed Ecuador striker Christian Benitez his first Premier League start as the Scot tried to breathe life into his shot-shy attack.

Former Celtic striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink made his debut for Hull but it was Tigers winger Stephen Hunt who was the hosts’ biggest influence in the early stages.

He brought Joe Hart into action for the first time with a long-range shot that the Birmingham keeper parried to safety.

But the visitors enjoyed a period of dominance after that. Benitez turned smartly and shot, but Myhill saved low down.

Myhill was called into action again twice in quick succession as he kept out Barry Ferguson’s flick and then tipped over a fierce drive from Lee Bowyer.

Hull came back as Seyi Olofinjana made a powerful run into the box and squared across goal but Scott Dann slid in and forced Jozy Altidore to scuff his shot.

Benitez, sporting a bandage after a clash of heads with Kamil Zayatte, created another opportunity on the stroke of half-time and Myhill had to tip his shot over.

Altidore tested Hart with a fierce shot but he was equal to that effort and then turned away Geovanni’s strike moments later.

Myhill then produced an excellent stop from Bowyer after Roger Johnson knocked down Gary McSheffrey’s corner.

Benitez troubled Hull with his pace and burst away from Andy Dawson before Myhill pushed his shot away for a corner.

From the resulting set-piece, Keith Fahey’s delivery was perfect and found O’Connor, who came on for McSheffrey just after the hour, unmarked to head home at the near post.

Hull appealed for a penalty after Hunt went down under a challenge from Dann but referee Phil Dowd gave nothing, then Olofinjana headed against the bar in a dramatic finale.