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Garry O'Connor climbed off the bench to score the only goal of the game as Birmingham claimed a 1-0 win at Hull.

It was not a game packed with quality but there was no shortage of endeavour and the Blues were rewarded for dominating large swathes of the game with O'Connor's headed winner with 15 minutes remaining.

Hull came to life in the final ten minutes, Geovanni somehow shot wide from seven yards and Ibrahima Sonko crashed a header against the bar but Birmingham stood firm for their first away win in 14 Premier League attempts.

Hull almost made the perfect start to the game, as a free kick from Stephen Hunt caused panic in the Birmingham box. A header from Kamil Zayatte hit Lee Bowyer's knee and ricocheted off Blues keeper Joe Hart before being smuggled to safety.

Hunt threatened again shortly afterwards with his swerving shot forcing Hart to parry away.

Birmingham were impotent for the opening 10 minutes but Christian Benitez almost marked his full Premier League debut with a goal. He spun away from his marker with a sharp burst of pace before forcing Boaz Myhill into a low save.

The strike from Benitez appeared to spark Blues into life as Bowyer forced a fine save out of Myhill and Gary McSheffrey had a shot charged down.

While Birmingham looked positive going forward, they looked shaky at the back under the long ball and Sonko's long throw caused panic in the box and Teemu Tainio had to smuggle the ball clear under pressure from Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink.

Benitez suffered a nasty gash to his head in an aerial challenge with Zayatte and went off for a good five minutes but he showed no ill-effects as he returned to sting the palms of Myhill with a curling drive from the edge of the box.

Hull boss Phil Brown feels Vennegoor of Hesselink will add a vital physical presence and the early signs for the remainder of season are positive. The Dutchman produced a rare chance for Hull in the second half when holding off his marker and laying the ball into the path of Geovanni who shot low at Hart.

There was precious little else for the home fans to rally behind with their frustrations summed up when Hunt smashed a free kick 15 yards over the top.

The Tigers were indebted to Myhill for keeping them on level terms on the hour as he produced a stunning reflex save to keep out a volley from Bowyer who looked certain to score when making superb contact from six yards out.

Benitez looks like money well spent and he gave the Hull defenders a torrid time. His run and shot on 74 minutes which forced a save from Myhill was the precursor to the winning goal.

Myhill made a string of saves throughout but was powerless to keep out O'Connor's header after the striker had risen unopposed eight yards out at a corner.

Hull produced precious little by way of a response but could arguably have had a penalty with 10 minutes remaining as Scott Dann appeared to fell Hunt in the box but referee Phil Dowd waved play on.

Geovanni excites and frustrates in equal measures and it was the latter persona on show and his day was summed up when he somehow sliced wide from seven yards after the ball had run through a scrum of players.

Hull came to life in the final ten minutes and Sonko crashed a header against the bar but Birmingham held on for the points.

Alex Livie / Eurosport