Two goals in three first-half minutes from defender Alfons Sampsted and top scorer Jay Stansfield edged champions Birmingham to within a point of their century with a 2-1 win at Burton.

Blues were given a run for their money in a keenly-contested first half as Burton looked for a result to bolster their hopes of avoiding relegation.

For all their possession in the first half Birmingham rarely troubled Max Crocombe in the Burton goal, with Ryan Allsop much busier at the other end as the home side threatened with the pace of Rumarn Burrell and Owen Dodgson’s crosses causing problems.

Birmingham went in front when Sampsted fired in his first goal for the club from the edge of the box after a corner was half-cleared, and Stansfield doubled City’s advantage with a coolly-taken finish from Kieran Dowell’s pass.

The second half was something of a non-event, with City controlling the game at a much lower tempo. Fabio Tavares provided a moment of real quality in added time to beat Allsop for a Burton consolation – his first goal at the Pirelli Stadium.

Albion’s League One fate remains in their own hands after Bristol Rovers’ home defeat to Stevenage kept them just outside the bottom four.