Wood's Double Denies The Blues

Hosts on form but striker is red-hot.

- Alex Lawson

BIRMINGHAM City put in their best performance of the season to date, according to manager Gianfranco Zola, but it wasn’t enough to prevent defeat at the hands of Leeds.

The Blues had 61 per cent possession and 27 shots, of which only six were on target, in the game but two Chris Wood goals saw Leeds steal the three points.

Wood lobbed Tomasz Kuszczak to put play-off chasing Leeds ahead after just 14 minutes before Craig Gardner levelled with a 20-yard left foot strike just after the hour.

It was Gardner’s first goal since returning to the Blues but his side weren’t level for long as Wood tapped home Kalvin Phillips’ cut back.

Alfonso Pedraza wrapped up the points with an 81st-minute strike but Zola was pleased to see his side match Leeds for much of the game.

“I think the fans seemed as though they enjoyed it, they appreciated the fight the players put on the pitch,” he said.