Birmingham 2-1 Reading: Lee Bowyer WINS his first game in charge as he starts bid to keep Blues in the Championship in perfect fashion... with Harlee Dean netting the winner against promotion-chasing Royals

• Lee Bowyer won his first game since replacing Aitor Karanka as Blues manager
• Birmingham took the lead through Lukas Jutkiewicz's fourth-minute header 
• Yet Reading equalised 10 minutes before half-time via forward Yakou Meite
• The hosts claimed all three points with Harlee Dean scoring a 71st-minute winner

Lee Bowyer was part of one of the great Wembley shocks when he helped Birmingham beat Arsenal in the League Cup final 10 years ago – but keeping the club in the Championship this season might just top it.

The former Blues midfielder, who quit Charlton this week to replace Aitor Karanka and become Blues' eighth manager in five and a half years, made the perfect start to his reign with a crucial win over promotion-chasing Reading as captain Harlee Dean scored the winner.

The 2011 victory was Bowyer's only trophy as a player but it is fair to assume avoiding League One would taste even sweeter. 

'I've made it clear what my expectations are of them – but they are good players, and they will improve,' said Bowyer, who had only two training sessions with his new squad.

'I wouldn't be here if I didn't think we could stay up. I wish I'd had a bit longer [to turn things around but I have to improve them as quickly as I can.'

The match looked destined for a draw thanks to first-half goals from Lukas Jutkiewicz and Yakou Meite but Dean's 71st-minute header secured three priceless points.

Blues are now six points above the drop zone but Rotherham, who are third-bottom, have four games in hand following several Covid-19-related postponements.

Jutkiewicz gave his new manager the perfect start when he outmuscled Liam Moore at the far post to head home Jeremie Bela's cross with less than four minutes on the clock – his 50th goal for the club.

Yet Reading drew level 10 minutes before the interval. Neil Etheridge flapped at Michael Olise's corner and Meite anticipated well to nod in at the far post.

Birmingham rallied in the final quarter and when the visitors failed to clear a corner Dean headed in from 12 yards.

Reading boss Veljko Paunovic lamented: 'At some stages, we didn't have hunger. I never want to see this attitude again.'