Gabby Agbonlahor silenced taunts from the home fans as he bagged a dramatic winner at St Andrew's.

The Erdington-born striker headed home three minutes from time to give Martin O'Neill's men the points.

Earlier a Liam Ridgewell own-goal (his eighth Villa strike) put Villa ahead, before Mikael Forssell levelled matters.

But Agbonlahor had the final word in an absorbing contest and few could deny Villa were value for the points.

The action was predictably fast and furious in the early stages as both sides battled for the upper hand.

That said, there were no chances of note in the opening exchanges, though the hosts probably shaded possession.

Villa had the lead on ten as Barry linked with Petrov, who crossed for Ridgewell to direct the ball past his own keeper.

Agbonlahor fired wide on 15 as he met Young's low left-wing cross at the near post.

Carew was denied by Taylor on 18 as he raced onto a perfectly weighted through ball.

Young tried his luck from the edge of the box, firing over the bar as he cut in from the left.

Kapo had Birmingham's first attempt on goal on 29, dragging a low left-foot effort wide of the target.

Carew fired wide from the edge of the box on 37 as he pounced on a defensive mix up on the edge of the Birmingham box.

Taylor saved from Agbonlahor on 44, blocking a low drive with his feet as the striker raced onto a Carew flick.

Carew headed wide from Barry's free-kick in stoppage time.

Knight slid in with a perfectly timed challenge to deny Jerome on 48.

The early second-half action was again frantic as the hosts looked for a way back into the game.

Mellberg blocked a De Ridder cross cum shot on 58. Forssell then dragged a low shot past the post.

Forssell turned and fired straight at Carson on 60 - the Villa keeper did well to hold the ball on a greasy surface.

Carew linked up with Agbonlahor a minute later, but fired high over the bar.

The hosts were level on 62 as Forssell rose to head home from De Ridder's right-wing centre.

Agbonlahor broke down the left on 65, but Carew just failed to meet his cut back. Petrov then fired wide from 25 yards.

Carson brilliantly denied Jerome on 68 as the striker cut in from the left and unleashed a rising angled drive.

Reo-Coker volleyed over the bar from close range on 70 as he met Barry's clever flick from a Moore cross.

Ridgewell headed wide from a left-wing corner on 78.

Bouma sent a low left-foot effort wide of the target from distance on 82.

Ridgewell almost put Birmingham ahead on 85, but saw a low header cleared off the line by Agbonlahor.

Agbonlahor restored Villa's lead on 87, brilliantly heading home from Young's left-wing centre.

Young sent a right-foot free-kick into the Birmingham wall on 90 after Moore was upended on the edge of the box.

Birmingham: Taylor, Ridgewell, Kelly (booked 54), Schmitz, Djourou, Muamba (booked 51), Nafti, De Ridder (booked 32), Palacios, Kapo, Jerome. Subs: Kingson, Larsson (for Nafti 72), McSheffrey, O'Connor (for Jerome 75), Forssell (for Palacios ht).

VILLA: Carson, Mellberg, Bouma, Knight, Laursen, Petrov, Barry (booked 16), Reo-Coker, Young, Agbonlahor, Carew. Subs: Taylor, Moore (for Carew 69), Davies, Gardner, Maloney.