Barnsley made club history on Saturday afternoon as they won a seventh consecutive game in the second tier.
Daryl Dike’s blockbuster effort shortly after the interval was all that separated the two sides in a match where clear-cut chances were very few and far between.
However, the Reds’ 1-0 victory ensured they climbed to sixth in the Sky Bet Championship, while inflicting more misery on the relegation threatened Blues.
The visitors had a glorious opportunity to take an early lead when skipper Harlee Dean was left unmarked from a Gary Gardner free-kick but somehow contrived to head wide from close range.
It took a while for Barnsley to establish a foothold in the game, such was the nature of the contest, and Cauley Woodrow dropped his shoulder before firing a low shot across the face of goal and wide.
Dean came close again for City, once more meeting a Gardner set-piece, but heading over the bar on this occasion.
In a half of very few openings, it appeared as though the only way either side might make the break-through would be from a set-play. Alex Mowatt hung a ball into the area that eventually fell to Mads Andersen, but his effort deflected and spun into the hands of Neil Etheridge.
HALF-TIME: Barnsley 0-0 Birmingham City
What the first half lacked in quality was soon made up for four minutes after the restart as substitute Carlton Morris played an inch perfect ball into the path of Dike who unleashed a ferocious strike into the top corner from 20-yards to break the deadlock.
A true moment of magic from our on loan striker, who now has three goals since arriving from Orlando City
We thought Alex Mowatt might win our March Goal of the Month award for his free-kick at Queens Park Rangers on Wednesday evening, but this will take some beating from the American.
The Reds were mainly restricted to long range attempts, with Dike trying his luck again and Woodrow also seeing a shot blocked as we forged forward in search of the killer goal.
In the end, one was enough for Barnsley who fended off a late rally from Birmingham and keep a fifth clean sheet in eight outings.
FULL-TIME: Barnsley 1-0 Birmingham City
Collins, Sollbauer (Sibbick), Helik, Andersen, Brittain, Palmer (Halme), Mowatt, Styles (J Williams), Frieser (Morris), Dike, Woodrow (Adeboyejo).
Unused: Walton, Oduor, Kane, Chaplin.
