It is now five defeats in six games for Sammy Lee's side in what is their worst start to a top flight campaign in over four decades and in fairness to Birmingham they deserved their victory.

The home side put their best foot forward from the off and could have gone ahead after only two minutes when striker Cameron Jerome placed his effort just wide.

Former Arsenal youngster Sebastien Larsson caused Bolton no end of problems all afternoon and Wanderers left back Jlloyd Samuel was just unable to cope with the young Swede.

At the other end of the field Bolton skipper Kevin Nolan volleyed wide in a rare Bolton attack and on the quarter hour mark goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen produced a stunning save to keep out matchwinner Kapo.

Birmingham pressed and probed the visitors in the early exchanges but a hatrick of Bolton chances lifted the away side somewhat just over ten minutes before half time.

Firstly ex-Aston Villa full back Jlloyd Samuel saw his drive well saved by Brum goalkeeper Maik Taylor after El-Hadji Diouf and the otherwise quiet Nicolas Anelka had combined well.

Andy O'Brien, making his first start for Bolton, then headed over a corner from Diouf when it seemed easier for the experienced centre back to hit the target.

Diouf again was involved in Bolton's next chance but midfielder Nolan was unable to force Taylor into a save and nodded the ball over the bar.

The misses proved costly for the Trotters as Birmingham then took the lead with 37 minutes on the clock. Larsson tormented Samuel down the right before delivering a cross which French ace Kapo converted from close range.

Bolton knew they had to up the ante in the second period but it was City who pressed the Wanderers into action in the opening ten minutes of the closing half.

Jerome found himself in a good position yet again but screwed the ball wide and then Jaaskelainen pawed away a thunderous effort from Larsson.

Sammy Lee decided to bring on Norwegian international Daniel Braaten in place of Mikel Alonso and the ex-Rosenberg man nearly found a route through to goal but for the last minute intervention of full back Stephen Kelly.

On 73 minutes the visitors afternoon was summed up when Jlloyd Samuel was stretchered off with what appeared to be a hamstring problem.

One mans loss proved to be another mans gain as Samuel's replacement Ricardo Gardner was making his first appearance since a long spell on the sidelines.

Larsson thundered the ball against the Bolton bar from a free kick and midfielder Gavin McCann cleared the ball off the line to deny the on loan Johann Djourou.

All in all it was a miserable afternoon for the Trotters but they now take a break from league action as they begin their UEFA Cup exploits against FK Rabotnicki this coming Thursday and this is followed by a home Premiership game against Spurs.

BOLTON WANDERERS: Jussi Jaaskelainen, Nicky Hunt, Abdoulaye Meite, Andy O'Brien (Gerald Cid), Jlloyd Samuel (Ricardo Gardner), Kevin Nolan, Gavin McCann, Gary Speed, Mikel Alonso (Daniel Braaten), El-Hadji Diouf, Nicolas Anelka

SUBS NOT USED: Kevin Davies, Ali Al-Habsi (GK)

BIRMINGHAM CITY: Maik Taylor, Stephen Kelly, Johan Djourou, Liam Ridgewell, Franck Queudrue, Sebastian Larsson, Fabrice Muamba (Bojan Oubina), Medhi Nafti, Gary McSheffrey (Rafael Schmitz), Cameron Jerome (Garry O'Connor), Olivier Kapo

SUBS NOT USED: Mikael Forssell, Richard Kingston (GK)

ATTENDANCE:

28,124

REFEREE:

Phil Dowd

BOOKED:

Nolan (Bolton)

Ridgewell (Birmingham)

Speed (Bolton)

O'Brien (Bolton)

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