Birmingham 3 Watford 2

Blues kept up the pressure on leaders Wolves with a deserved win over Watford in a five-goal thriller.

Blues were made to pay for a slow start and had been let off twice before Tamas Priskin fired the visitors in front after seven minutes.

Liam Bridcutt poked a pass through and Priskin kept his cool to plant a shot across Maik Taylor.

However, McLeish's men had the perfect response and were back on level terms within a minute as ace marksman Kevin Phillips again demonstrated his goalscoring skills.

A brisk passing move ended with on-loan Bolton defender Nicky Hunt finding himself in space on the left wing and his cross evaded the Hornets defence to allow Phillips to head home against his former club.

And things got even better on 18 minutes when Marcus Bent fired Blues in front.

Sebastian Larsson fed in a cross from the right to Bent on the edge of the area and the striker arrowed in a drive which caught goalkeeper Scott Loach by surprise and flew into the top corner.

Both sides had chances but substitute Cameron Jerome added what turned out to be the winning goal five minutes from time.

The former Cardiff man curled home a beauty from the edge of the box.

But there was still time for a grandstand finish as Ross Jenkins pounced from close range in the last minute but Blues held on for the win.