Birmingham 3 Milton Keynes Dons 1

First Birmingham goals for Alexander Hleb and Nikola Zigic saw Birmingham through in the Carling Cup.

A glut in the first-half had Blues well ahead with strikes from Hleb, Zigic and a stunner from Craig Gardner in the space of four first-half minutes, before Aaron Wilbraham's reply for the League One visitors.

Hleb got the hosts rolling in the 24th minute after being set up by another home debutant, Jean Beausejour, before turning provider for Zigic to turn the ball in two minutes later, for the £6million striker's first goal in England at the sixth time of asking.

Gardner got a third in the 28th minute with a beauty, a 25-yard effort with his left foot.

That was enough to win the third round tie and send Blues into the last 16, although Wilbraham had the final say with a consolation for MK Dons in the 80th minute, tapping in after Jabo Ibehre's shot had been blocked.