Leicester City have stretched their winning run to eight games in the Championship, seeing off Birmingham City at St Andrew's.
Leicester had the better of the opening exchanges, and came close through Matty James, whose curling long-range effort was tipped over by Darren Randolph, as the league leaders looked to make the breakthrough.
Nigel Pearson's men did finally get the goal they craved courtesy of Lloyd Dyer, who burst onto David Nugent's defence-splitting pass to slot home.
Anthony Knockaert nearly doubled the away side's advantage in the first half, though his shot from a Dyer pass was saved from close-range by Randolph.
The Foxes continued to press for a second, and very nearly got their reward when Jamie Vardy crossed towards Nugent, before Will Packwood turned the ball onto his own bar.
With less than 10 minutes remaining Vardy did get the visitors second of the evening, beating his man on the break and firing across Rudolph.
Peter Lovenkrands turned in a cross from the right with a few minutes remaining, though Leicester held on for another three big points at the top of the table.
