Birmingham may have recorded their sixth successive win over Barnsley but it was not as clear-cut as the scoreline suggests as substitute Neil Danns only sealed the game in the last minute.
The Blues failed miserably to build on the first-half lead carved out by Gary McSheffrey as Barnsley displayed their fighting spirit in a bid to snatch an equaliser.
It was Birmingham's fifth win on the trot and they have now gone 478 minutes without conceding a goal. But it was far from convincing as a Daniel Nardiello-inspired Barnsley proved to be harder opposition than their league position suggested.
Plucky Barnsley exposed the soft under-belly of Birmingham as the Tykes suddenly began to believe in themselves in the second half when Nardiello exposed shortcomings in the home defence.
It was a mixed performance from promotion-chasing Birmingham and certainly a lot more was expected of Nicklas Bendtner in the opening minute when he should have put Birmingham into the driving seat.
The on-loan striker from Arsenal was put clear by McSheffrey and easily rounded goalkeeper Nick Colgan but he pushed the ball too wide and wasted an excellent opportunity to open the scoring.
Even in the opening exchanges it was obvious that Barnsley were intent on mounting a defensive barrier in an attempt to shut out the persistent Birmingham attack.
Skipper Paul Reid and Antony Kay, in particular, had to provide some solid resistance to keep Barnsley in the game as they were in danger of being swamped by the home attack in the first half.
It was not until the 35th minute that Birmingham broke Barnsley's spirited resistance and it was the ever-dangerous McSheffrey who again emerged as their match-winner.
Fabrice Muamba and Bendtner effortlessly combined with a quick passing movement which ended with McSheffrey collecting a low pass which he coolly slotted low to the right of Colgan.
McSheffrey, however, was not so positive in the last few seconds of the first half when he guided his shot into the side-netting with only Colgan to beat.
Barnsley, who beat Leeds in their previous game after coming from behind, suddenly realised that they could challenge Birmingham.
In the first half they were always on the back foot but in the second period Barnsley moved forward to worry a Birmingham defence which is never happy under pressure and liable to make basic mistakes.
Substitute Nardiello, showing all his former Manchester United credentials, was Barnsley's inspiration after replacing the off-key Marc Richards.
His persistence to take the ball to the Birmingham defence was always dangerous. Twice in quick succession he shot straight at Maik Taylor and then hammered a first-time effort just wide.
But Birmingham hit back with a last minute second goal when substitute Neil Danns slammed home a right-wing cross from Seb Larsson.