Disaster follows disaster for Venables

And we thought the Bull Ring was in the centre of the city. Amid a frenzy of blood lust from supporters whose vocal encouragement belied a crowd numbering less than 30,000, Leeds were provoked and taunted by the Birmingham matador before eventually being lanced through the heart.

This was not at all how Terry Venables had foreseen his new club's progress after having dismissed Manchester City and West Bromwich. But whether or not a home defeat by Sunderland in midweek had cast a degree of self-doubt over the Yorkshire team, they rarely appeared to possess the wit or steel to overcome last season's third promoted side.

Birmingham-born Paul Devlin, who was purchased for £200,000 in the close season from Sheffield United and was making his first appearance in the Premiership at the age of 30, scored with a quality first-half goal. Although Lee Bowyer, surveyed by Sven Goran Eriksson's assistant, Tord Grip, responded with an equaliser – which according to TV evidence was offside – Damien Johnson claimed the points with another superlative strike just before the hour.

As a grim Venables declared: "They really got stuck into us, they set their stall out to unsettle us, and we've got to be able to stand up to it and match them. This was not a game we should have lost. There's a lot of work to be done."

City's combative attitude was epitomised by that scampering incendiary device, Robbie Savage, whose destructive style of play has made a ready transition from the East Midlands. "You know what you get from him," enthused the City manager, Steve Bruce, of his £2.5m signing. "He's a great influence. He's been here three weeks but it feels like three months. It was an unbelievable performance to beat a good team. Some of the players have not played in the Premiership and this will give them great belief."

It used to take an orienteering map to get you around St Andrew's, and little has changed about the main stand where we observers are seated. But otherwise the stadium has been rebuilt. The locals describe the attributes of the Tilton and Railway Ends and, opposite, the Spion Kop, as though they were part of a national monument. The main stand will be rebuilt too, if City remain in the Premier League. Should Bruce's men retain this level of endeavour, almost frightening in its intensity, they should have few problems.

The team that were promoted bears little resemblance to that which recorded the Blues' first triumph at this level since 1984. Savage, Devlin, Aliou Cisse and Kenny Cunningham are all newcomers this season, together with the striker Clinton Morrison, City's record £4.25m signing, who was purchased by Bruce from Crystal Palace, one of his staging posts on the way to this management role. Morrison was a commanding force alongside Stern John on his first start.

Before City games, a certain charm pervades as visiting supporters are invited to tuck into balti pies and Roy Wood's "Blue Sky" blares over the public address. But come the entrance of the teams, this becomes hostile territory from the moment the players emerge to the traditional welcome of a driving, stomping of feet and clapping of hands. Iconoclasm rules and there is scant regard for glittering reputation. Harry Kewell, a class above those around him even when Leeds were being pulverised in the first half hour, was a delight with his intricate footwork. All it earned him was a barrage of abuse. Perhaps it was the white boots.

The players responded in kind to the crowd's exhortations. Kewell was not at all impressed with a challenge by Savage which took a side of leg as well as the ball while Damien Johnson steamrollered Bowyer without ceremony. The visitors responded foolishly. Mark Viduka was cautioned for a petulant challenge on Cisse and Eirik Bakke and Bowyer joined him. For the home side, Damien Johnson and Devlin were cautioned and Martin Grainger followed after the interval.

Venables' deployment of a three-man attack, in which Kewell is permitted a certain freedom to roam, meant that their midfield was too stretched to contain the exuberant Savage and Cisse, a £1.5m acquisition from Paris St-Germain.

It was clear that City's illustrious opponents needed to score and dowse their hosts' fire. Instead it was Birmingham who scored just after the half hour, when Grainger's corner was played across the edge of the area by Savage. Devlin, with power and accuracy, drove it beyond Paul Robinson at the far post.

Towards the end of the half Bakke had a headed equaliser cancelled out for offside, but it was evidence that City were finding it difficult to contain Leeds. Just before the break, a sweeping move involving Bakke, Kewell and Viduka ended with the latter smacking the ball on a post. Then Kewell's rising shot struck the bar.

Within five minutes of the restart a splendid move, in which Danny Mills, Alan Smith and Viduka combined to offer Bowyer a chance, culminating with the in-form midfielder dinking the ball past Nico Vaesen. Defenders appealed in vain for offside, and Bruce gave the assistant a serious eyeballing.

A few weeks ago, Leeds' problem child was on his way to Anfield. Venables must be relieved that Bowyer has stayed. On this evidence, he merits an England call.

The City storm appeared to have blown itself out, but just before the hour Damien Johnson traded passes with John, and curled a spectacular effort round Robinson. It was Happy John now, although his expression reverted to his christian name when he offered Savage the opportunity to put the contest beyond doubt. Savage missed the ball.

Venables had switched his formation from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2, and Olivier Dacourt replaced Bakke, but the Blues held on without undue duress for the faithful to rejoice in a deserved triumph. They may not be the most pleasing on the eye, but perhaps we will learn to love them. As if they could give a damn...

Birmingham City 2 Leeds United 1
Devlin 32 Bowyer 50
Johnson 58

Half-time: 1-0 Attendance: 27,164