Match ends, Birmingham City 3, Southampton 4.
Southampton had to twice come from behind before beating 10-man Birmingham City with a winner six minutes into added time.
Birmingham led through Koji Miyoshi before Adam Armstrong cancelled it out, only for Jay Stansfield to restore the hosts' lead with his first goal in seven games.
Inside the space of seven second-half minutes, David Brooks, architect of the visitors' first goal, then scored the second equaliser, Birmingham old boy Che Adams put Southampton in front for the first time - and home defender Dion Sanderson was sent off for a challenge on Will Smallbone.
But, although Juninho Bacuna levelled on 77 minutes after Stansfield had hit the post, Saints had the final word when, from a headed Taylor Harwood-Bellis knockdown from a 96th-minute corner, Joe Aribo found the bottom left corner from close range.
Saints stay fourth - but are two points closer to third-placed Leeds United, who could only draw in the early game at Huddersfield Town.
But Birmingham's second-straight defeat, after losing to another promotion-chasing side Ipswich Town last weekend, leaves them clear of the relegation places only on goal difference.
They are one of four teams on 38 points, including third-from-bottom Stoke City.
Birmingham, still under the caretaker managership of Mark Venus following boss Tony Mowbray's midweek surgery, made a brilliant start.
The hosts scored inside two minutes through Miyoshi's second goal in three games - and his sixth of the season.
Bacuna curled an excellent dipping crossfield ball with his right instep to the right edge of the penalty area - and Miyoshi coolly chested down before running on to guide home a looping right-foot volley just inside the far post.
But Southampton were level on 18 minutes when Brooks threaded in Armstrong in the inside-right channel and the Saints' top scorer netted his third goal in the last four away league games - and his 17th of the season.
Saints got caught on the counter four minutes before the break and Birmingham's top scorer Stansfield was left unattended to rifle the ball into the roof of the net for his 10th goal of the season.
But it was all square again on 55 minutes when Smallbone fed Brooks on the left, and the Welshman cut inside and curled in a stunning equaliser.
Then, just four minutes later, Saints led for the first time, with Smallbone again the architect for Adams' 12th strike of the campaign.
And three minutes later Birmingham were down to 10 men when Sanderson was sent off for fouling Smallbone.
It looked like 10-man Birmingham had salvaged a point when Fulham loan man Stansfield hit the post, and Bacuna lashed in the rebound.
But Saints still had another trick up their sleeve and, from Stuart Armstrong's lofted right-wing corner, Harwood-Bellis nodded back across goal and the determined Aribo controlled on his chest before scrambling the ball home as he fell.
Who's next?
Birmingham now face two away games on the trot - at Hull this Tuesday night, then at Millwall next Saturday.
Southampton's next two games are both at home - against Preston North End this Wednesday night and then Sunderland on Saturday.
Birmingham City assistant manager Mark Venus:
"It must have exciting for the fans. It was emotional sat there, to be honest.
"We got to 90-odd minutes at 3-3 with 10 men and just to concede the last goal is heartbreaking for everybody.
"They were dangerous every time they put the ball in the box and the bottom line is we rode our luck. But, playing against a good team, we showed a lot of character."
Southampton boss Russell Martin:
"I'd rather not win in the last minute, but it's down to togetherness and spirit, and also the amount of work.
"They make teams have to run really, really hard. It tires people out.
"To play the way we play you have to be a bit vulnerable sometimes with the ball. It's a bit scary. But I've loved watching it. And that spirit will help us for sure in the last quarter of the season."
Line-ups
Birmingham
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 21Ruddy
- 2LairdBooked at 88mins
- 44Aiwu
- 5SandersonBooked at 62mins
- 3Buchanan
- 16DozzellSubstituted forDramehat 68'minutes
- 13Paik Seung-hoSubstituted forPritchardat 68'minutes
- 11MiyoshiBooked at 24minsSubstituted forSunjicat 80'minutesBooked at 87mins
- 7BacunaSubstituted forHallat 90+6'minutes
- 19James
- 28StansfieldSubstituted forRobertsat 90+6'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Etheridge
- 8Roberts
- 9Hogan
- 10Jutkiewicz
- 12Drameh
- 17Dembélé
- 29Pritchard
- 34Sunjic
- 35Hall
Southampton
Formation 4-3-3
- 31Bazunu
- 21Harwood-Bellis
- 5Stephens
- 35Bednarek
- 3ManningSubstituted forRothwellat 85'minutes
- 16SmallboneBooked at 67minsSubstituted forAriboat 70'minutes
- 4DownesSubstituted forSulemanaat 85'minutes
- 17S Armstrong
- 36BrooksSubstituted forEdozieat 64'minutes
- 9A Armstrong
- 10AdamsSubstituted forMaraat 85'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Aribo
- 13Lumley
- 14Bree
- 18Mara
- 19Rothwell
- 20Sulemana
- 23Edozie
- 24Charles
- 33Dibling
- Referee:
- James Bell
- Attendance:
- 21,611
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home22%
- Away78%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away26
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away11
- Corners
- Home6
- Away16
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away7
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Birmingham City 3, Southampton 4.
Post update
Samuel Edozie (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Lee Buchanan (Birmingham City).
Post update
Foul by Samuel Edozie (Southampton).
Post update
Lee Buchanan (Birmingham City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Kamaldeen Sulemana (Southampton).
Post update
Ethan Laird (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Birmingham City. Tyler Roberts replaces Jay Stansfield.
Substitution
Substitution, Birmingham City. George Hall replaces Juninho Bacuna.
Goal!
Goal! Birmingham City 3, Southampton 4. Joe Aribo (Southampton) left footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Taylor Harwood-Bellis with a headed pass following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Juninho Bacuna.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Samuel Edozie (Southampton) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Sékou Mara.
Post update
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Ethan Laird.
Booking
Ethan Laird (Birmingham City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Kamaldeen Sulemana (Southampton) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Ethan Laird (Birmingham City).
Booking
Ivan Sunjic (Birmingham City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Substitution
Substitution, Southampton. Kamaldeen Sulemana replaces Flynn Downes.
Substitution
Substitution, Southampton. Joe Rothwell replaces Ryan Manning.
Comments
Join the conversation
Another nail biter!
COYS
Great effort from Birmingham.
Brilliant result Saints and hopefully get us back into winning ways.
Aribo, always believing……..🎵
Very much 2 automatics from 4 teams now!
COYR