Stephy Mavididi struck in the 87th minute as the Foxes finally broke the visitors’ strong resistance.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall had opened the scoring for Leicester before Jay Stansfield restored parity on the stroke of half-time.
Enzo Maresca’s side leapfrog promotion rivals Ipswich and Leeds, who both lost, while defeat means Birmingham drop into the relegation places.
Dewsbury-Hall was heavily involved early on with his cross almost leading to an early Emanuel Aiwu own goal, but Blues goalkeeper John Ruddy made the block.
The midfielder slotted home his 12th goal of the season after being fed by Patson Daka.
The visitors almost hit back when Krystian Bielik fired wide from close range, before Ruddy denied Daka at the other end.
Stansfield levelled just before the break with his second goal in a week. He pounced on a clearance from Foxes goalkeeper Mads Hermansen and deflected the ball into the net.
Just five minutes after the break, Wilfried Ndidi almost regained Leicester’s lead, but Ruddy parried the midfielder’s header from Mavididi’s cross.
Ruddy was again called into action minutes later, diving to block Fatawu’s effort, and Jamie Vardy, a second half introduction, headed wide as Leicester’s nerves began to grow.
Both sides traded chances as they looked for a winner, but it was Mavididi who made the crucial intervention, heading home substitute Yunus Akgun’s cross at the back post to send the Foxes top of the Championship.
SOURCE – Leicester 2-1 Birmingham: Foxes leave it late to climb to Championship summit – BBC Sport
