Two late goals from Kevin Phillips saw Birmingham City come from a goal behind to beat Wolves 2-1.

Kevin Doyle had given Wolves a half-time lead, but Phillips came off the bench to score two in five minutes to continue Birmingham's impressive run in the top half of the Premier League.

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish named an unchanged line-up for the 12th successive league game, whilst Wolves boss Mick McCarthy made five changes from the midweek defeat to Crystal Palace - including top scorer Doyle.

The home side began on the front foot and put Wolves under constant pressure in the opening minutes with only a last-ditch block from Ronald Zubar denying Lee Bowyer a clear shooting opportunity.

Only the intervention of Michael Mancienne denied Blues taking the lead in the sixth minute, after a corner was headed back across goal for Cameron Jerome and after powerfully heading towards goal from six yards, Mancienne was positioned perfectly to prevent a certain goal with his head.

On the quarter hour mark, the ball fell invitingly for Sebastien Larsson on the edge of the Wolves penalty area, but his volley just cleared Marcus Hahnemann’s crossbar, and two minutes later, Hahnemann had to be alert to save low at the feet of Jerome.

Wolves were offering little in the attacking third, but they had their first sight on goal midway through the halfway with David Jones firing over from 25 yards.

Just after the half hour, Wolves should have taken the lead through Zubar, but after rising superbly at the back post to meet Matt Jarvis’ free kick, he sent his three yard header wide when it looked easier to score.

Birmingham responded by going close twice in a minute. After Jerome had broken clear and saw a low shot saved by Hahnemann, Scott Dann volleyed just wide from the resulting corner.

A minute after Kevin Foley had volleyed straight at Joe Hart from 12 yards, Wolves took the lead against the run of play three minutes before half-time.

After some neat build-up play, the ball fell to Jarvis on the left hand side of the box and his cross deflected off Roger Johnson, but the ball rebounded into the path of Doyle who fired in from two yards.

The visitors began the second period well, and Zubar did well to get in front of his marker to head on goal, but it wide of the right post.

The game was becoming an end-to-end affair with Birmingham throwing more men forward and Wolves attempting to take advantage on the break, and both sides looked threatening but the final ball was leaving something to be desired.

However, despite the openness of the game, chances were few and far between but Wolves substitute Adiene Guedioura nearly had an immediate impact seconds after being introduced but his 20 yard shot lacked power and was easily saved by Hart.

The home side had earlier brought on Kevin Phillips, and he tried an instinctive -and equally ambitious - effort from 30 yards but his volley bounced wide.

Back up the other end, Foley forced Hart into action again, but the England stopper was equal to it, and Guedioura sent a sizzling 30 yard shot just over the bar as the game ended the final 15 minutes.

Moments later, Jerome was unfortunate not to net following a goalmouth scramble but Birmingham retained possession and equalised with 11 minutes to go.

A diagonal ball found Craig Gardner at the back post and the new signing from rivals Aston Villa volleyed back across goal for another ex-Villa player Phillips to tap home at the near post.

Five minutes later, Wolves were dealt a cruel blow as Birmingham completed the turnaround. Stephen Carr was allowed to run down the right hand side and he crossed for Phillips, who controlled and volleyed confidently into the bottom corner.

Wolves found it hard to respond to such a blow after asserting themselves well throughout the match but this defeat is a huge blow to their survival aspirations - especially with the prospect of home matches with Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester United.