Shaun Goater's goal touch eluded him once again last night but Manchester City still managed to run out 2-1 winners at Birmingham.

The 29-goal striker admitted yesterday that the tally, which equals his best ever in a season, is weighing on his shoulders.

He had at least two chances with which to set a new mark but missed when he should have done better with the first and saw the `keeper save the second.

As it was it didn't matter as Niclas Jensen and Kevin Horlock secured a come-from-behind victory that keeps City within two points of First Division leaders Wolves. That gap could go back to five tonight when Wolves play Nottingham Forest.

A foul on Birmingham's Geoff Horsfield saw the home side take the lead in the fourth minute.

From the free kick on the right hand side of the box Paul Devlin drilled a high ball to the far post where Michael Johnson finished with a reverse header.

Two minutes later came Goater's chance to draw the sides level.

A precision pass from Ali Bernabia put the frontman in a one-on-one situation with `keeper Ian Bennett but his finishing touch deserted him.

Jensen did make the score 1-1 a minute before the break, firing home from 18 yards.

As the second half got underway Goater got clear again but this time there was nothing wrong with his attempt on goal, his well placed shot being parried by Bennett.

In the 67th minute, City grabbed their 100th goal of the season and the match winner.

Darren Huckerby pulled the ball back to Kevin Horlock from the byline and he sent a left-footed drive into the bottom corner.

"The one thing you need if you are to get out of this division and play in the Premiership is character and I think we showed that tonight," said City boss Kevin Keegan, who left new ?4 million striker Jonathan Macken on the bench. "I thought we played very well. We were outstanding against a side trying to get into the top six. I was very pleased with everything about our performance. There was some exciting football from some good players."

In other First Division action, West Bromwich Albion, third on 67 points, failed to make significant ground on the top two after they were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Watford.

Wayne Brown fired Gianluca Vialli's side ahead on 52 minutes but Daniele Dichio's 77th-minute header from Neil Clement's cross rescued a point for Albion.

Preston lost 2-1 at fourth-placed Millwall. Steve Claridge netted twice at the New Den, with David Healy's late strike merely a consolation for Preston.

Fifth-placed Burnley, linked with a move for Everton's Paul Gascoigne yesterday, suffered a 1-0 defeat at relegation-threatened Walsall, for whom Marcelo netted a 52nd-minute winner.

Kyle Lightbourne, meanwhile, was on the bench for Macclesfield Town's trip to Darlington in the Third Division.

Macclesfield won 1-0 but transfer-listed Lightbourne never got to see action.