STOKE SLUMPED TO a fourth Sky Bet Championship defeat in five games after going down 2-1 at home to Birmingham.
The visiting Blues notched an early opener when Republic of Ireland Scott Hogan pickpocketed a napping Phil Jagielka before slotting home.
A fixture low on quality sparked into life around the hour mark when Harlee Dean nodded in his first goal since April 2021.
The Potters, who have won four of Alex Neil’s opening 13 games in charge, attempted to stage a late comeback and gave their local rivals a fright.
Lewis Baker converted from the spot with 15 minutes to play, but John Eustace’s side held on as they returned to the top half of the table.
Despite now winning only one of Neil’s six home games in charge of Stoke, the hosts started the midlands meeting brighter.
Nick Powell and Baker both tested John Ruddy inside four minutes in a frenetic opening to the game.
However, it was the visitors who snatched the advantage in somewhat surprise circumstances.
The 40-year-old Jagielka was caught dozing by a sprightly Hogan, who skipped clear to notch his third goal in five games and eighth of the season.
Lukas Jutkiewicz, making only his second start of the campaign, then threatened to add an immediate second but he rifled over on the spin.
Birmingham’s slender lead almost proved short-lived as Stoke nearly responded with an instant leveller.
Josh Tymon, who scored the winner at Wigan in midweek, had his clean volley spilled by Ruddy, but the veteran stopper mopped up ahead of the onrushing Powell.
As weather conditions worsened in the Potteries, clear-cut chances became a premium as Eustace’s outfit preserved their advantage through to the interval.
After the restart, the Potters attempted to stage a comeback and nearly found themselves level inside 50 minutes.
A fierce Tymon delivery wreaked havoc in the Blues’ area with Ruddy anonymous, but Ben Wilmot could not convert from close range.
And, despite a flurry of Stoke substitutes, it was the visitors who were the source of the game’s second goal shortly after the hour mark.
Manchester United loanee Hannibal Mejbri sent in a deep corner that was met by defender Dean at the far post, sending the travelling 2,615 fans into raptures.
Although Birmingham looked destined to coast towards victory, their midands counterparts were handed a lifeline.
After Delap was felled by Auston Trusty in the area, Baker obliged from 12 yards and rifled his powerful penalty beneath Ruddy.
Stoke, who have failed to score more than once in 10 of Neil’s 13 games in the dugout, launched a late onslaught in pursuit of a leveller.
However, the visiting Blues, losers in only one of their last seven games, remained resolute to hold on for another impressive victory.
Elsewhere in the Championship, there was heavy Irish involvement on the scoreboard as play-off chasing Swansea City came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at home with second-from-bottom Wigan at the Liberty Stadium.
James McClean provided assists for both of the visitors’ goals in Wales, the first of which was converted by his international team-mate Will Keane from an in-swinging corner. Tom Naylor then doubled The Latics’ lead from a McClean cross.
It was Galway man Ryan Manning who began the hosts’ fightback, a curled effort from outside the box finding the top corner shortly before half-time.
An 84th-minute Joel Piroe penalty earned the Swans a point at home.
Meanwhile, in the FA Cup first round, Conor Grant scored a brace and fellow League of Ireland products Dawson Devoy and Darragh Burns also each found the net as MK Dons progressed at the expense of National League South outfit Taunton Town.
Ex-Bohs man Devoy opened the scoring on five minutes and Burns, formerly of St Patrick’s Athletic, made it 3-0 shortly after half-time.
Grant, who began his career at Malahide United and left Shamrock Rovers for England in 2017, completed the rout with a quickfire two goals in the final 10 minutes.
- With reporting by Gavan Casey
