RUTHLESS Chris Wood stormed to the top of the goalscoring charts to keep Leeds’ promotion push on course – and sink his former club.
Wood hit a clinical double to give Garry Monk something to celebrate in the stands as he served a one match touchline ban.
The Kiwi’s quick thinking first-half strike took him to 21 Championship goals – one ahead of the Newcastle’s Dwight Gayle – and then made it 22 for the season after the break.
And Wood made the most of his second opening of the night to regain the lead for Leeds just four minutes after Craig Gardner had levelled with his first goal for Birmingham.
Sub Alfonso Pedrazza then made sure of victory with an 81st minute third to send Leeds’ 3,200 travelling fans wild.
It was a result that took Leeds to within a point of third placed Huddersfield who face Newcastle today.
But it was another night of pure frustration for Brum boss Gianfranco Zola who saw his side create a string of chances and dominate for large parts of the game – with Robert Tesche slamming a shot against the bar before the break.
In end Monk – who was in the seats after his touchline clash with Huddersfied boss David Wagner – would have been relieved to have taken the points.
But it was Wood who made all the difference.
He spent a season on loan at St Andrew’s from West Brom five years ago – and even played in Birmingham’s Europa League campaign.
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But he showed no mercy as Birmingham effectively gifted him his goals.
And it was a night when Leeds made the most of their chances and punished Birmingham for not taking theirs.
Wood opened the scoring after 13 minutes when Luke Ayling delivered a ball down the right flank which Blues defender Ryan Shotton failed to cut out.
That was the only invite Wood needed and he instinctively lifted the ball over keeper Tomasz Kuszczak.
Zola believes he is in a more powerful position at Birmingham after owners Trillion Trophy Asia held at meeting last week to tell the team they must play for the manager or they will be out of the club.
Brum showed plenty of fight after going a goal down – with striker Che Adams a menace.
Gardner – on loan from West Brom – scored a deserved equaliser after 62 minutes when he fired home a deflected left foot shot from 25 yards out.
It looked like Birmingham could go on to win it.
But instead another defensive slip allowed Wood to grab his second goal.
Sub Kalvin Phillips crossed from the right and defender Josh Dacres-Cogley slipped over in the six yard box to allow Wood to slide home from close range.
And Leeds sealed it when with nine minutes to go when Birmingham were stretched at the back again.
Pablo Hernandez slipped the ball through for Pedrazza who fired his shot into the bottom corner.
Birmingham looked strong as they aimed for back to back wins and Gardner floated a free-kick on top of the Leeds net.
Leeds could have gone two up when Staurt Dallas fired over after a loose ball fell into his path
But Tesche almost levelled when he fired a left foot half volley against the crossbar from 25 yards.
Adams twice went close to equalising for Birmingham after the break as Zola’s men stepped it up.
Wood almost completed a hat trick in stoppage time when he brought a save out of Kuszczak.
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