A first half Lee Bowyer goal earned Blues a 1-0 win over Fulham in a tight encounter at St. Andrew's this afternoon.

In a game which was played out in atrocious weather conditions, Bowyer latched onto a delightful James McFadden chip to fire home the only goal of the game after just 16 minutes.

Alex McLeish made one change to his starting line-up with Barry Ferguson returning to the midfield after serving out his suspension in place of the injured Teemu Tainio.

There was also a place on the bench for Jordon Mutch just a day after the 17-year-old was given a first team squad number.

In the starting XI for the visitors was former Blues fullback Stephen Kelly.

The game began with blustery wind and rain and Blues were given a major scare as early the seventh minute.

Fulham broke quickly on the counter attack and Bobby Zamora bore down on Joe Hart's goal.

But fortunately for Blues the Fulham frontman failed to hit the target from ten yards out and his shot flew past the far post.

It took until the 13th minute for Blues to make their first foray on the Fulham goal.

James McFadden put in a neat ball from the left towards Cameron Jerome, but from just three yards and under pressure Jerome chested the ball into the hands of well-positioned Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer.

On 16 minutes a somewhat subdued St. Andrew's came to life as Lee Bowyer gave his side the lead with an excellently taken goal.

James McFadden was the instigator as he flighted a delightful chip over a static Fulham defence from deep in midfield.

Bowyer ran on to the ball and flicked it the past over a despairing Schwarzer and into the back of the net. 1-0 Blues!

A slippery pitch was making it difficult for either side to impose themselves on the action or keep the ball for any period of time.

With half time rapidly approaching Fulham had a great opportunity to level the scores after they were awarded a corner.

The ball was drilled in at pace into the Blues box by Simon Davies and Cottagers defender Brede Hangeland rose high above the Blues defence before powering a bullet header just inches over the bar.

Half time: Blues 1 Fulham 0

Neither side made any changes to their starting XI's at the interval.

With their manager's half time comments no doubt still ringing in their ears Fulham started the second half brightly and began to pile on the attacking pressure without creating any decent chances.

That was until Paul Konchesky's cross found Zoltan Gera in the Blues box, but the former Albion man volleyed the ball into the ground and over the bar.

Having weathered the early pressure Blues started to get a more of a grip on the midfield and push on themselves.

On 67 minutes Lee Bowyer became the first player to be cautioned by referee Chris Foy for a clumsy challenge on American international Clint Dempsey.

Then in the 70th minute Joe Hart proved his worth with a magnificent save to deny Fulham.

Kelly crossed the ball from the right hand side of the pitch to deep at the far post and Dempsey rose and headed a powerful goal bound effort, which the acrobatic Hart somehow tipped over the bar at full stretch.

McLeish made his first substitution of the game on 71 minutes when Irishman Keith Fahey was brought into the action in place of Chucho.

Three minutes later Fulham made their first change as Damien Duff came on for Kelly, with Roy Hodgson seeking some attacking inspiration from his side.

The lively Dempsey almost caused Blues a problem with a well taken overhead kick, but it just lacked direction and Hart was able to watch it drift past his post.

Next to try his luck was Fulham's Duff who let fly with a fizzing low shot from the edge of the box which was just inches off target.

further chances were few and far between and Blues soaked up everything Fulham tried and were able to collect three valuable points to move themselves further away from the lower reaches of the table.

Full time: Blues 1 Fulham 0

Blues: Joe Hart, Stephen Carr, Lee Bowyer, Liam Ridgewell, Sebastian Larsson, Cameron Jerome, Chucho (Keith Fahey, 71), Barry Ferguson, Roger Johnson, Scott Dann, James McFadden.
Subs not used: Maik Taylor, Kevin Phillips, Gary McSheffrey, Lee Carsley, Gregory Vignal, Jordon Mutch.

Goals: Bowyer (16)
Bookings: Bowyer (67)

Fulham: Mark Schwarzer, Stephen Kelly (Damien Duff, 74), Paul Konchesky, Brede Hangeland, Christopher Baird (Dickson Etuhu, 81), Zoltan Gera, Aaron Hughes, Clinton Dempsey, Robert Zamora, Jonathan Greening, Simon Davies.
Subs not used: Pascal Zuberbuhler, John Pantsil, Bjorn Helge Riise, Eddie Johnson, Christopher Smalling.

Goals: None
Bookings: None

Referee: chris Foy

Attendance: 23, 659

 Download the official team sheet here Blues v Fulham team sheet 21_11_09