Birmingham 2-0 Huddersfield: 10-man Blues keep survival hopes alive as Jonathan Grounds and Craig Gardner seal first win under Harry Redknapp

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Harry Redknapp insists three points on the final day are a must as he waits to see if his latest Houdini act has worked.

The 70-year-old celebrated his first home game in charge of Birmingham City by inspiring a 10-man side to their first win in 11 games — but they need a victory at Bristol City next Sunday to guarantee their Championship safety.

'We need a win — a point is nothing,' said Redknapp. 'It was important we got the win — it keeps us out of it and I'd still rather be two points above it than two points behind.' 

Craig Gardner's 76th-minute penalty put the seal on a crucial win for Birmingham on Saturday

Jonathan Grounds gave Blues the lead with a close range effort four minutes before the break

The hosts had to do it the hard way after missing a penalty and having Che Adams sent off

Redknapp defended Huddersfield manager David Wagner's decision to make 10 changes to the side that secured a play-off spot on Tuesday night, saying: 'I don't think it's anything to do with anybody.

'It's Huddersfield's business — it's not their fault other teams are in a relegation battle.

'I would have done the same, and I did it when I was at QPR.'

In front of Birmingham's biggest home league crowd since their Premier League exit in May 2011 — 26,914 — it was a tale of two penalties for the home side, who missed one and scored one sandwiching Jonathan Grounds's 41st-minute opener. Lukas Jutkiewicz should have given Birmingham the lead after Mark Hudson brought down Che Adams in the seventh-minute, but his penalty was saved by Joel Coleman.

But they were rocked by the dismissal of striker Adams for a two-footed lunge on Martin Cranie after 23 minutes. 

Lukas Jutkiewicz missed a penalty as Huddersfield keeper Joel Coleman saved his effort

Harry Redknapp recorded his first win as Blues manager since coming in to avoid relegation

'I thought it was very harsh — a horrendous, disappointing decision,' said Redknapp. 'I don't condone anyone diving in with two feet but the kid didn't. He was on the floor and he played the ball.'

Philip Billing and Harry Bunn both went close for the visitors before Birmingham took the lead.

Craig Gardner's cross was nodded across goal by Michael Morrison for Grounds to bundle home.

Birmingham made the game safe 14 minutes from time when Gardner fired home from the spot after Dean Whitehead tripped Jacques Maghoma.

Wagner said: 'Everyone knows rotation is part of my selection policy in this very busy schedule.

I agree a few of these changes were made with a view to the play-offs — Joel Coleman needed to play because no one knows what's going to happen in the next few weeks and we wanted to see Martin Cranie as a centre back.

'I think it's totally unfair if we're arguing about our starting XI if other teams made some mistakes over the whole season.'

After a long delay, Gardner sent Coleman the wrong way to double Birmingham's advantage

Lukas Jutkiewicz applauds the crowd at the end of the match with survival in their hands