NEIL Lennon was sent to the stands in his first game in charge of Wanderers – but still masterminded a 1-0 win at St Andrew’s.

Matt Mills’ first-half header sealed three points for the Northern Irishman, who was later ordered out of the dugout by referee Mark Haywood following a missed penalty by Craig Davies that had seen Birmingham reduced to 10 men.

Keeper Darren Randolph was given a straight red but Davies missed the penalty to prompt a tense last 10 minutes witnessed from the director’s box by the new boss.

There wasn’t much to distinguish the starting line up or formation from one that would have appeared in the previous regime but once the game started, there were aspects that made this uniquely Lennon.

For starters, Darren Pratley lined up widest left, towering over his marker Paul Caddis – a battle Wanderers never really capitalised on all afternoon.

The tempo was high too, certainly in comparison with that dark night at Craven Cottage, and Chung-Yong Lee was also considerably more involved through the middle than he had been in recent weeks.

Birmingham had the first chance – the lively Koby Arthur’s shot blocked well by Dorian Dervite.

But Wanderers soon wrestled control, Dervite heading into the side netting from Jay Spearing’s corner and Jermaine Beckford skimming another effort just wide of the post.

Travelling fans were happy enough to be chanting the manager’s name but the happy thoughts were put on hold for a few moments as the Blues started to make some chances for themselves.

First Stephen Gleeson curled a free kick inches over the crossbar then Clayton Donaldson pulled a cross back for Demarai Gray, whose bouncing shot just cleared Andy Lonergan’s goal.

But on 22 minutes Wanderers struck at the home side’s Achilles heel.

Birmingham have, say their local press, been poor at set pieces at season and so it came as little surprise to them to see Spearing’s corner headed home virtually unchallenged by the towering Matt Mills.

Lift off under Lennon – but there were still a couple of moments before the break that threatened to bring the fans back down to earth.

Gray beat Dean Moxey on the Blues right to put a fine ball in for Donaldson, who got around the challenge of Dervite but could only put an off-balance shot into the side netting.

Lonergan then had to be at his best to beat away a powerfully-struck effort from Gray away from his goal after the teenager had raced away from Neil Danns in the middle of the park.

Wanderers emerged re-energised after the second half and could have gone further ahead when Liam Feeney’s cross nearly caught out Darren Randolph at his near post.

Neil Danns also had a decent chance, manufactured by the excellent Chung-Yong, but didn’t get a good connection on his shot.

Again the home side bit back with a couple of half-chances – Arthur heading into the side-netting and Gray slashing at a half-volley on the edge of the box. The game was far from won.

As the rain started pouring down the volume levels were turned up again in the near 1,800-strong travelling support.

Judging by the increased activity in the Wanderers’ technical area where Lennon and his assistant Johan Mjallby were now up and down like Jack-in-the-boxes, they could sense the home side were mounting a final push.

Gray continued to be the threat – lifting one shot on the turn just over the bar and forcing Lonergan into another fine save at his near post.

With four up front, Birmingham were throwing everything but the kitchen sink at the Whites in search of an equaliser.

Lonergan produced a simply stunning save to tip Gray’s curling shot on to the crossbar – karma perhaps for the fact he had moments earlier convinced referee Mark Haywood not to book Donaldson for a clumsy foul on him as he tried to clear a bouncing ball.

If you thought that was a crazy five minutes – you hadn’t seen anything yet.

As the Blues surged forward they looked highly susceptible to the break and when Chung-Yong played sub Craig Davies in, he drew a challenge from keeper Randolph that earned the Republic of Ireland keeper a straight red and Wanderers a penalty.

Birmingham had made all their substitutions, so winger Lee Novak was forced in goal. But the makeshift keeper hardly had to budge as Davies blasted his effort miles over the bar into the away stand.

After the game restarted Kevin McNaughton got caught in the head by a stray Birmingham boot and the Wanderers bench went mad.

In the melee Lennon was sent to the stands – watching the remaining 10 minutes up in the director’s box.

He spent much of the time slumped over the blue banister, wishing the time away just like the fans sat to his right.

On the final whistle he leapt up in celebration – mirrored on the pitch where the players did likewise.