Agbonlahor has three goals in his last three games against Birmingham
Gabriel Agbonlahor struck a late winner as Aston Villa beat derby rivals Birmingham in a tight game.
The England striker nodded in after John Carew had headed an Ashley Young free-kick towards him.
The goal settled a match of limited chances and quality, although it did belatedly set up an exciting finish.
Birmingham pushed for a leveller, but Agbonlahor should have added a second when he was clean through only to put his shot high.
The brief late drama was not in keeping with a game in which both defences had the upper hand for the most part.
And Birmingham fans will feel their side could have done more earlier as they adopted a similarly cautious approach to the game as Villa.
McLeish feels Blues deserved more
The St Andrew's faithful certainly provided a vociferous atmosphere for their side as they tried to encourage them to avenge the 5-1 thrashing dished out by Villa the last time these two met.
And, although Birmingham showed plenty of intensity, Villa had a more controlled approach as they tried to keep the home side at arm's length - hoping their extra quality would provide the breakthrough.
The strategy almost paid off during the first half but James Milner and Agbonlahor failed to take the chances which came Villa's way.
Milner shot wide and sliced an effort horribly off target after a driven cross from Agbonlahor, who had a near post header diverted just wide by defender Roger Johnson.
Villa were playing with a new-look defence as central defenders Richard Dunne and James Collins made their debuts along with left-back Stephen Warnock.
Their first real test came when Garry O'Connor chested down a ball and had a shot blocked by Warnock, who quickly got himself up to get in front of Sebastian Larsson's follow-up strike.
Lee Bowyer had a 20-yard shot saved and ex-Villa trainee Keith Fahey steered a shot just wide for the home side who suffered the loss of James McFadden because of a thigh injury.
O'Neill relieved after derby win
Birmingham closed into their shell more the longer the game went on as Villa started to increase their threat on goal after big striker Carew entered the fray.
Steve Sidwell headed straight at Blues keeper Joe Hart before Milner again shot wide.
But any hopes Birmingham had of a battling point were quashed when Agbonlahor struck for Villa's third league win on the bounce and saw them continue the away form which served them so well last season.
Birmingham boss Alex McLeish: "The defeat was very harsh. I thought we played really well. I'm sorry we couldn't get something more from it as I think we deserved more.
"I can't fault the players but the only criticism is that we allowed two headers from an Ashley Young free-kick (for their goal).
"I didn't think there was a huge gulf between the teams in terms of quality."
Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill: "I said before I'm not sure there's great enjoyment of or about the game but it's nice to have won.
"It was a game of few chances. We played solidly and nicely without exerting a great deal of pressure.
"Gabriel Agbonlahor was absolutely terrific. His confidence is getting greater and greater with each game and the goals obviously help any centre forward."
90:00+3:07 The final whistle goes and the game is over.
90:00+2:16 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Sebastian Larsson, clearance by Richard Dunne.
90:00+1:02 Roger Johnson fouled by Stiliyan Petrov, the ref awards a free kick. Shot comes in from Sebastian Larsson from the free kick,
John Carew gets a block in.
90:00+0:07 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Sebastian Larsson, clearance made by Stiliyan Petrov.
89:49 Christian Benitez takes a shot. Blocked by Richard Dunne.
88:57 Effort on goal by Gabriel Agbonlahor from just inside the penalty box goes harmlessly over the target.
88:08 Gabriel Agbonlahor gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Franck Queudrue. Franck Queudrue restarts play with the
85:36 The ball is crossed by Christian Benitez, Franck Queudrue takes a shot. Richard Dunne makes a clearance.
85:36 Substitution Kevin Phillips is brought on as a substitute for Lee Carsley.
85:36 Carlos Cuellar challenges Stuart Parnaby unfairly and gives away a free kick.
84:03 The assist for the goal came from John Carew.
84:03 GOAL - Gabriel Agbonlahor:Birmingham 0 - 1 Aston Villa Gabriel Agbonlahor scores a headed goal from inside the penalty box. Birmingham 0-1 Aston Villa.
83:54 Free kick crossed right-footed by Ashley Young from right channel.
83:54 Booking The referee shows Stuart Parnaby a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
83:37 Foul by Stuart Parnaby on Ashley Young, free kick awarded.
82:22 Christian Benitez takes a shot. Save made by Brad Friedel.
81:44 A cross is delivered by James Milner, save made by Joe Hart.
80:10 Ashley Young takes the outswinging corner, Richard Dunne takes a shot. Blocked by Roger Johnson.
79:52 James Milner takes a shot. Joe Hart makes a save.
78:03 Direct free kick taken by Joe Hart.
78:03 Substitution Christian Benitez comes on in place of Garry O'Connor.
78:03 Lee Bowyer fouled by Ashley Young, the ref awards a free kick.
77:24 Steve Sidwell takes a shot. Save made by Joe Hart.
75:52 James Milner delivers the ball, Teemu Tainio manages to make a clearance.
72:55 Effort on goal by Ashley Young from just outside the area goes harmlessly over the target.
70:00 Joe Hart takes the direct free kick.
70:00 Substitution Nigel Reo-Coker leaves the field to be replaced by John Carew.
70:00 Free kick awarded for a foul by Stiliyan Petrov on Lee Bowyer.
68:27 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Keith Fahey by James Milner. Free kick taken by Sebastian Larsson.
67:06 Lee Bowyer has shot on goal from a long way out that goes wide left.
65:19 Direct free kick taken by Franck Queudrue.
65:19 Booking Booking for Gabriel Agbonlahor.
65:10 Gabriel Agbonlahor challenges Franck Queudrue unfairly and gives away a free kick.
64:34 Sebastian Larsson delivers the ball, James Collins makes a clearance.
62:50 Corner taken by Sebastian Larsson from the right by-line, Richard Dunne manages to make a clearance.
62:18 Teemu Tainio fouled by Stephen Warnock, the ref awards a free kick. Joe Hart restarts play with the free kick.
61:41 Steve Sidwell takes a shot. Blocked by Stuart Parnaby.
58:03 Shot from just outside the box by Lee Carsley misses to the left of the goal.
56:24 James Milner produces a cross, Roger Johnson manages to make a clearance.
56:02 Unfair challenge on Stiliyan Petrov by Lee Carsley results in a free kick. Ashley Young takes the direct free kick.
53:42 Lee Carsley produces a curled right-footed shot from 20 yards. Save by Brad Friedel.
52:49 Ashley Young is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Joe Hart.
52:29 Foul by Stuart Parnaby on Gabriel Agbonlahor, free kick awarded. Brad Friedel restarts play with the free kick.
51:21 The free kick is swung in right-footed by Sebastian Larsson, clearance made by Carlos Cuellar.
51:21 Booking The referee books Steve Sidwell for unsporting behaviour.
51:13 Free kick awarded for a foul by Steve Sidwell on Sebastian Larsson.
48:52 Foul by Stephen Warnock on Sebastian Larsson, free kick awarded. Teemu Tainio restarts play with the free kick.
48:18 Sebastian Larsson concedes a free kick for a foul on Stephen Warnock. Direct free kick taken by Richard Dunne.
45:48 Ashley Young challenges Sebastian Larsson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Joe Hart takes the direct free kick.
45:01 The referee starts the second half.
45:01 Substitution Lee Carsley is brought on as a substitute for James McFadden.
45:00+2:01 It is the end of the first-half.
44:48 Headed effort from inside the box by Gabriel Agbonlahor misses to the right of the target.
40:10 The ball is delivered by Ashley Young, James Milner has an effort at goal from close in which goes wide right of the target.
39:35 Ashley Young fouled by Sebastian Larsson, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Ashley Young.
38:18 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Sebastian Larsson.
35:56 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Roger Johnson by Steve Sidwell. Free kick taken by Franck Queudrue.
34:35 Teemu Tainio concedes a free kick for a foul on Gabriel Agbonlahor. Free kick taken by Ashley Young.
32:51 James Milner gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Franck Queudrue. Joe Hart takes the free kick.
31:23 James Milner produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the goal.
Correction - 31:12 James McFadden concedes a free kick for a foul on James Milner. Direct free kick taken by Stiliyan Petrov.
31:12 Free kick awarded for a foul by James McFadden on James Milner. James Collins restarts play with the free kick.
30:26 Effort from outside the penalty box by Keith Fahey goes wide right of the goal.
30:11 Sebastian Larsson takes the outswinging corner, clearance made by Richard Dunne.
29:54 Lee Bowyer takes a shot. Save by Brad Friedel.
29:16 Free kick awarded for a foul by Teemu Tainio on Stephen Warnock. Brad Friedel takes the direct free kick.
27:45 Corner from the right by-line taken by Sebastian Larsson, clearance made by Steve Sidwell.
27:39 Centre by Teemu Tainio, clearance made by Richard Dunne.
26:18 James Milner produces a cross, clearance by Roger Johnson.
21:37 The official flags Gabriel Agbonlahor offside. Free kick taken by Roger Johnson.
20:56 Gabriel Agbonlahor sends in a cross, James Milner has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the
20:10 Foul by Gabriel Agbonlahor on Sebastian Larsson, free kick awarded. Barry Ferguson takes the direct free kick.
18:57 Corner from right by-line taken by James McFadden.
12:26 Unfair challenge on Franck Queudrue by Ashley Young results in a free kick. Joe Hart takes the direct free kick.
10:54 Sebastian Larsson fouled by Stephen Warnock, the ref awards a free kick. The ball is sent over by Sebastian Larsson, Headed
effort from deep inside the penalty area by Roger Johnson goes harmlessly over the crossbar.
9:43 Garry O'Connor takes a shot. Blocked by James Collins.
8:45 Unfair challenge on Teemu Tainio by Ashley Young results in a free kick. Sebastian Larsson crosses the ball from the free
kick right-footed from right wing, clearance made by Richard Dunne.
7:59 Foul by Stiliyan Petrov on Lee Bowyer, free kick awarded. Franck Queudrue restarts play with the free kick.
7:04 James Milner produces a left-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand post.
6:29 Free kick awarded for a foul by Teemu Tainio on Ashley Young. Stephen Warnock restarts play with the free kick.
5:42 Gabriel Agbonlahor is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Roger Johnson restarts play with the free kick.
5:00 Gabriel Agbonlahor concedes a free kick for a foul on Franck Queudrue. Direct free kick taken by Joe Hart.
3:59 Sebastian Larsson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Gabriel Agbonlahor. Free kick crossed right-footed by
Ashley Young from left channel, Roger Johnson makes a clearance.
2:07 Steve Sidwell concedes a free kick for a foul on Barry Ferguson. Free kick taken by Franck Queudrue.
0:00 The referee gets the match started.
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