Hull City suffered their fourth Premier League defeat of the season as they were beaten 1-0 by Birmingham City at the KC Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Substitute Garry O'Connor scored the only goal of the game 15 minutes from time as the Tigers again failed to find a cutting edge in attack.

Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink made his first start for the Tigers as Phil Brown shuffled his pack.

Also in from the start were Jozy Altidore and Dean Marney.

Kevin Kilbane, Kamel Ghilas and Birmingham-born former Blues forward Craig Fagan were the men to make way.

With injuries causing Birmingham City problems, they name just six substitutes although striker Chucho [aka Christian Benitez] started.

The Tigers were captained by home debutant Ibrahima Sonko - the fourth different captain in the last four league and cup games.

City started with a 4-4-2 formation.

Altidore and Vennegoor of Hesselink were paired up front with Geovanni and Stephen Hunt occupying the wide roles.

The first foul of the game brought the first yellow card in the fourth minute as Stephen Carr tripped Hunt on the left touchline.

Hunt's delivery from the free kick caused panic in the Birmingham box, but Kamil Zayatte couldn't take advantage at the back post as goalkeeper Joe Hart eventually gathered.

Moments later, Hunt's powerful swerving shot from 25 yards had Hart in action again, the keeper doing well to keep the strike out.

Birmingham threatened for the first time in the eleventh minute, Chucho turning in the box before aiming for the far corner of the net.

Boaz Myhill got down well to stop the shot before Andy Dawson reacted quickest to boot the ball out for a corner which City defended comfortably.

Myhill produced an even better save three minutes later, tipping Lee Bowyer's curling shot over the bar when it seemed destined for the top corner.

Birmingham were enjoying a good spell and Garry McSheffrey was unlucky with two efforts, one which went just wide and another that was blocked before it could trouble Myhill.

City responded with a Geovanni effort that went wide and a shot from Altidore that was blocked when the striker should have done much better.

A clash of heads between Kamil Zayatte and Chucho left both players on the ground needing treatment.

Zayatte was able to continue, but Chucho was taken down the tunnel to receive stitches.

Vennegoor of Hesselink thought a chance was about to fall his way when Hart flapped at Sonko's long throw, but Teemu Tainio managed to get to the ball first.

The visitors were still a man short at this stage, although Chucho eventually rejoined the action three minutes before the break.

And it was Chucho who forced the next save out of Myhill as the half entered added time, his powerful shot from the edge of the box being tipped over the bar by the City keeper.

Half Time: Tigers 0-0 Birmingham

City started the second half brightly and had a chance when Altidore cut in from the right, but his low shot was saved by Hart at his near post.

At the other end, Keith Fahey headed McSheffrey's deep cross from the left just wide.

Some neat build-up play in the 58th minute saw Vennegoor of Hesselink set up Geovanni, but Hart was equal to the low shot.

City's defence was then cut open with a pass that sent Stuart Parnaby racing into the box, but Myhill did well to prevent the visitors going in front.

Kamil Zayatte was then inches away from putting through his own net and from the resulting corner, Myhill somehow denied Bowyer from close range with a fantastic save.

City's first change came on 63 minutes as Ghilas replaced Altidore before Nick Barmby came on for Marney seven minutes later.

Myhill was at his best again in the 74th minute as Birmingham broke on the counter attack.

After beating Paul McShane, Chucho burst into the box and fired at goal but Myhill turned the ball behind.

But from the resulting corner, the visitors went in front.

Substitute O'Connor met the set-piece at the near post and gave Myhill no chance with a firm header into the net.

City's final change saw Bernard Mendy replace Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink.

Geovanni and Ghilas were now City's front pair.

Geovanni missed a great chance to level before Ibrahima Sonko hit the bar with a header from a corner.

Tigers (4-4-2) Boaz Myhill; Paul McShane, Ibrahima Sonko [captain], Kamil Zayatte, Andy Dawson; Geovanni, Seyi Olofinjana, Dean Marney (Barmby 70), Stephen Hunt; Jozy Altidore (Ghilas 63), Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (Mendy 78).

Subs: Tony Warner, Bernard Mendy, Kevin Kilbane, George Boateng, Peter Halmosi, Nick Barmby, Kamel Ghilas.

Bookings: Nil

Birmingham City (4-4-1-1) Joe Hart; Stephen Carr [captain], Roger Johnson, Scott Dann, Stuart Parnaby; Keith Fahey, Barry Ferguson, Teemu Tainio, Garry McSheffrey (O'Connor 62); Lee Bowyer; Christian Benitez.

Subs: Maik Taylor, Garry O'Connor, Kevin Phillips, Geo Espinoza, James O'Shea, Ashley Sammons.

Bookings: Carr 4, O'Connor 75