Middlesbrough maintained their impressive start to the season with a third successive win.
Boro have scored 11 goals in their opening fives games, a healthy figure that suggests they could do well in their first adventure in Europe.
There was never any prospect of a repeat of last season's eight-goal thriller at the Riverside Stadium. Middlesbrough, however, held the balance of attacking play and deserved the points.
Birmingham City Manager Steve Bruce must have been disappointed with the performance of his side.
Emile Heskey turned in a fine performance, but the former Liverpool striker lacked attacking support. Dwight Yorke had an ineffective game and looked short of match practice.
Boro were without the injured Gaizka Mendieta through injury and Slovakian striker Szilard Nemeth won a recall following his return from World Cup duty.
Mikael Forssell shot wide for the visitors in the opening minute, while at the other end Maik Taylor saved a 25-yard George Boateng shot.
Ray Parlour, the former Arsenal player, dominated midfield in the early stages with his aggressive tackling and hard running.
Middlesbrough went ahead through Mark Viduka after 27 minutes, following a superb pass by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. Hasselbaink split the defence to create the goal for Viduka.
Viduka took the ball in his stride and placed a shot out of Taylor's reach into the far corner.
Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren must have been delighted as he had predicted the goals would flow following his double signing in the summer.
Middlesbrough had controlled the first half, but just before the break Birmingham silenced the home fans with an equaliser.
Forssell laid off the ball to Heskey who burst into the penalty area. He held off the challenge of Gareth Southgate to shot past Mark Schwarzer to maintain his impressive start to the season.
Shortly after Muzzy Izzet cleared off the line from Hasselbaink.
The second half only three minutes old when Nemeth justified his call-up following a corner that was only partially cleared.
Bolo Zenden crossed the rebound into the goal area where Nemeth scored with a header into the roof of the net.
In a Blues counter-attack Forssell recovered from a slip, but unfortunately his pass was behind Heskey as the striker moved to the left in anticipation.
Heskey continued to be lively and Middlesbrough's central defence partnership Ugo Ehiogu and Southgate was not as commanding as usual.
Ehigou, however, rescued Middlesbrough from a dangerous situation with Heskey ready to strike.
Shortly after the injured Ehigou left the field and was replaced by Chris Riggott.
This was the signal for strong Birmingham pressure and there was a chance for the unmarked Heskey on the left, but Schwarzer was equal to the task.
Viduka walked off to a standing ovation when he was replaced by Doriva ten minutes from time.
Nemeth also earned rapturous applause when he left the field only three minutes from time.
Birmingham left knowing will need to improve on this away performance if they are to make an impression on the Premier League this season.
Man of the Match: Mark Viduka - The former Leeds United striker capped a lively performance with a brilliant goal and linked up superbly with another ex-Whites star, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.