Birmingham City kicked off their pre-season tour of the Far East with a win against Hong Kong Select thanks to an 89th minute winner from Garry O'Connor.

Alex McLeish’s side began the game well, comfortably passing the ball around while searching for a breakthrough. And their early possession almost paid off on four minutes, when a corner was turned goalwards by Roger Johnson, only to be cleared off the line as Cameron Jerome attempted to flick in the rebound.

Despite their promising start the Blues began to show some signs of rustiness, allowing Hong Kong Select to control the game in the opening stages and it was the hoata who nearly broke the deadlock on 17 minutes. A fantastic through ball from Alessandro Ferreira Leonardo found Christian Kwesi Annan, who wastefully blazed over.

However, it was Birmingham who took the lead on 21 minutes, a Sebastian Larsson free-kick was met with a firm, downward header by Scott Dann, which flew beyond the 'keeper and into the far corner.

It seemed the west Midlands club would go on and take the game to their opponents, but it was Hong Kong who restored parity only three minutes after going behind. A hesitant clearance from Larsson allowed Leonardo time and space to find the net first time from 15 yards.

Ben Foster was forced into a smart save on 34 minutes, after Liam Ridgewell misjudged a bouncing ball and Chi Kwan Lo sent a low shot arrowing into the corner before Foster turned it behind.

After great work down the right wing from Larsson, Jerome then had the chance to hand the lead back to the Blues, but his effort was denied by a good save .

Hong Kong Select then took a shock lead on the stroke of half-time, striker Annan cutting in from the left wing to breeze past Stephen Carr and send a 20-yard shot in off the post with Foster a mere spectator.

Within seconds of the re-start, Jerome found himself one-on-one with the 'keeper after clever work down the wing, but spurned his opportunity by toe-poking his finish over the bar.

Chances were few and far between during the second half as both sides appeared to be struggling in the heat and with the lack of match practice.

However, substitute Craig Gardner found an equaliser for McLeish's men. Jordon Mutch's cross was sent back across goal by the former Aston Villa man's looping header and floated into the back of the net.

Just as the hosts had thought they had withstood a barrage of late pressure from the Premier League side, their backline were caught napping as O'Connor found an 89th minute winner after excellent build up play with Nikola Zigic.

The full-time whistle sounded in the Hong Kong Stadium and it was Birmingham City who kicked off their tour with a welcome victory.

Birmingham City: Foster (Taylor 45); Carr (Parnaby 45), Dann, Johnson, Ridgewell (Murphy 45); Larsson (Gardner 45), Bowyer (Michel 45), Ferguson (Valles 45), Fahey (Mutch 67); Phillips (O'Connor 45), Jerome (Zigic 67).