Birmingham City overcame Ipswich Town 1-0 in the Championship on Saturday, with Jota scoring the vital goal to move the hosts out of the relegation zone.
Jota's converted penalty was the difference between the two sides today, marking his third goal in just two games under new manager Garry Monk.
The home side came out strongly as Jota fired narrowly wide from 35 yards early on, and continued their early dominance by winning two corners through the persistence of Wes Harding and Lukas Jutkiewicz. The second corner fell to David Davis on the edge of the box, the player attempting a volley on his weaker foot but his effort fell short of the target.
Ipswich showed initial signs of attacking threat through Freddie Sears, who pressed James Morrison into firing Jonas Knudsen's long ball into the stands, despite the Blues captain urging his keeper to claim it.
The messy spell from the hosts was soon forgotten, as referee Roger East awarded Birmingham a penalty after a foul on Jacques Maghoma from Cameron Carter-Vickers. Jota made no mistake from the spot, putting Birmingham 1-0 up in the 21st minute.
Just nine minutes later, Che Adams tested Bartosz Bialkowski from long range and the shot was diverted by Jota who almost grabbed his second of the half, but the Ipswich keeper saved the deflection.
Birmingham's positive display was further implemented by some classy link-up play between Jutkiewicz and Adams, as the strikers combined to tee up Kieftenbeld who fired high and wide.
Mick McCarthy made a substitution early into the second half, with Bersant Celina replacing Grant Ward. Ipswich enjoyed more effective spells of possession following the change, as Martyn Waghorn made his way down the left flank and whipped in a dangerous cross which Blues keeper David Stockdale had to deal with.
Jota eventually reverted the balance of the game as the Spaniard broke through the midfield and played a perfectly-weighted ball to Jutkiewicz, who again missed the target.
Jutkiewicz had two more quick chances to get on the scoresheet as a corner from Maghoma reached the head of the Dutchman, who forced a save from Bialkowski. The subsequent corner again fell to the striker at the far post, but Jutkiewicz could not convert.
The 29-year-old's concluding effort was soon followed by the final whistle, and the Birmingham fans gave a standing ovation to Garry Monk's side as they gained three vital points in the West Midlands.
The Blues - having won back-to-back games for the first time in three months - climb up to 21st in the Championship table, with opponents Ipswich dropping down to 13th.
BIRMINGHAM CITY (4-4-2): Stockdale; Harding, Morrison, Dean, Colin; Jota, Davis, Kieftenbeld (N'Doye 81'), Maghoma; Adams, Jutkiewicz (Dacres-Cogley 86')
IPSWICH TOWN (5-3-2): Bialkowski; Spence, Carter-Vickers, Chambers, Webster, Knudsen; Ward (Celina 55'), Skuse, Connolly (Hyam 70'); Waghorn, Sears (Carayol 76')
Matthew Jones
