Birmingham goalkeeper Colin Doyle made a bit of a mistake and gifted the home side the opening goal, but Wade Elliot spared the keeper`s embarrassment by coming up with the winner after Chris Burke had levelled the score.
Doyle dropped one when he went to clear a Jonathan Spector back pass, but he swung his foot and gave it an air-shot which allowed Volas to open the scoring.
It was a shame for the bloke who had already pulled off a couple of very good saves to keep the home side at bay before the goal.
Then Blues had three chances in quick succession when Marlon King saw an effort blocked, Burke got to the ball first but his effort was saved and then Jean Beausejour fired in a shot that was just wide of the upright.
In the second half the hosts went close again when Mertelj thundered in an effort that went just over the crossbar.
On 64 minutes Blues were level again when King helped the ball onto Burke who beat his marker and then managed to slot the ball under keeper Handanovic and into the net.
Zigic came on in place of King and he seemed to unsettle the home side`s defence, but that did not stop Handanovic thwarting Elliott.
But Elliott was not to be denied and in the 79th minute he chased after a long ball upfield, Gomis lost control but Elliott volleyed the ball home to send the travelling Blues fans mental.
Maribor: Handanovic; Milec, Potoka, Arghus, Viler; Mertelj, Lesjak; Mezga (Crnic 87), Marcos, Cvijanovic; Volas
Subs (not used): Radan, Filipovic, Mejac, Ibraimi, Velikonja, Beric
Birmingham: Doyle; Spector, Ibanez, Caldwell, Ridgewell; Burke, Gomis, Fahey, Beausejour; Elliott; King (Zigic 65)
Subs (not used): Myhill, Murphy, N’Daw, Rooney, Redmond, Wood
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