WIGAN, England (AFP) - Ryan Taylor scored both goals to increase Birmingham's relegation worries as Wigan climbed away from trouble with a comfortable 2-0 win at the JJB Stadium on Saturday.

On a disastrous afternoon for the visitors, Birmingham were forced to play with 10 men for more than 50 minutes after captain Damien Johnson was shown a straight red card for a crunching challenge on Kevin Kilbane.

It was a sweet victory for Wigan manager Steve Bruce, who was Birmingham's manager for six years before he quit last November after falling out with the club's hierarchy.

Bruce took over Wigan when they were firmly anchored in the bottom three of the Premier League table, but the club's future looks much brighter after this success.

They are eight points clear of the relegation zone with five games of the season remaining, while Birmingham remain fourth bottom after a poor performance by Alex McLeish's side.

The visitors were second best from the first minute to the last and can count themselves fortunate not to have been on the receiving end of a much heavier defeat.

Wigan's problems this season have stemmed from a lack of goals yet they found themselves ahead in the 15th minute when Taylor buried the ball beyond the Birmingham keeper after a powerful run by Antonio Valencia.

Ecuador winger Valencia pounced on an error by Martin Taylor, who was making his first league appearance for six weeks since receiving a three-match suspension for a highly controversial challenge on Arsenal's Eduardo da Silva.

Birmingham failed to recover and any glimmer of hope they had of hauling themselves back into the game disappeared in the 37th minute when Johnson was sent off by referee Mike Dean for showing his studs in a challenge on Republic of Ireland international Kilbane.

Ironically, it was Dean who sent Taylor off against Arsenal in February yet Johnson could have few complaints about his dismissal.

Birmingham were fortunate not to fall 2-0 behind before half time when Kilbane let fly from distance, his effort rebounding off a post to safety.

But Wigan, who included three former Birmingham players in the shape of Mario Melchiot, Wilson Palacios and England striker Emile Heskey, wrapped up a deserved three points in the 55th minute after more good work from the impressive Valencia.

His cross into the danger area was only half cleared and Taylor, who had only scored once this season before the game, found himself celebrating for the second time.

Wigan's safety is still not certain. Bruce's side face title-chasing Chelsea at Stamford Bridge next yet the club look certain to be competing in the top tier next season on this evidence.