Birmingham City 0 Cardiff City 1: match report It's been a tough period, but we have got the momentum and we have also got the consistency now. You have to be workmanlike in this division because you are not going to score bags of goals against everyone. Despite their inexperience, Birmingham pushed Cardiff back in the first half and two of the three teenagers leading their attack, Rob Hall and Nathan Redmond, both went close. Cardiff looked sluggish but came alive four minutes before the break. Craig Conway's 25-yard effort should have been comfortably dealt with by Jack Butland, but the Birmingham goalkeeper failed to get a strong hand on the shot and pushed it into the path of Mason, who tucked home his fifth goal of the season. Butland was beaten again two minutes after half-time by Matthew Connolly's shot but Curtis Davies cleared off the line. Birmingham were always in the game, but lacked firepower with leading scorer Marlon King injured and Nikola Zigic suspended as Cardiff withstood late pressure. Defeat pushed Birmingham to within four points of the drop zone and they have now won just two of their last 11 games, but Clark was heartened by the performance of his young team. He said: "We had a terrific go at them and didn't deserve to lose. Jack saved the shot, it hits him on the back of the head and then the heel and runs straight to their guy to score. That's just bad luck. Clark may be forced to let go of players during the January transfer window amid uncertainly over the club's future with Butland linked with Manchester City, Everton and Southampton. Chairman Peter Pannu is in talks with potential new owners. Clark added: "Once this club starts to rebuild our youngsters are going to be part of the future and we don't want to be losing too many of them. But if I get a call from above to say a bid had been accepted then whatever will be will be. Birmingham City (4-3-3): Butland; Packwood 6 (Hancox 77), Caldwell, Davies, Robinson; Reilly (Gomis 33, 6), Spector, Elliott (Jervis 70, 5); Hall, Morrison, Redmond. Subs: Doyle, Ibanez, Burke, Henry-Francis. Booked: Robinson, Jervis. Cardiff City (4-4-2): Marshall; Connolly, Hudson, Turner, Lappin; Conway, Gunnarsson, Mutch (Cowie 55, 6), Kim (Noone, 67, 5); Mason (Gestede 70, 5), Bellamy. Subs: Lewis, McNaughton, Ralls, Helguson. Goal: Mason 41. Referee: Robert Madley (West Yorkshire). Attendance: 17,493.