Claudio Pizarro's second-half header, his first goal since the opening day against this very same opposition, made the difference in a tight encounter.
It was not a Chelsea performance that will live long in the memory - possession switched between the sides to easily for that and there were only occasional sights at goal - and we survived Birmingham striking woodwork after a Cech mistake.
But on a day when both Man United and Arsenal also won, these are three away points to be cherished.
The game was marked by Anelka's first start in a Chelsea shirt, the only change from the side that beat Tottenham comfortably last weekend. Pizarro made way.
Birmingham were even less altered - naming the same team that became only the second to leave Arsenal with a point this season. New arrival from Everton, McFadden, was on the bench.
The game began with pouring rain, Chelsea pushing bodies into the Birmingham half and an injury to Shaun Wright-Phillips.
He landed awkwardly and turned his ankle after jumping with Johnson and appeared to be in a lot of pain. Treatment followed and he continued, if a little tentatively at first.
On 10 minutes, and after a sustained period of possession, Carvalho's charge into opposition territory was ended by Muamba's challenge, a foul for which the midfielder was booked.
Birmingham broke out on 15 minutes after some slack covering by Chelsea down our right but when the ball eventually made it into the centre, a tame O'Connor header, although, the first effort on target, would have only just crept over the line even if Cech had not been there.
A very well-guided Ballack free-kick midway through the half was diverted behind for a corner but when Alex reached Malouda's corner that followed, it skimmed off the top of his head and the danger passed.
On 28 minutes, Wright-Phillips's personal struggle against his ankle injury ended when he was replaced by Pizarro, who played closer to Anelka as a 4-2-3-1 shape was adopted.
Another Alex header, from a Malouda cross, the second bite at the cherry after a corner had been cleared, was again a misconnection. The Brazilian was clearly annoyed with himself over the chances not taken although defensively, he would end the game the pick of our performers.
The games most bizarre, and wince-inducing moment if you were a Chelsea follower, occurred on 37 minutes when Cech, under little pressure, hooked a clearance straight at nearest striker Jerome. The Birmingham player was very unfortunate to see his instinctive header bounce onto the post.
That moment appeared to give both the home side and the game's tempo a lift. It took successive clearances from Ashley Cole and Alex to keep out Jerome's original shot and his follow-up effort.
Cech had just before shown a better side of his game with a commanding punch out and he was not required when Muamba blasted over to end the Birmingham pressure.
The teams went into the half-time break with no goals between them. Avram Grant will have been relieved to see his players survive Birmingham's big five minutes but will have been concerned by the lack of chances created.
Six minutes after the restart, Anelka looked to be clean through on goal after he knocked Makelele's long ball past Ridgewell. However the officials spotted an arm had been involved.
Cech needed be sharp to clear danger with his legs as Chelsea's defending again looked creakier than that to which we have grown accustomed. Jerome then caused chaos out on the Birmingham right but his low cross was fluffed in front of goal by Larsson just a few yards out.
On 66 minutes, Anelka, so far deprived of the ball in the most dangerous areas, finally had his chance. His own challenge sent the ball to Malouda who returned it but 10 yards out and under challenge, he lacked power on the shot and Taylor saved.
Twenty-six minutes into the second-half, McFadden was introduced by Alex McLeish for injured Jerome, along with former Chelsea favourite Forssell who came on for O'Connor,
Cech did well at his near-post to deny McFadden a debut goal after just three minutes wait when Chelsea switched off at a free-kick.
Pizarro was booked for simulation after going down in the area as time began to run out.
Relief came 78 minutes in. Belletti, who had made a difference with his corner taking at Fulham on New Year's Day, took his first of the game from the right and speared it right into the zone.
Pizarro's header on the six yard-line had far too much header for Larsson on the goal-line to do anything except divert it in.
Anelka stung the hands of Taylor three minutes later as Chelsea broke quickly from a corner through Joe Cole.
The single goal however was enough for a sixth straight win.
Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Belletti, Alex, Carvalho, A Cole; Wright-Phillips (Pizarro 28), Makelele, Ballack (c); Malouda (Bridge 90+2), Anelka, J Cole (Sidwell 84).
Scorer Pizarro 78
Booked Pizarro.
Birmingham (4-4-2): Taylor; Kelly, Ridgewell, Schmitz, Queudrue; Larsson, Muamba, Johnson (c), Kapo; O'Connor (Forssell 71), Jerome (McFadden 71).
Booked Muamba.
It was not a Chelsea performance that will live long in the memory - possession switched between the sides to easily for that and there were only occasional sights at goal - and we survived Birmingham striking woodwork after a Cech mistake.
But on a day when both Man United and Arsenal also won, these are three away points to be cherished.
The game was marked by Anelka's first start in a Chelsea shirt, the only change from the side that beat Tottenham comfortably last weekend. Pizarro made way.
Birmingham were even less altered - naming the same team that became only the second to leave Arsenal with a point this season. New arrival from Everton, McFadden, was on the bench.
The game began with pouring rain, Chelsea pushing bodies into the Birmingham half and an injury to Shaun Wright-Phillips.
He landed awkwardly and turned his ankle after jumping with Johnson and appeared to be in a lot of pain. Treatment followed and he continued, if a little tentatively at first.
On 10 minutes, and after a sustained period of possession, Carvalho's charge into opposition territory was ended by Muamba's challenge, a foul for which the midfielder was booked.
Birmingham broke out on 15 minutes after some slack covering by Chelsea down our right but when the ball eventually made it into the centre, a tame O'Connor header, although, the first effort on target, would have only just crept over the line even if Cech had not been there.
A very well-guided Ballack free-kick midway through the half was diverted behind for a corner but when Alex reached Malouda's corner that followed, it skimmed off the top of his head and the danger passed.
On 28 minutes, Wright-Phillips's personal struggle against his ankle injury ended when he was replaced by Pizarro, who played closer to Anelka as a 4-2-3-1 shape was adopted.
Another Alex header, from a Malouda cross, the second bite at the cherry after a corner had been cleared, was again a misconnection. The Brazilian was clearly annoyed with himself over the chances not taken although defensively, he would end the game the pick of our performers.
The games most bizarre, and wince-inducing moment if you were a Chelsea follower, occurred on 37 minutes when Cech, under little pressure, hooked a clearance straight at nearest striker Jerome. The Birmingham player was very unfortunate to see his instinctive header bounce onto the post.
That moment appeared to give both the home side and the game's tempo a lift. It took successive clearances from Ashley Cole and Alex to keep out Jerome's original shot and his follow-up effort.
Cech had just before shown a better side of his game with a commanding punch out and he was not required when Muamba blasted over to end the Birmingham pressure.
The teams went into the half-time break with no goals between them. Avram Grant will have been relieved to see his players survive Birmingham's big five minutes but will have been concerned by the lack of chances created.
Six minutes after the restart, Anelka looked to be clean through on goal after he knocked Makelele's long ball past Ridgewell. However the officials spotted an arm had been involved.
Cech needed be sharp to clear danger with his legs as Chelsea's defending again looked creakier than that to which we have grown accustomed. Jerome then caused chaos out on the Birmingham right but his low cross was fluffed in front of goal by Larsson just a few yards out.
On 66 minutes, Anelka, so far deprived of the ball in the most dangerous areas, finally had his chance. His own challenge sent the ball to Malouda who returned it but 10 yards out and under challenge, he lacked power on the shot and Taylor saved.
Twenty-six minutes into the second-half, McFadden was introduced by Alex McLeish for injured Jerome, along with former Chelsea favourite Forssell who came on for O'Connor,
Cech did well at his near-post to deny McFadden a debut goal after just three minutes wait when Chelsea switched off at a free-kick.
Pizarro was booked for simulation after going down in the area as time began to run out.
Relief came 78 minutes in. Belletti, who had made a difference with his corner taking at Fulham on New Year's Day, took his first of the game from the right and speared it right into the zone.
Pizarro's header on the six yard-line had far too much header for Larsson on the goal-line to do anything except divert it in.
Anelka stung the hands of Taylor three minutes later as Chelsea broke quickly from a corner through Joe Cole.
The single goal however was enough for a sixth straight win.
Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Belletti, Alex, Carvalho, A Cole; Wright-Phillips (Pizarro 28), Makelele, Ballack (c); Malouda (Bridge 90+2), Anelka, J Cole (Sidwell 84).
Scorer Pizarro 78
Booked Pizarro.
Birmingham (4-4-2): Taylor; Kelly, Ridgewell, Schmitz, Queudrue; Larsson, Muamba, Johnson (c), Kapo; O'Connor (Forssell 71), Jerome (McFadden 71).
Booked Muamba.
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