Birmingham City 2 Doncaster Rovers 1: Doncaster are beaten by King’s double but Saunders still upbeat

After beating leaders Southampton last time out, struggling Rovers were leading at Birmingham from a 51st minute strike from Marc-Antoine Fortune.

It was only City’s fourth league goal conceded at St Andrew’s this season.

Doncaster broke free down the right where Billy Sharp laid on a low cross into the path of Fortune.

City bounced back when Marlon King notched his fourth league goal of the season after being sent clear by Chris Burke.

Doncaster were indebted to their on-loan goalkeeper Carl Ikeme for keeping them in the game with several fine saves but he had little chance when King struck for a second time after he linked up again with Burke to score Birmingham’s 88th minute winner.

Saunders, Doncaster’s manager, admitted: “We were unfortunate against Birmingham when we made a defensive mistake to allow them to get back into the game.

“Against Southampton we didn’t give them anything but on this occasion we made that one mistake.

“But there were lots of positives and I am pleased how the team is looking. We are in good shape.

“Against Birmingham we just couldn’t hold on for the last 15 minutes when they tossed everything at us. I admit that I couldn’t see them scoring but coming to Birmingham is always a difficult task.

“They have lots of Premiership quality players but their winner was a little bit too easy.

“I thought at half-time we should have been in front but we were a little too open at times.

“At the end we dropped too deep trying to keep out Birmingham and paid the price,” added Saunders.

Birmingham City: Myhill, Carr, Davies, Caldwell, Murphy, Burke, N’Daw (Fahey 67), Spector, Elliott (Redmond 63), Wood (Zigic 73), King. Unused substitutes: Doyle, Ibanez.

Doncaster Rovers: Ikeme, O’Connor, Hird, Beye, Ilunga, Coppinger (Barnes 75), Stock, Goulon (Bennett 85), Gillett, Sharp, Fortune (Friend 75). Unused substitutes: Sullivan,Hayter.

Referee: N Miller (Durham).

Man of the match: Carl Ikeme.