Experienced striker Marlon King scored twice as Birmingham came from behind to beat lowly Doncaster.

The deadlock was broken by the visitors in the 50th minute when Billy Sharp set up Marc-Antoine Fortune, who took a touch and fired home low.

But 12 minutes later the Blues were level when King took advantage of a mix-up between Carl Ikeme and Herita Ilunga to score from 12 yards out.

And he won it with two minutes left with a coolly slotted finish.

Birmingham started the brighter but Doncaster had the game's first chance when James Coppinger fired straight at Boaz Myhill and Simon Gillett then dragged a shot wide after a mix-up in the Birmingham penalty area.

The hosts had a penalty appeal turned down by referee Nigel Miller, when they claimed Gillett handled David Murphy's volley.

Birmingham's Chris Wood and Doncaster's Sharp sent headers wide before Fortune looked destined to score his first Rovers goal only to be denied by Jonathan Spector's last-gasp tackle.

Wood then failed with another header and was denied by Ikeme to keep the score level at the break.

And it looked like they would pay for that when Fortune scored to round off a counter-attack for the visitors.

But the home side levelled when Chris Burke robbed Ilunga of possession after Ikeme's loose pass and found King. The Birmingham duo then combined again for the winner.

Birmingham manager Chris Hughton: "I thought we deserved the win. I know we were chasing the game at the end but I thought the performance throughout saw us trying to win and creating chances.

"When you go one behind against the run of play it is worrying but fortunately I have a group of lads who wanted a victory.

"Eventually we got the win that the performance deserved on the day although we did make hard work of it in the first half when we had three good goal chances.

"Marlon King did very well with his two goals. He is a very determined character. He is playing more games and it is beginning to show in his fitness level. When you have a fit Marlon he will produce goals."

Doncaster boss Dean Saunders: "We were unfortunate when we made a defensive mistake to allow them to get back into the game.

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

"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."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (6)

Birmingham City

  • 01 Myhill
  • 02 Carr
  • 03 Murphy
  • 04 Caldwell
  • 23 Spector
  • 24 Davies
  • 07 Burke Booked
  • 08 N'daw (Fahey - 67' )
  • 15 Elliott (Redmond - 63' )
  • 09 King
  • 39 Wood (Zigic - 73' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Doyle
  • 05 Pablo
  • 18 Fahey
  • 22 Redmond
  • 19 Zigic

Doncaster Rovers

  • 27 Ikeme
  • 02 O'Connor
  • 21 Hird
  • 31 Ilunga
  • 41 Beye Booked
  • 08 Stock Booked
  • 18 Gillett
  • 26 Coppinger (Barnes - 75' )
  • 42 Goulon (Bennett - 85' )
  • 10 Sharp
  • 32 Fortune (Friend - 75' )

Substitutes

  • 01 Sullivan
  • 03 Friend
  • 17 Barnes
  • 12 Hayter
  • 23 Bennett
Ref: Miller
Att: 17,369

Match Stats

Shots

21 6

On target

14 2

Corners

12 2

Fouls

5 6

Live Text Commentary

94:23

The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +3:36

Foul by Nikola Zigic on James O'Connor, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by James O'Connor.

90:00 +2:02

George Friend delivers the ball, Curtis Davies manages to make a clearance.

90:00 +0:49

Free kick awarded for a foul by Nathan Redmond on Brian Stock. Carl Ikeme restarts play with the free kick.

89:49

Chris Burke takes a short corner.

87:07

Chris Burke provided the assist for the goal.

87:07 Goal scored

Goal - Marlon King - Birmingham 2 - 1 Doncaster Marlon King finds the back of the net with a goal from inside the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Birmingham 2-1 Doncaster.

85:57

The ball is crossed by Stephen Carr, Effort on goal by Chris Burke from just inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target.

85:36

The ball is swung over by Nathan Redmond, Herita Ilunga makes a clearance.

84:37 Substitution

Substitution Herold Goulon leaves the field to be replaced by Kyle Bennett.

84:25

The ball is delivered by David Murphy, clearance by Herold Goulon.

84:07

James O'Connor crosses the ball, save by Boaz Myhill.

83:18

Chris Burke sends in a cross, Brian Stock manages to make a clearance.

82:37

Inswinging corner taken by Chris Burke, save by Carl Ikeme.

82:22

Keith Fahey takes the chance to get an effort at goal. Blocked by James O'Connor.

80:53

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Chris Burke from the right by-line to the near post.

80:28

David Murphy sends in a cross, Habib Beye manages to make a clearance.

79:24

David Murphy has a drilled shot. Save by Carl Ikeme.

78:53

Inswinging corner taken by Chris Burke from the left by-line, clearance by Herita Ilunga.

78:47

The ball is sent over by Jonathan Spector, James O'Connor makes a clearance.

77:39

Effort on goal by Nathan Redmond from 25 yards. Blocked by George Friend.

76:47

The offside flag is raised against Chris Burke. Herita Ilunga takes the indirect free kick.

74:31 Substitution

Substitution Giles Barnes is brought on as a substitute for James Coppinger.

74:14 Substitution

Substitution George Friend is brought on as a substitute for Marc-Antoine Fortune.

74:00

The offside flag is raised against Billy Sharp. Boaz Myhill takes the free kick.

72:20 Substitution

Substitution Nikola Zigic replaces Chris Wood.

72:12

Chris Burke produces a cross, clearance made by Habib Beye.

70:21

Effort on goal by Chris Wood from just inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.

69:41

Chris Burke takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, James O'Connor manages to make a clearance.

69:35

The ball is delivered by Marlon King, James O'Connor manages to make a clearance.

68:40

Herita Ilunga challenges Chris Burke unfairly and gives away a free kick. Stephen Carr restarts play with the free kick.

67:54

A cross is delivered by Nathan Redmond.

67:45

The ball is swung over by Keith Fahey, clearance made by Brian Stock.

67:38

Stephen Carr produces a cross, blocked by Herita Ilunga.

66:18 Substitution

Substitution (Birmingham) makes a substitution, with Keith Fahey coming on for Guirane N'Daw.

64:26

The ball is crossed by Jonathan Spector, Habib Beye makes a clearance.

63:47

Drilled right-footed shot by Nathan Redmond. Blocked by Brian Stock.

62:34 Substitution

Substitution Wade Elliott goes off and Nathan Redmond comes on.

61:48

Assist on the goal came from Chris Burke.

61:48 Goal scored

Goal - Marlon King - Birmingham 1 - 1 Doncaster Marlon King scores a goal from inside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Birmingham 1-1 Doncaster.

60:57

The ball is sent over by Marc-Antoine Fortune.

59:02

The ball is swung over by Chris Burke, save by Carl Ikeme.

56:43

David Murphy fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick, save by Carl Ikeme.

56:43 Booking

Booking Habib Beye is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

56:26

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Marlon King by Habib Beye.

54:05

Chris Burke produces a cross, Habib Beye manages to make a clearance.

52:55

Corner taken by Wade Elliott played to the near post, James O'Connor manages to make a clearance.

52:48

David Murphy crosses the ball, James O'Connor gets a block in.

51:49

The ball is sent over by Chris Burke, clearance made by Habib Beye.

49:49

The assist for the goal came from Billy Sharp.

49:49 Goal scored

Goal - Marc-Antoine Fortune - Birmingham 0 - 1 Doncaster Marc-Antoine Fortune grabs a goal from the edge of the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Birmingham 0-1 Doncaster.

49:24

Stephen Carr delivers the ball, Habib Beye manages to make a clearance.

48:45

Herita Ilunga is caught offside. Boaz Myhill takes the indirect free kick.

47:22 Booking

Booking The referee shows Brian Stock a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

47:02

Guirane N'Daw fouled by Brian Stock, the ref awards a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Boaz Myhill.

45:30

Effort from just outside the box by Brian Stock goes over the bar.

45:01

The second half begins.

45:00 +1:34

The ref blows to signal half-time.

45:00 +0:24

Marlon King takes a shot from just inside the penalty box which clears the crossbar.

44:51

Shot by Chris Burke. Blocked by Herita Ilunga.

44:32

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Wade Elliott.

44:13

Wade Elliott sends in a cross, Chris Wood takes a shot. Save by Carl Ikeme.

43:30

Corner taken by Wade Elliott, Marc-Antoine Fortune makes a clearance.

43:17

Shot by Marlon King from 25 yards. Blocked by Habib Beye.

41:09

Brian Stock delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, Steven Caldwell makes a clearance.

41:09 Booking

Booking Chris Burke receives a caution.

40:58

Chris Burke is penalised for a handball.

39:59

A cross is delivered by David Murphy, Chris Wood has a header from deep inside the six-yard box and clears the crossbar.

38:28

The ball is swung over by Chris Burke, save by Carl Ikeme.

36:47

The ball is delivered by Chris Burke.

36:25

Simon Gillett challenges Marlon King unfairly and gives away a free kick. Stephen Carr takes the direct free kick.

35:45

Brian Stock takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, Chris Wood manages to make a clearance.

33:38

Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Brian Stock, Billy Sharp has a header from deep inside the six-yard box and clears the crossbar.

31:35

David Murphy produces a cross, Chris Wood has a headed effort at goal from just inside the area that misses to the right of the target.

30:49

Simon Gillett is caught offside. Boaz Myhill takes the indirect free kick.

28:45

Corner taken by Wade Elliott, David Murphy has an effort at goal from 18 yards. Marc-Antoine Fortune gets a block in.

28:41

A cross is delivered by Chris Burke, James O'Connor makes a clearance.

24:46

Corner taken by Wade Elliott, Herold Goulon makes a clearance.

24:29

Stephen Carr takes a shot. Herold Goulon gets a block in.

23:57

A cross is delivered by Wade Elliott, Sam Hird makes a clearance.

21:25

Marc-Antoine Fortune delivers the ball, Header from deep inside the area by Herold Goulon goes over the bar.

20:44

Marlon King challenges Sam Hird unfairly and gives away a free kick. Herita Ilunga crosses the ball in from the free kick, Curtis Davies manages to make a clearance.

19:16

Simon Gillett produces a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area and misses left.

18:57

James Coppinger has an effort at goal from 18 yards. Save made by Boaz Myhill.

17:55

James O'Connor produces a cross, Boaz Myhill makes a save.

16:38

Marc-Antoine Fortune is caught offside. Boaz Myhill restarts play with the free kick.

14:05

Shot from deep inside the area by Wade Elliott clears the crossbar.

12:48

The referee penalises Billy Sharp for handball. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from David Murphy, blocked by James O'Connor.

11:47

Brian Stock concedes a free kick for a foul on Wade Elliott. Strike comes in from David Murphy from the free kick, blocked by Billy Sharp.

11:25

Brian Stock crosses the ball, save made by Boaz Myhill.

11:18

A cross is delivered by James O'Connor, blocked by David Murphy.

9:44

Billy Sharp is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Boaz Myhill.

7:51

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Wade Elliott, Carl Ikeme makes a save.

7:38

Shot by Guirane N'Daw. Billy Sharp gets a block in.

7:15

Wade Elliott takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post, Marc-Antoine Fortune manages to make a clearance.

7:02

The ball is delivered by Chris Burke, clearance made by Habib Beye.

5:36

Sam Hird concedes a free kick for a foul on Chris Wood. Free kick crossed right-footed by Wade Elliott from left channel, clearance made by Marc-Antoine Fortune.

4:35

Unfair challenge on Marc-Antoine Fortune by Stephen Carr results in a free kick. Brian Stock restarts play with the free kick.

0:15

Unfair challenge on Habib Beye by Marlon King results in a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Carl Ikeme.

0:00

The game gets underway.

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