Birmingham secured a comfortable 3-1 victory over relegation-threatened Doncaster to kick-start their stalling promotion push and climb to fourth.

Frederic Piquionne's header from Simon Gillett's cross opened the scoring but the hosts' lead never looked secure.

Marlon King rattled the bar before Carl Ikeme could only parry Nikola Zigic's effort to David Murphy who levelled.

A superb long-range strike from Chris Burke and cool finish from King ensured the Blues pressure was fully rewarded.

The three points were welcome to Chris Hughton's side, who had only managed one win in their last seven league outings.

The visitors could have taken the lead before the break but referee Colin Webster opted to book King for diving when he appeared to have been caught by a sprawling Ikeme on the half-hour mark.

Zigic also poked against the post from five yards, but the Serbian's wastefulness was reprieved when Burke cut inside and arrowed a 25-yard shot into the top corner to put his side ahead.

Birmingham looked likelier to extend their lead than be pegged back, and King duly doubled their advantage with an adroit finish from Murphy's cross-field pass.

The defeat leaves Doncaster bottom after just one win from nine games in March.

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (6)

Doncaster Rovers

  • 27 Ikeme
  • 03 Friend
  • 11 Lockwood
  • 31 Ilunga
  • 41 Beye (Dumbuya - 75' )
  • 16 Oster (Coppinger - 82' )
  • 17 Barnes
  • 18 Gillett
  • 10 Diouf
  • 19 Piquionne (Brown - 67' )
  • 22 Robert Booked

Substitutes

  • 21 Hird
  • 24 Dumbuya
  • 26 Coppinger
  • 09 Brown
  • 23 Bennett

Birmingham City

  • 01 Myhill
  • 03 Murphy
  • 04 Caldwell
  • 06 Ramage
  • 24 Davies
  • 07 Burke (Redmond - 87' )
  • 08 N'daw
  • 11 Townsend (Elliott - 64' )
  • 12 Mutch
  • 09 King Booked
  • 19 Zigic (Huseklepp - 87' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Doyle
  • 10 Huseklepp
  • 14 Gomis
  • 15 Elliott
  • 22 Redmond
Ref: Webster
Att: 8,656

Match Stats

Shots

5 12

On target

3 5

Corners

2 8

Fouls

10 9

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:11 Full time

Full Time The final whistle is blown by the referee.

90:00 +4:51

Free kick awarded for a foul by Wade Elliott on Simon Gillett. Direct free kick taken by Simon Gillett.

90:00 +3:27

Jordon Mutch fouled by Simon Gillett, the ref awards a free kick. Jordon Mutch restarts play with the free kick.

86:00

David Murphy takes the direct free kick.

86:00 Substitution

Substitution Erik Huseklepp joins the action as a substitute, replacing Nikola Zigic.

86:00 Substitution

Substitution Nathan Redmond on for Chris Burke.

86:00

El-Hadji Diouf gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on David Murphy.

82:50

A cross is delivered by Jordon Mutch, save by Carl Ikeme.

81:10

Direct free kick taken by Peter Ramage. Outswinging corner taken by Jordon Mutch.

81:10 Substitution

Substitution James Coppinger comes on in place of John Oster.

81:10 Booking

Booking Fabien Robert receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

81:05

Unfair challenge on Peter Ramage by Fabien Robert results in a free kick.

79:39

Assist by David Murphy.

79:39 Goal scored

Goal - Marlon King - Doncaster 1 - 3 Birmingham Marlon King fires in a goal from just inside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Doncaster 1-3 Birmingham.

79:31

The ball is delivered by David Murphy,

76:23

Free kick awarded for a foul by Mustapha Dumbuya on Wade Elliott. The free kick is delivered right-footed by David Murphy from left wing, clearance made by John Oster. Peter Ramage fouled by Simon Gillett, the ref awards a free kick. Guirane N'Daw restarts play with the free kick.

74:42

Boaz Myhill takes the indirect free kick.

74:42 Substitution

Substitution Mustapha Dumbuya comes on in place of Habib Beye.

74:42

Chris Brown is caught offside.

73:16

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

70:30

Shot from just outside the area by Chris Burke misses to the right of the target.

67:51

Chris Burke takes a shot. Save made by Carl Ikeme. Corner taken right-footed by Jordon Mutch, Curtis Davies produces a header from inside the area that goes over the bar. Unfair challenge on Marlon King by Adam Lockwood results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Guirane N'Daw.

66:03 Substitution

Substitution Frederic Piquionne goes off and Chris Brown comes on.

65:00

Fabien Robert crosses the ball, clearance by Steven Caldwell.

64:19

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by El-Hadji Diouf from the right by-line, Guirane N'Daw manages to make a clearance.

62:45 Substitution

Substitution Wade Elliott replaces Andros Townsend.

62:45

The ball is delivered by Chris Burke, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Jordon Mutch goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

60:47 Goal scored

Goal - Chris Burke - Doncaster 1 - 2 Birmingham Chris Burke finds the back of the net with a goal from just outside the area to the top right corner of the goal. Doncaster 1-2 Birmingham.

59:18

Unfair challenge on John Oster by Andros Townsend results in a free kick. John Oster takes the free kick.

51:22

Steven Caldwell gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on El-Hadji Diouf. El-Hadji Diouf delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from right wing, clearance made by Steven Caldwell. Simon Gillett produces a cross, Giles Barnes produces a headed effort from deep inside the six-yard box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

56:11

Simon Gillett takes a shot. Boaz Myhill makes a save.

54:37

Free kick awarded for a foul by Simon Gillett on Nikola Zigic. Free kick crossed left-footed by Andros Townsend from right channel, El-Hadji Diouf makes a clearance.

51:22

Steven Caldwell gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on El-Hadji Diouf. Free kick crossed by El-Hadji Diouf, Steven Caldwell makes a clearance. The ball is crossed by Simon Gillett, Header from close range by Giles Barnes misses to the right of the goal.

49:52

Steven Caldwell concedes a free kick for a foul on Giles Barnes. Free kick crossed right-footed by John Oster from right channel, David Murphy makes a clearance.

48:31

A cross is delivered by Andros Townsend, Nikola Zigic takes a shot. Carl Ikeme makes a save.

46:50

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Giles Barnes by Nikola Zigic. Free kick crossed by John Oster, Steven Caldwell manages to make a clearance.

45:01

The match restarts for the second half.

45:00 +2:23 Half time

Half Time The match has reached half-time.

45:00 +1:43

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Jordon Mutch, save made by Carl Ikeme.

42:45

The assistant referee signals for offside against Fabien Robert. Boaz Myhill takes the indirect free kick.

41:10

Peter Ramage challenges El-Hadji Diouf unfairly and gives away a free kick. The free kick is swung in right-footed by El-Hadji Diouf. Frederic Piquionne is ruled offside. Boaz Myhill takes the free kick.

39:29

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Jordon Mutch, save made by Carl Ikeme.

37:39

Chris Burke fouled by Simon Gillett, the ref awards a free kick. Marlon King restarts play with the free kick. Nikola Zigic produces a right-footed shot from close in and hits the post.

35:43

Peter Ramage delivers the ball, Carl Ikeme makes a save.

34:03

Corner taken right-footed by Jordon Mutch from the left by-line, save by Carl Ikeme.

31:02 Booking

Booking Marlon King booked.

29:22

Andros Townsend handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Carl Ikeme takes the free kick.

27:04

A cross is delivered by Andros Townsend, George Friend makes a clearance.

23:50

Free kick awarded for a foul by Herita Ilunga on Chris Burke. Andros Townsend crosses the ball in from the free kick, clearance made by Habib Beye. Jordon Mutch takes a inswinging corner.

22:51

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on El-Hadji Diouf by Chris Burke. El-Hadji Diouf restarts play with the free kick.

19:12

El-Hadji Diouf is caught offside. Boaz Myhill restarts play with the free kick.

16:54

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by El-Hadji Diouf from the right by-line, Simon Gillett takes a shot from just inside the penalty box which clears the crossbar.

14:40

The assist for the goal came from Nikola Zigic.

14:40 Goal scored

Goal - David Murphy - Doncaster 1 - 1 Birmingham David Murphy scores a headed goal from close in. Doncaster 1-1 Birmingham.

14:00

Marlon King takes a shot. Outswinging corner taken by Jordon Mutch from the left by-line,

12:50

Curtis Davies challenges Frederic Piquionne unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed by El-Hadji Diouf, Nikola Zigic makes a clearance.

9:49

Frederic Piquionne crosses the ball.

8:13

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Nikola Zigic by Adam Lockwood. Free kick crossed right-footed by Jordon Mutch.

7:36

Fabien Robert takes a shot. Boaz Myhill makes a save.

6:18

Effort from just outside the area by Nikola Zigic goes over the bar.

5:52

The ball is sent over by Andros Townsend, save by Carl Ikeme.

4:50

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Jordon Mutch played to the near post, Header from close in by Marlon King misses to the left of the target.

3:38

Assist on the goal came from Simon Gillett.

3:38 Goal scored

Goal - Frederic Piquionne - Doncaster 1 - 0 Birmingham Frederic Piquionne finds the back of the net with a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Doncaster 1-0 Birmingham.

3:34

The ball is crossed by Simon Gillett,

0:49

Giles Barnes fouled by Guirane N'Daw, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by John Oster.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to begin the match.

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