Birmingham 1 Doncaster 0

Nafti and Coppinger in aerial battle.

Ten-man Birmingham showed great resilience to grind out a dogged victory over a Doncaster side who dominated from almost start to finish in the Coca-Cola Championship clash at St Andrews.

Cameron Jerome volleyed home the only goal of the game just seconds after the restart as Blues played for 66 minutes with a numerical disadvantage following Mehdi Nafti's straight red for a needless two-footed challenge on James Coppinger.

The result was harsh on Rovers who played with confidence from the first whistle, spraying the ball around with ease to raise doubts over which side had entered the second tier from the Barclays Premier League and which from League One.

The hosts did have chances to level in the second half, substitute Darren Byfield forcing goalkeeper Maik Taylor to tip a stunning long-range drive onto a post while several penalty claims were waved away by referee Gavin Ward.

The result maintained Birmingham's unbeaten start to life back in the Championship and represented Doncaster's second defeat since their promotion.

Blues boss Alex McLeish started with Jerome and Kevin Phillips in attack, while captain Brian Stock was included in Rovers' starting XI despite midweek international duty with Wales.

And it was the visitors who started brightly, failing to give the hosts any time on the ball while also looking dangerous down either flank.

But Rovers goalkeeper Neil Sullivan was called upon to make the first real save of the game, scrambling across his goal to tip Sebastian Larsson's vicious 40-yard inswinging free-kick around a post.

Rovers forward James Hayter was then denied a penalty at the other end after going to ground easily.

The home side's task was made even harder after 24 minutes as Nafti was shown a straight red for a dangerous lunge 30 yards from goal.

Lewis Guy then went down under a suspicious challenge from the onrushing Taylor but the referee once again opted not to award a spot-kick.

McLeish was forced to bring on James McFadden before the interval as the hosts left the field to boos from the St Andrews crowd.

A new stadium clock was unveiled above the Main Stand at half-time in memory of Blues legend Jeff Hall, and that may have proved inspiration for fans and players alike as within 35 seconds of the restart the hosts had taken the lead.

Liam Ridgewell pumped a long ball up the field and Marcus Bent, on for Phillips at the break, powerfully headed the ball goalwards where Jerome was on hand to volley unmarked past a stranded Sullivan from six yards.

Richie Wellens wasted a chance to immediately pull the visitors level before Larsson also went clean through, only to fire his effort straight at Sullivan.

Wellens had a taste for goal as he went on to try his luck with two efforts from distance, before Stock forced Taylor to tip his strike over the bar.

Byfield's 30-yard thunderbolt then saw Taylor produce a fantastic fingertip save onto a post, which he then recovered to collect as the clash entered the final 20 minutes.

But Blues hung on claim victory and extend their unbeaten home record to an impressive 11 games.

Teams

Birmingham Maik Taylor, Parnaby, Martin Taylor Ridgewell,Murphy, Larsson, Nafti, Carsley, Owusu-Abeyie (McFadden 38),Phillips (Bent 46), Jerome (Kelly 82).

Subs Not Used: Agustien, Krysiak.

Sent Off: Nafti (24).

Booked: Larsson, McFadden.

Goals: Jerome 46.

Doncaster Sullivan, O'Connor, Mills, Hird, Roberts (Woods 77),Coppinger, Stock, Wellens, Guy (Byfield 65), Taylor (Price 65),Hayter.

Subs Not Used: Chambers, Lockwood.

Booked: Stock.

Att: 18,165

Ref: Gavin Ward (Surrey).