Birmingham 2-1 Ipswich: Blues back to winning ways

Birmingham bounced back to winning form when they accounted for struggling Ipswich 2-1 but it may have come at a cost.

It was was a night of mixed fortunes for leading scorer Clayton Donaldson, who converted a 43rd-minute penalty to open the scoring but just a minute later had to be carried off the pitch with a bad leg injury which could keep him sidelined.

The advantage carved out by Donaldson was consolidated eight minutes into the second half when Birmingham's skipper Michael Morrison scored a well-taken goal. But they had to hang on as the visitors hit back with a 69th-minute goal from Adam Webster to set up a tense finish.

Birmingham, desperate to regroup after two successive heavy defeats during which time they conceded seven goals, struggled to find any shape in the early stages against an Ipswich side eager to improve on recent performances.

Birmingham's defensive frailties were nearly exposed when David McGoldrick fired over the bar. The Republic of Ireland international continued to figure prominently in an effort to give Ipswich the upper hand but with the worst away goalscoring record in the Sky Bet Championship, the Tractor Boys were unable to make any real impact.

Birmingham worked their way back into the game and created the first real attempt on goal in the 25th minute when the previously inconspicuous Lukas Jutkiewicz forced Bartosz Bialkowski to make a fine save flinging himself to his right.

Tomas Kuszczak likewise distinguished himself after Tom Lawrence worked his way down the left and pulled the ball back into the path of McGoldrick, who saw his effort brilliantly saved by the Birmingham goalkeeper.

It was certainly a timely save as Birmingham went ahead in the 43rd minute when Varney handled a Jutkiewicz shot in the area following a corner and Donaldson converted the penalty to give Birmingham a somewhat fortuitous lead.

A minute later Donaldson was involved in a midfield clash with Webster and had to be stretchered off to be replaced by Che Adams.

Birmingham increased their lead in the 53rd minute when David Cotterill's left-wing corner was headed home in the six-yard box by Morrison.

Ipswich made a last throw of the dice when they sent on Freddie Sears and Jonathan Williams. They were rewarded when Webster was on hand to head home a Lawrence cross in the 69th minute and in the closing stages enjoyed their best spell of the game, but could not find an equaliser.

Birmingham first-team coach Mark Sale:

"We knew had to get a result. We played well in stages but Ipswich didn't give us much time on the ball.

"After scoring the two goals we then conceded a goal and we were a little nervy in the last 15 minutes."

Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy:

Birmingham's second goal was a disgrace. The penalty also came from a corner and I thought we had a perfectly legitimate goal late in the game.

"The referee gave a foul against Christophe Berra who appeared to back into Ryan Shotton who had not jumped. But this is typical of what has been happening this season. We didn't play badly and deserved something from the match."