Saturday 27 August 2016 21:30, UK
Birmingham boss Gary Rowett hailed the performance of Clayton Donaldson after an impressive 3-0 home win over Norwich - their first league success in nine games at St. Andrew's.
Donaldson scored two second-half goals which destroyed a previously-unbeaten Norwich after David Davis had given Blues a 22nd-minute lead.
Rowett said: "With him going away on international duty I thought that might be at the back of his mind. He has come in for some criticism for not scoring but I thought he was magnificent.
"Him and Che Adams played exceptionally as an attacking partnership and worked extremely hard."
Rowett was relieved to see his side remain strong in the second half and added: "Apart from the Cardiff game we have been ahead and then struggled to retain the lead.
"If we had not conceded a goal with four minutes to go at Wigan we would now be there near the top of the table.
"Saying that the win over Norwich was the best we have played for 90 minutes. We defended resolutely. We pressed the ball and played with some good quality and got our rewards with some fine goals.
"It was a really pleasing win after a disappointing home defeat against Wolves last week. The players showed a lot of character on and off the ball and it the hardest we have worked let alone the best we have played.
"Norwich did not have too many chances. They are a good team and not having Cameron Jerome available would make it more difficult the way they played. We caused them a lot of problems and I would say they are as good as any team in this division."
It was some smart counter-attacking play which enabled Birmingham to eventually seal a comfortable home win although Norwich were not rewarded for their continuous second-half attacking play.
Birmingham's first-half goal from Davis enabled them to hold a slender advantage and for long spells of the second half Norwich threatened to grab an equaliser.
But it was the Canaries' commitment to attack which eventually cost them the game as Birmingham caught the opposition on the break and Donaldson eventually killed them off.
He converted a 67th minute penalty after being brought down by Steven Whittaker and then completed an outstanding performance with a solo goal six minutes from time.
Norwich boss Alex Neil said: "It is never nice but it was the first away Championship game we have lost since I've been at the club and it was extremely frustrating.
"If you do not do the basics it is going to be difficult. The first goal was a cross which should have been dealt with while the second was a penalty which was unnecessary and the third was a loose pass which was a common theme in our play.
"To be fair some of these players have performed really well in the past but did not do themselves justice in this game.
"In this league if you do not scrap you are in trouble and against Birmingham we were not at the races. We lost the game as we were makers of our own downfall.
"The game ranks as one of the poorest since I've been at the club, without question. I do not think we competed.
"It was a shock to watch that performance and for some of the players it was the poorest I seen them play which was disappointing."
