Sean O'Driscoll insisted Mehdi Nafti's sending-off hindered rather than helped his team's performance as Doncaster dominated 10-man Birmingham at St Andrew's but ended up losing 1-0.
Cameron Jerome netted the only goal of the game for Blues with a well-taken finish from six yards less than 35 seconds after the restart.
The lively former England Under-21 international pounced on a well-directed flick-on from substitute Marcus B
ent to lash home unmarked past a stranded Neil Sullivan.
Doncaster started the game very brightly, closing down the hosts and attacking down the flanks. But Nafti's sending off for a two-footed lunge on James Coppinger after 24 minutes made Blues more defensive and life more difficult for the visitors.
"Beforehand we were the better team, created more chances and worked hard for it," said O'Driscoll. "I don't think the sending-off had an effect on the game whatsoever, it just made it easier for Birmingham to set their stall out and be solid.
"When you lose against 10 men you have to give credit to the opposition – to be fair to them they worked hard but, for me, the sending-off didn't change the game. I can't fault the effort of the players, I can't fault what we tried to do. We didn't lump it, we played the ball, we created chances and there were one or two penalty shouts we will have to have a look at again on DVD.
"Overall, I thought the performance was excellent. We came here to perform and I think we did."
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish admitted his side failed to really get going but paid tribute to them for picking up all three points against the odds.
"It wasn't pretty but hats off to the 10 men who went out there in the second half, dug deep, rolled their sleeves up and scored a fantastic goal," said the Blues boss. "I'm grateful for the spirit of the players and I've got belief in them – I know they can play better.
"I think Doncaster passed it well and it was difficult for our midfielders to get close to them. But we defended well and had a good, solid back-four display. Maik Taylor also made a couple of excelent saves."
Birmingham: Maik Taylor; Parnaby, Martin Taylor, Ridgewell, Murphy; Larsson, Nafti, Carsley, Owusu-Abeyie (McFadden 38); Phillips (Bent 46), Jerome (Kelly 82). Unused substitutes: Agustien, Krysiak.
Doncaster: Sullivan; O'Connor, Mills, Hird, Roberts (Woods 77); Coppinger, Stock, Wellens, Guy (Byfield 65); Taylor (Price 65), Hayter. Unused substitutes: Chambers, Lockwood.
Referee: Gavin Ward (Surrey).
Man of the match: Maik Taylor.
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