Bleak outlook continues for Rovers after latest setback

Goals from David Murphy, Chris Burke and Marlon King mean it is one win from 15 games for Dean Saunder’s men, who will spend this afternoon nervously awaiting news as to how their rivals near the foot of the Championship fare.

Victory for fourth-bottom Bristol City at home to Derby County, for instance, would leave Doncaster seven points adrift of safety with just six games remaining.

Of course, a squad containing thoroughbreds such as El Hadji Dioud and Frederic Piquionne can never be considered racing certainties to go down.

But with time running out for a Doncaster side with the second worst defensive record in the division, the prospect of the South Yorkshire club kicking off next season in League One is fast becoming reality.

It wasn’t just the good folk of Doncaster that left disappointed with last night’s result, either, due to both Hull City and Leeds United having lost ground on the top six courtesy of Birmingham leapfrogging Middlesbrough and Brighton and up to fourth in the table.

The game being moved to Friday night due to the Lincoln Handicap being run at the town’s racecourse today meant Rovers had a golden chance to steal a march on their rivals.

But it wasn’t to be despite Piquionne opening the scoring on four minutes and Saunders men contributing fully to an entertaining contest.

At times, the game was ridiculously open with both sides affording the other far too much space in midfield.

What this lack of closing down did do, though, was ensure the 8,656 crowd were royally entertained as play swung from one end to the other.

On chances created, Birmingham could consider themselves unfortunate to go in at the break only on level terms.

Not only did the Blues hit the post and crossbar during a pulsating first half but they also had what seemed a strong penalty appeal turned down when Rovers goalkeeper Carl Ikeme appeared to catch Marlon King only for referee Colin Webster to book the former Hull striker for diving.

With King having just knocked the ball past a prone Ikeme, he would have had an open goal so there seemed little sense in the striker throwing himself to the ground as the official suggested.

King’s yellow card came in the 32nd minute, by which time both teams had been rewarded for their attacking intent with a goal apiece.

Doncaster had been the first to strike, a wonderful deep cross by Simon Gillett catching the visitors defence flat-footed and allowing Piquionne to head past Boaz Myhill at the far post.

It took Birmingham just 11 minutes to reply and again it was an outstanding delivery from out wide, this time a Jordon Mutch corner, that created the opening.

Nikola Zigic seemed like benefiting as his header flew goalwards only for Ikeme to pull off a brilliant parry.

Unfortunately for the Rovers goalkeeper, Murphy was then the first to react and prod the ball over the line from close range.

To be fair to the Blues, they deserved that particular slice of good fortune after twice being denied by the woodwork during the opening 45 minutes.

King was the first to be left frustrated when his fierce shot rebounded to safety off the underside of the crossbar with Ikeme well beaten.

Rovers then had a second let-off when Zigic fired against the post from close range after being picked out by Burke.

Zigic had plundered four goals on his previous visit to Yorkshire to bring the curtain down on Simon Grayson’s reign as Leeds United manager in January.

The towering Serbian striker had been unplayable at Elland Road as Leeds crashed to a 4-1 defeat but it wasn’t his night against Doncaster, a point underlined four minutes into the second half when he was denied twice in quick succession by blocks from Ikeme.

The 1,856 visiting fans may have been left disappointed by Zigic’s double miss but they were able to celebrate City going ahead on 62 minutes when Burke curled a sublime shot round Ikeme and into the corner of the net.

King then sealed the points 10 minutes from time with a first finish from the edge of the area after latching on to a delightful curled cross from Burke.

On the balance of play, Birmingham deserved the win but at the final whistle Rovers were still able to look back and rue two excellent opportunities that were spurned just before the hour with the score at 1-1.

The first saw Gillett denied by a superb Myhill block after Fabien Robert had opened up the Blues defence.

Then, as the visitors again failed to react quickly enough to slick Doncaster passing, Diouf fired over from eight yards when unmarked.

It was a miss that Birmingham would capitalise on and nudge Rovers a step closer to League One.

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Doncaster Rovers: Ikeme; Beye (Dumbuya 76), Friend, Lockwood, Ilunga; Oster (Coppinger 82), Gillett, Barnes, Robert; Diouf, Piquionne (Brown 67). Unused substitutes: Hird, Bennett.

Birmingham City: Myhill; Ramage, Caldwell, Davies, Murphy; Burke (Redmond 88), Mutch, N’Daw, Townsend (Elliott 64); King, Zigic (Huseklepp 88). Unused substitutes: Doyle, Gomis

Referee: C Webster (Tyne & Wear).