Birmingham Reaction: Rowett delighted with another win

Last updated : 12 January 2015 By Paul Farrington

Clayton Donaldson's hat-trick over powered the Latics and his opening two goals coming in side the first fifteen minutes killed the game before a contest began.

Speaking to the Birmingham City official website, Rowett said: “That’s two or three times now we’ve scored early at home. When you score that early goal at home it really gives the players that little bit of license and enthusiasm to be a bit more attacking.

"To go 2-0 up, I thought some of our early counter-attacking play was very good and our attacks were incisive and we possibly could have had one or two more goals in that first half an hour. I was disappointed to concede the goal we did. It was something we’d looked at a lot.

"We didn’t force McClean onto his unfavoured right foot and he cut in and scored a goal of brilliant individual skill which Darren (Randolph) had no chance with. It gave them a little bit of a lifeline back into the game and I felt at that point it was very important how we coped with that setback."

There was also praise for Donaldson who's attacking play and hat-trick was the key difference between the two sides.

“All three goals were very different goals," added Rowett. "The first one we thought there would be some space on the back post with some of the crosses because of their back three. It was a wonderful ball in by David Cotterill for the first one.

"I think he’s a good a crosser of the ball as anyone in the division and Clayton picked a great position up to score. The second goal it was skill by Andy Shinnie. He showed lovely feet and was very unlucky not to score himself. Clayton read it and anticpated it and reacted faster than any defender around him.

"For the third Demarai (Gray) shows a different side to his game and goes in very bravely and wins the header and again he is in the right place at the right time. His anticipation is very good and I think he deserved his hat-trick today.”

Birmingham were second bottom on the 27th October when Rowett took over the reigns. Since then the former Burton Albion boss has overseen eight wins in twelve games and a strong rise up the Championship table.

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