Half-Time Report: David Cotterill gives Birmingham City the lead

Nottingham Forest have been thwarted by David Cotterill's standout first-half effort in the Championship this afternoon, as Stuart Pearce's men trail home side Birmingham City 1-0 at St Andrew's.

The hosts made the most of a dominant start in the opening minutes and they soon found the lead through Cotterill, who produced a scorcher from outside of the box that flew into the top-left corner of Karl Darlow's goal.

Clayton Donaldson should have increased City's lead, but Darlow produced a good save to deny the Blues striker, who could only fire straight at the keeper from close range.

Forest looked to respond as Ben Osborn made good progress before crossing for Britt Assombalonga, with the striker lashing his attempt horribly over the crossbar, leaving Darren Randolph looking relieved.

The hosts should really have doubled their lead before the half-time whistle, but Demarai Gray saw his shot across goal somehow stopped down low by an adroit Darlow, who managed to keep his side in the game going into the interval.