Half-Time Report: Clayton Donaldson brace leaves Birmingham City in control

Clayton Donaldson scored twice inside the final 10 minutes of the first half to help Birmingham City into a 3-0 lead over Nottingham Forest in the Championship this afternoon.

Birmingham were on the attack from the start, with David Cotterill firing just wide inside the opening two minutes, while Demarai Gray had an effort cleared off the line moments later.

Forest's first chance came just before the quarter-of-an-hour mark when Henri Lansbury tried to find the bottom corner, but his curling finish went just wide.

The home side continued to enjoy the majority of the possession, but it was Birmingham who opened the scoring 10 minutes before half time when Cotterill drilled a free kick in low from just outside the box.

The visitors needed just three minutes to double their lead as Cotterill tried another low shot on which Clayton Donaldson got the final touch, flicking it past Karl Darlow.

Donaldson was on target again before the break when Darlow palmed an Andrew Shinnie effort into the bath of the striker, leaving him with a tap in to extend the lead and pile the misery on Forest.