Half-Time Report: Birmingham City take control against sorry Fulham

Birmingham City have broken their three-game goalless run to lead a sloppy Fulham side 3-0 at half time in their Championship clash at Craven Cottage this afternoon.

Ross McCormack saw his early free kick blocked by the Blues wall, before Tom Cairney and Jamie O'Hara's neat exchange of passes on the edge of the visitor's box allowed the latter to shoot wide of goal.

Ryan Tunnicliffe then picked out Moussa Dembele from the left flank, only for the French forward's shot to be blocked by a Birmingham defender.

However, the home side's bright start quickly came off the rails when Birmingham broke the deadlock through Stephen Gleeson, who picked out the bottom corner with a shot from the edge of the area on 19 minutes.

Gary Rowett's side then doubled their lead from the penalty spot after Joe Lewis had felled Clayton Donaldson, with Paul Caddis hammering home from 12 yards.

With Fulham now at sixes and sevens, Rowett's side went three clear when Jon Toral guided a cross into the roof of the net to leave Birmingham firmly in charge of the game at the break.