Match ends, Birmingham City 3, Wigan Athletic 1.
BirminghamBirmingham City3WiganWigan Athletic1
Birmingham City's resurgence continued as Clayton Donaldon's hat-trick piled more misery on Malky Mackay's Wigan.
The Latics were on their way to an eighth loss in 10 league games when Donaldson nodded in David Cotterill's cross on 67 seconds, before tapping home after Andrew Shinnie hit the post.
James McClean curled one in for Wigan, but Donaldson helped in Demarai Gray's header for his hat-trick.
Blues have now won seven of their 11 league games under boss Gary Rowett.
The St Andrew's side were down in 22nd when Rowett arrived from Burton, but they have lost just twice in the Championship since then and are up to 12th, seven points off the play-offs.
Mackay has been unable to conjure a similar affect at Wigan, who have lost six of their eight games under the Scot and are five points adrift of safety.
The visitors were lacklustre for large parts of the game, but had a mountain to climb when Donaldson, who now has five goals in two games, headed in the opener with barely a minute gone.
His second of the day came when Shinnie's effort rebounded back off the post and the striker was the first to react to turn it in.
The Latics looked uninspired going forward, but McClean, who had already missed a presentable close-range chance, cut inside and bended in a superb shot from outside the area.
Ex-Blues defender Liam Ridgewell was fortunate to stay on the pitch on his Wigan debut after he appeared to elbow David Davis.
And, while McClean and Shaun Maloney forced saves from Darren Randolph in the second half, Donaldson finished off the game by getting a faint touch to Gray's header.
Birmingham manager Gary Rowett:
"Clayton Donaldson always does so much for the team.
"His role is so pivotal to us and he does it brilliantly, working hard, holding the ball up, chasing things. He's a real team player and the way he took all three goals - each very different - was excellent."
Wigan boss Malky Mackay:
"I think we shot ourselves in the foot, giving the ball away in a really poor area and against any team, you're going to be punished. We gave ourselves a mountain to climb with both of the first half goals.
"Then we settled and getting a goal settled us down more. We were in the ascendancy after that and had two or three chances early in the second half. You've got to take those, but we didn't and then the third goal deflated us."
Line-ups
Birmingham
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Randolph
- 31Caddis
- 28Morrison
- 4Robinson
- 3Grounds
- 26Davis
- 8Gleeson
- 11Cotterill
- 22ShinnieSubstituted forNovakat 74'minutes
- 33GraySubstituted forThomasat 87'minutes
- 9Donaldson
Substitutes
- 6Edgar
- 10Thomas
- 12Novak
- 17Reilly
- 19Zigic
- 21Doyle
- 23Spector
Wigan
Formation 5-4-1
- 1Carson
- 24Perch
- 27RidgewellSubstituted forWaghornat 45'minutes
- 4RamisSubstituted forBarnettat 66'minutes
- 30Kiernan
- 3Taylor
- 10Maloney
- 7McCannBooked at 5mins
- 29Forshaw
- 19CowieSubstituted forWatsonat 31'minutes
- 11McClean
Substitutes
- 8Watson
- 13Nicholls
- 17Boyce
- 25Barnett
- 32Fortuné
- 33Waghorn
- 43Cosgrove
- Referee:
- Mick Russell
- Attendance:
- 16,117
Match Stats
Home TeamBirminghamAway TeamWigan
- Possession
- Home43%
- Away57%
- Shots
- Home20
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away3
- Corners
- Home8
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home7
- Away7
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Birmingham City 3, Wigan Athletic 1.
Post update
Shaun Maloney (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Michael Morrison (Birmingham City).
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Offside, Birmingham City. David Davis tries a through ball, but Wes Thomas is caught offside.
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Chris McCann (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by David Davis (Birmingham City).
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James McClean (Wigan Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Paul Caddis (Birmingham City).
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Foul by James McClean (Wigan Athletic).
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Michael Morrison (Birmingham City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Birmingham City. Wes Thomas replaces Demarai Gray.
Post update
Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Andrew Taylor.
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Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Andrew Taylor.
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Attempt missed. Clayton Donaldson (Birmingham City) header from very close range misses to the left. Assisted by David Cotterill with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Ben Watson.
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Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Leon Barnett.
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Offside, Birmingham City. Paul Caddis tries a through ball, but Clayton Donaldson is caught offside.
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Attempt blocked. Paul Caddis (Birmingham City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Foul by Chris McCann (Wigan Athletic).
