Birmingham 1-0 MK Dons: Gary Rowett hails Blues matchwinner

Birmingham manager Gary Rowett heaped praise on matchwinner Jacques Maghoma following the 1-0 home win over MK Dons in the Sky Bet Championship.

Rowett was delighted with Birmingham's success in completing the double over MK Dons but they had to work hard for their back-to-back home wins following victory against Cardiff.

It was only their fifth victory at St Andrew's this season where they have struggled due to their lack of goals. But following the success over MK Dons Rowett was full of praise for his side.

"We made a couple of stupid errors at Sheffield Wednesday and I wanted a reaction," Rowett said. "Beating Cardiff in our previous home game gave us a little extra confidence.

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"I think we were well worth our win and should have gone on and made it more comfortable.

"I felt with Clayton Donaldson back was a massive lift for us. I thought Jon Toral was really good playing with lots of quality and Jacques Maghoma was brilliant as well. I think those three were very difficult for MK Dons to handle.

"It was a magnificent goal from Maghoma. I've looked at the goal again and there were five defenders between him and the goal and as he turns all five go the wrong way as he hits a great finish. He deserved that goal.

"I thought he was our best player at Sheffield Wednesday in a poor performance. I thought he was excellent and really lit up the place with his individual skill."

It took Maghoma's special goal to settle the game for Birmingham. The former Sheffield Wednesday winger collected a loose ball and despite facing at least five MK Dons players he twisted and turned to work his way back onto his left foot before firing his shot into the roof of the net for his fourth goal of the season and his first at St. Andrew's.

The 63rd minute goal was certainly appreciated by Donaldson on his return to the Birmingham side after a lengthy absence.

He had the miss of the game midway through the second half when he found himself in front of an open MK Dons goal and lifted the the ball against the bar.

Birmingham should still have completed a more conclusive win.

Demarai Gray, who could have been making one of his last home Birmingham appearances with Premier League clubs reportedly waiting to sign him in the January transfer window, shot against the post three minutes from time after coming off the bench.

MK Dons manager Karl Robinson had no complaints with the result. Robinson, who claims he is looking to making at least three new signings in the January window, admitted: "We were beaten by the better team. We rode our luck.

"It wasn't our day. The changes I made didn't work.

"Losing Daniel Powell with a leg injury so early in the game was a big loss. Once he came off I thought we went backwards.

"The work ethic was there. I was proud of their effort but we had an off day. We just didn't turn up and I cannot put my finger on the reason.

"I thought we looked ragged and I have to take responsibility for the number of changes I made to the team. Josh Murphy looked a shadow of himself.

"But we are learning all the time and we are going to get better by the back end of the season."