NORWICH City had a day to forget at St Andrew's as they lost 3-0 to Birmingham City.

David Davis headed the hosts into a first half lead before Clayton Donaldson's second half brace, one of them a penalty, condemned the Canaries to a hugely disappointing first defeat of the season.

For the first part of the opening half, City controlled the tempo of the game, even having an early goal ruled out when Jonny Howson was flagged offside.

Some static defending allowed Birmingham to take the lead on 22 minutes, though, as Jacques Maghoma crossed for Davis, who got in between defenders to nod past Michael McGovern.

Sergi Canos forced a save from Tomasz Kuszczak soon after, but as the Canaries' frustrations grew with their lack of spark, the home team looked increasingly comfortable defending their advantage.

City continued to have more of the ball in the second half - but the best chances fell to Birmingham. After Che Adams and Robert Tesche had each spurned glorious opportunities, Donaldson netted from the spot following Steven Whittaker's foul.

The Blues tallied their third when Donaldson intercepted Alex Tettey's loose pass before finishing coolly, in doing so concluding a thoroughly miserable afternoon for Norwich.

HOW THEY LINED UP
Cameron Jerome was missing for the Canaries as Steven Naismith began in the lone forward role.

Canos came in for his first league start for the Club after impressing in the midweek cup thumping of Coventry City, while Jacob Murphy played on the opposite flank.

Whittaker replaced the injured Ivo Pinto, while captain Howson joined Wes Hoolahan and Alex Tettey in a three-man central midfield. James Maddison was named on the bench for the first time in a City league match.

KEY MOMENT
Neil made two changes just after the hour mark to try and alter things, but within four minutes of Kyle Lafferty and Josh Murphy being introduced Birmingham had doubled their lead.

Whittaker appeared to slip in the area in giving away the penalty, and the Canaries' task was made all the more difficult when Donaldson sent Michael McGovern the wrong way in dispatching his penalty.

Birmingham, who had already set their stall out to get men behind the ball when Neil's men were in possession, were thereafter more than happy to consolidate with their two-goal cushion, which soon became three.

WHAT IT MEANS
City's unbeaten start to the campaign is over - and Neil has a lot to think about with two weeks until City's home clash with Cardiff City.

By then, the transfer window will be closed and he will hope to have at least one striker through to door to combat his side's growing problems in the final third.

At the close of the afternoon's action, City dropped to 11th place in the Sky Bet Championship table.

GOALS: Blues: David Davis (22), Clayton Donaldson (pen 68, 83)

BIRMINGHAM CITY: Kuszczak; Spector, Morrison (c), Shotton, Grounds, Tesche, Kieftenbeld, Davis, Adams (Brown 90), Maghoma (Cotterill 90), Donaldson. Subs not used: Legzdins (GK), Robinson, Fabbrini, Solomon-Otabor, Stewart.

NORWICH CITY: McGovern; Whittaker, Bennett, Klose, Brady; Tettey; Ja. Murphy, Howson (c), Hoolahan, Canos (Jo. Murphy 64); Naismith (Lafferty 64). Subs not used: Jones (GK), Martin, Bassong, Mulumbu, Maddison.

REFEREE: Darren Bond

ATTENDANCE: 16,295 (1,609)

WHERE NEXT?
City will welcome Cardiff to Carrow Road when the season resumes after the international break.

Tickets for the game on Saturday, September 10 are available to buy HERE.

Birmingham City v Norwich City

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