Sign up NOW for daily Blues headlines straight to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Steve Cotterill has been sacked as manager of Birmingham City after just five months in charge, Birmingham Live understands.

The 53-year-old becomes the fourth man to vacate the managerial chair at St Andrew's in a turbulent 14 month period.

He does so having had 24 Championship games in charge - half a season - winning just six.

Blues were 22nd when he arrived at the club - and remain in that final relegation position, two points from safety and having lost their last five matches, the last of those being at Nottingham Forest.

Blues also lost his final home game against Barnsley when they were beaten 2-0 prompting angry scenes when a bottle was thrown at the manager.

Cotterill had succeeded Harry Redknapp in October having done well under the same manager as Blues escaped relegation in the final two games of last term.

He won his first match in charge - a 1-0 victory over Cardiff - but the team continued to struggle up to the end of 2017.

However, things began to turn in the New Year as Blues won four of six league matches and looked set to move out of danger.

But they were derailed once again by a failure to sign anyone in the January transfer window and fitness and disciplinary disruptions to a system that had begun to work well.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

PLAYER RATINGS

A late Michael Morrison goal was not enough to prevent Birmingham City from falling to their fifth successive defeat.

The captain, recalled to the team, halved Blues' 2-0 deficit with three minutes remaining.

But by then Blues had already given themselves a mountain to climb after Forest struck once in each half, through Joe Lolley and Matty Cash.

STARTING FORMATION

4-3-3

STOCKDALE 5.5

Another error gave Forest the lead, let Lolley’s shot slip through his fingers. Made a couple of decent saves in the second half.

JENKINSON 6.5

Showed some nice moments going forward but seemed rusty when attackers ran at him. Best moment when he dummied his way to bye-line on the left but his cross was put behind.

MORRISON 7

An OK return to the first team. Looked more stable than Roberts, won most of his headers, made most of his clearances and scored a beauty.

DEAN 6.5

Not that troubled by Brereton, Murphy gave him more to think about and he had no chance of stopping cash for what turned out to be the winner.

COLIN 6

Nowhere near as happy on the left. Put in a performance that didn’t contain any howlers or any genuine attacking spark.

GARDNER 6.5

His set-piece delivery was actually pretty good, especially for Morrison’s goal. Overall he tried to spread play and did reasonably well.

LOWE 5

A couple of charged down shots in the first half, but also caught in possession outside his box once. Left after an hour without impacting the game.

KIEFTENBELD 5

Back after suspension and struggled to bring his energy to bear playing alongside Gardner. Lack of quality evident with a bad first half miss. Poor late challenge led to his booking.

MAGHOMA 7

Unlucky to be taken off, showed more intent and energy than most of his team-mate. Set up Kieftenbeld in the first half, sometimes had three men to beat in the second.

ADAMS 5.5

A couple of bright moments but not the display to warrant his huge potential. Might argue he’d be better through the middle but still needed more out wide.

GALLAGHER 6.5

Ran hard and tried to battle as Blues went more direct. Looked to have the beating of Fox but the ball wouldn’t break to him in the box.

SUBSTITUTES

JUTKIEWICZ (for Lowe, 65)6.5: Brought a spark

BOGA (for Maghoma 79) 6: Some good positions but no end product.

Not used: Trueman, Roberts, Bramall, Ndoye, Jota

OPPOSITION

FOREST (4-2-3-1): Pantilimon; Darikwa, Figueiredo, Osborn; Colback, Watson; Cash, Tomlin (Guedioura 72), Lolley; Brereton (Murphy 45). Subs: Kapino, Mancienne, Dowell, Vellios, Worrall.

GOALS

FOREST: Lolley (6), Cash (79)

BLUES: Morrison (87)

THE REF: K Stroud (Hampshire).

NEXT UP: Middlesbrough (h), Tuesday, March 7, kick-off 7.45pm