Two first-half goals from Clayton Donaldson have given Birmingham City a 2-1 half-time lead over travelling Wigan Athletic in the Championship this afternoon, as Gary Rowett's men look to climb the league standings with three points at St Andrew's.

City took the lead after only two minutes as David Cotterill turned in a timely cross for striker Donaldson, who made no mistake with a guided finish into the bottom corner from the six-yard box.

Cotterill appeared in menacing form in the opening exchanges and he almost doubled the visitors' lead when he took aim from distance, only to see his long-range effort fly past the wrong side of the post.

In a dominant opening it was the hosts who again threatened to extend their advantage as Donaldson profited from a pass from Jonathan Grounds, but the frontman saw his drilled effort across the face of goal flash wide.

Donaldson didn't have to wait too long for another chance, however, as he turned in from close range in the 14th minute to give his side a much-deserved, two-goal lead.

Having been anonymous for the much of the first half, Wigan sprung into life in the 36th minute as James McClean pulled a goal back with a standout effort from outside the box, leaving the score at 2-1 going into the interval.