Pearce demands better from Forest

The visitors scored three goals in the final 10 minutes of the first half with Britt Assombalonga's 91st-minute consolation nowhere near enough to save Forest, whose miserable run now features just two wins from the last 17 games.

David Cotterill's goal and a Clayton Donaldson brace proved enough for Blues to record their sixth win in 10 matches since Gary Rowett succeeded Lee Clark as manager at St Andrew's, but Pearce felt his side had gifted the win to the visitors.

"We had enough efforts on the opposition goal to win a couple of games, never mind one. But we conceded three horrible, horrible goals and paid the price for that," he said.

"We are lacking leadership and confidence. We spoke to the players after the game and said 'it is time to roll our sleeves up, gentlemen, and man up'.

"We have ended up coming out the wrong side of a defeat because of ourselves, really, rather than anything the opposition did. I don't want to take credit from them, but they did not deserve to win the game. It was a charitable donation from Nottingham Forest.

"We have to work to make sure that does not keep happening."

Birmingham boss Rowett revealed Donaldson rather ambitiously wanted to claim all three of the Blues' goals, but said that the striker would stay in his side even if he suffered a goal famine.

Rowett says the value of the big forward to Birmingham cannot be underestimated.

"He was trying to claim all three goals, but I don't think even Father Christmas would give him that," he said.

"I think all the players worked hard, but he has a difficult role up there, on his own. He plays it as well as anyone, because he is mobile, he has the size to win headers and he does get goals. He does everything well and, even if he does not score, he deserves his place in the team.

"I might change my mind on that if he does not score for six or seven games. But he will keep his side on merit at the minute, even when he doesn't score. Overall, I have been pleased with everyone. I thought we might be nervous and edgy, but we put in a really solid performance."

Rowett did concede that his side had been lucky to take a 3-0 lead into the interval after seeing Forest dominate for long spells of the first half.

"We did have to defend well and the 'keeper (Darren Randolph) made a couple of good saves, but that is what they are there for. We were fortuitous to be 3-0 up at half-time, but I felt we earned a little luck," he said.

"We rode our luck a little bit, we dropped a little deep and let them get a few too many balls into the box, but I am not sure how many clear-cut chances they had in the game. We defended really, really well."