Seven-game poor run comes to an end as Blues take all 3 points in a battling derby

BIRMINGHAM

- By ALEX DICKEN

Birmingham City's Marvin Ducksch celebrates scoring their side's third goal of the game during the match

City ended their seven-game winless run by beating Championship leaders Coventry City in a five-goal thriller at St Andrew's.Marvin Ducksch cut his run of poor form with a brace and Lewis Koumas netted his first Blues goal to earn three vital points.

Josh Eccles and Ellis Simms scored for the Sky Blues who had defender Bobby Thomas sent off in stoppage time.

Ducksch, the former Germany international, grabbed a goal in each half as fortunes ebbed and flowed in a derby fixture that delivered drama from the first whistle until stoppage time when Sky Blues defender Bobby Thomas was dismissed.

Birmingham led three times but were pegged back twice by Frank Lampard’s side, who have now won just twice in their last eight outings.

The match got off to an explosive start with both teams finding the net inside eight minutes.