O'Hare double fires Coventry to win over Birmingham

The former Aston Villa midfielder had not scored for over 18 months after suffering a serious knee injury on Boxing Day last year and was starting just his second game since returning from injury.

The 25-year-old opened the scoring after he was played in by Milan van Ewijk before his superb solo goal made the three points safe in the second half.

O'Hare's goals also meant Mark Robins' men claimed their second consecutive home win, moving them above the Blues and up to 14th in the table.

The Blues' woes under Wayne Rooney continued as Birmingham were handed their sixth loss in nine games since the former Manchester United striker replaced John Eustace.

In fact, Rooney had goalkeeper John Ruddy to thank for the deficit to be kept to just one for the majority of the second half.

Robins was delighted for midfielder O'Hare.

"I'm absolutely delighted for him," said Robins. "I thought he was really good, some of the football we played with him being the conduit was really clever and everybody wants to get involved.

"There was some really good football and the goals that he scored were fantastic."

Rooney bemoaned more soft goals conceded by his team.

"I thought we started the game quite bright but the decision-making wasn't the best. It was something we've been working on, playing in the opposition's half and trying to create better chances.

"That needs to be better from us. The first goal is a poor goal from our point of view. I felt like we were still in the game, we were trying to get an equaliser and they get the second goal from our corner.

"We're getting punished when we make mistakes and ultimately we need to cut that out, but throughout the 90 minutes Coventry deserved to win, they were the better team."

Australian Associated Press