Nottingham Forest striker Pierre Van Hooijdonk destroyed Birmingham with a sensational late double blast.

City looked on course to stretch their unbeaten run to five games - potentially taking 12 out of their last 18 points - reinforcing their claims for a play-off place.

But City reckoned without Dutch destroyer Van Hooijdonk who scored two goals inside the space of four minutes late in the second-half to take his tally to 31 for the season.

Many would have perhaps argued that this was Francis' second spell in charge of the Blues after his 48-hour resignation following the 1-0 home win over QPR earlier this month when the City boss quit after his son had been verbally abused.

It was hardly the prodigal son's return - away draws with Sunderland and Bradford separating the games with Rangers and Forest - but he was given a rapturous reception by St Andrews' biggest crowd of the season - 24,663.

The majority of those looked set to celebrate a famous home victory, but Van Hooijdonk turned the game on its head to stretch Forest's lead at the top of the First Division to five points.

Birmingham took a 61st minute lead, albeit under highly dubious circumstances, when Thierry Bonalair was harshly adjudged to have bundled over City midfielder Jon McCarthy.

He had chased his hashed up and under clearance and blindly bundled into McCarthy as he attempted to make amends, but referee Stuart Matheson immediately pointed to the spot.

Peter Ndlovu then sidefooted home his 10th goal of the season, sending keeper Dave Beasant the wrong way from the spot as he tucked the ball into the bottom left-hand corner.

Birmingham were on top at that stage and with Forest barely having troubled City keeper Ian Bennett for nearly 40 minutes of the second-half, there seemed little sign of the turnaround to come.

But with just seven minutes left Van Hooijdonk was clean through on goal, but was clearly brought down by backtracking defender Michael Johnson.

Johnson had already been booked in the first-half after hacking down Steve Stone on the edge of the area and although he would have been given his marching orders anyway for the professional foul on Van Hooijdonk, referee Matheson showed him a second yellow before ultimately producing the red.

The tackle had come just inches outside the 18-yard area and right in the middle of the D and from the dead ball opportunity, Van Hooijdonk curled home a stunning right-foot shot beyond Bennett into the right-hand side of the net for his 30th of the season.

Forest sensed fresh hope and just four minutes later Van Hooijdonk stole the win with another sensational strike, this time from 25 yards into the bottom left-hand corner to take his tally to 31 for this campaign.

The win is a major setback for City's play off aspirations following a game in which they should have taken at least a point, if not all three, particularly after dominating the majority of the first-half.

Ndlovu had come close to opening the scoring after just 48 seconds when he powered forward before unleashing a searing left-foot drive which Beasant superbly tipped over.

On the quarter hour mark a bobbling shot from Chris Marsden took a slight deflection, but Beasant was alert to push the ball round the post.

The chances flowed and within two minutes Scott Gemmill, Van Hooijdonk and Kevin Campbell set up Stone, but his shot from 15 yards was angled straight at keeper Bennett.

Martin Grainger then had a free header from six yards which was also at the keeper, before a Campbell back-flicked header hit the crossbar following a Chris Bart-Williams corner.

Ndlovu then struck the woodwork himself with a stunning shot with the outside of his right foot which had Beasant beaten, but again the bar proved decisive.

Then came the booking for Johnson, quickly followed by yellow for dissenting captain Steve Bruce, who will now serve a one-match ban early next month following an accumulation of bookings.

Either side of half-time Grainger and Martin O'Connor had chances to break the deadlock, but one was just wide of the post while Beasant was again forced into another fine save to keep out the other.

Ndlovu then finally put City on the score sheet, but it was Van Hooijdonk who ultimately had the final say.

Teams:

Birmingham: Bennett, Bass, Charlton, Bruce, Johnson, Marsden (Forster 88), McCarthy (Hughes 89), O'Connor, Adebola, Grainger, Ndlovu (Ablett 82).

Sent Off: Johnson (82).

Booked: Charlton, Bruce, Johnson.

Goals: Ndlovu 61 pen.

Nottm Forest: Beasant, Bonalair, Rogers, Cooper, Chettle, Johnson (Thomas 82), Stone, Gemmill (Woan 73), Van Hooijdonk, Campbell, Bart-Williams.

Subs Not Used: Armstrong.

Booked: Bonalair.

Goals: Van Hooijdonk 84, 88.

Att: 24,663

Ref: S W Mathieson (Stockport).