text: Trailing Birmingham City by two goals, Bournemouth were down to fourth in the Championship at one stage in the afternoon but a thrilling four-goal turnaround moved them back to the top. ‘That’s the madness of it,’ manager Eddie Howe said in the aftermath. ‘I couldn't believe in one game we dropped to fourth. It’s great for the neutral, but not so great for us.’ The south coast club had not conceded the first goal at Dean Court this campaign and have struggled to get anything from losing positions, but comebacks rarely come better than being two behind after 21 minutes. Charlie Daniels (right) fires home from the edge of the box to seal the win and make it 4-2 to Bournemouth . Yann Kermorgant slots home a penalty to cap a remarkable comeback and make it 3-2 to Bournemouth . BOURNEMOUTH (4-4-2): Boruc; Francis, Cook, Elphick, Daniels; Ritchie, Surman, Arter, Fraser (Smith 56); Kermorgant (Pitman 87), Wilson (Jones 88). Subs not used: Camp, Ward, Gosling, Stanislas. Goals: Cook 39, Wilson 45, Kermorgant 48 (pen), Daniels 74 . Manager: Eddie Howe . Booked: Wilson, Francis, Smith . BIRMINGHAM (4-2-3-1): Randolph; Caddis, Morrison, Robinson, Grounds; Davis, Tesche; Cotterill, Shinnie (Thomas 75), Dyer (Gray 69); Donaldson (Kiernan 79). Subs not used: Novak, Doyle, Zigic, Brown. Goals: Donaldson 18, Cotterill 21 . Manager: Gary Rowett . Booked: Davis, Ground, . Sent off: Robinson (straight red) Referee: Andy Woolmer . Stadium: The Goldsands Stadium . Attendance: 11,084 . Watford temporarily moved top by beating Middlesbrough, who started the day as leaders, in the lunch-time kick-off and Norwich then went above them with victory against Sheffield Wednesday. But Bournemouth have been this season’s pacesetters and clearly have no intention of stepping aside for the final sprint to the finish line. It did not feel like that, however, when the visitors stunned them with two goals in three minutes. A straightforward ball was played over the top from central midfield by Andrew Shinnie, on 18 minutes, and Clayton Donaldson burst through on goal. Bournemouth goalkeeper Artur Boruc started to come from his line then hesitated and before he knew it the striker had sent the ball over him and in. ‘We want eight,’ the travelling Birmingham supporters chanted in jest, demanding vengeance for Bournemouth thrashing them 8-0 in the reverse of this fixture back in October. That scoreline became less fantastical when they added a second in the 21st minute. Birmingham winger David Cotterill made a strong run down the right and with a defender backing off he buried a strike across goal into the bottom left corner. ‘That didn’t feel too good,’ Howe admitted. ‘I’d be lying if I said nerves won’ t come into it, it’s only natural considering what’s at stake.’ But Bournemouth have not got around the automatic qualification places by buckling under pressure and they scored twice before the break. Callum Wilson rounds Birmingham keeper Darren Randolph to draw Bournemouth level . Wilson celebrates his 17th league goal of the season as Bournemouth fight back from two goals down . Steve Cook (centre) battles past a host of Birmingham defenders to score for Bournemouth and make it 2-1 . On 39 minutes, Matt Ritchie whipped in a corner from the right-hand side and Tommy Elphick and Steve Cook both leapt for it, the latter eventually bundling the ball over the line. Then in first-half stoppage time Yann Kermorgant played a delicate ball through Birmingham’s defence, perfectly weighted between defender and goalkeeper for Callum Wilson to round Darren Randolph and tap in. Only three minutes into the second half and they were in front. Wilson broke free down the right, carried the ball into the box and was scythed down by Birmingham defender Paul Robinson after a cheeky turn. Kermogant stoked in the penalty. ‘I felt the officials were inconsistent,’ Birmingham manager Gary Rowett said. 'We had three clear onsides given off and Wilson was level when he won the penalty. Elphick tried to slap Rob Kiernan in a melee at the end and the referee was right next to it but gave nothing.’ If Birmingham’s two goals in three minutes were impressive, Bournemouth’s three in nine were even more devastating and they added to that in the 74th minute. Substitute Adam Smith first had a shot from the edge of the box blocked, which left Randolph on the floor, and the midfielder went for the opposite corner only for the keeper to dive back. But there was nothing Randolph could do when the ball came out to Charlie Daniels who struck a shot into the ground which looped in off the bar. The game was over in the 77th minute when Robinson was sent off for a foul last man. Referee Andy Woolmer handed out a straight red card, but it was hard to make out amongst the Birmingham red faces. David Cotterill celebrates making it 2-0 to Birmingham after just 21 minutes . Clayton Donaldson (centre) opens the scoring for Birmingham with a sublime lob over Artur Boruc . Paul Robinson was shown a red card for a challenge on Wilson after 78 minutes . Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe had plenty to smiles about as his side returned to the top of the table .
target: Bournemouth are now one point clear of Norwich at the top of the table .
  Birmingham took the lead through Clayton Donaldson and David Cotterill .
  Steve Cook and Callum Wilson drew Bournemouth level before Yann Kermorgant and Charlie Daniels sealed the three points .