Middlesbrough have the missed the chance to reach the automatic promotion places in the Championship following a 3-2 defeat at Birmingham City.

The visitors had led twice at St Andrews but Marlon King scored a brace to give the Blues only their fourth home win of the season.

© PA Photos

The visitors took the lead 14 minutes on the clock as Grant Leadbitter arrived to convert Andy Halliday's cross.

However, it was 1-1 on the stroke of half time as King rifled home from the penalty spot after he was brought down by Andre Bikey.

© PA Photos

Boro dominated after the break, but they struggled to find a way past Jack Butland in the Birmingham goal.

The visitors eventually regained the lead just after the hour mark as Scott McDonald took advantage of some comical defending to force the ball in.

Birmingham were level four minutes later when Wade Elliott looped a volley over the stranded Jason Steele after the visitors had failed to clear their lines.

The turnaround was complete with eight minutes left thanks to King's low finish from the edge of the box.