Jay Stansfield earns record-breaking Birmingham battling win at Bristol Rovers

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Runaway League One leaders Birmingham celebrated a club-record 37th win of the season as Jay Stansfield’s late penalty secured a 2-1 victory over relegation-threatened Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium.

Stansfield had the final say when he registered his 22nd goal this season, blasting a low spot-kick past Jed Ward after Taylor Moore was penalised for handball in the 85th minute of a thrilling contest.

Keshi Anderson put Blues ahead after three minutes when he stylishly curled the ball beyond the outstretched Ward from 15 yards following Kieran Dowell’s cross.

Rovers lived dangerously but rallied and hit back after 19 minutes when Gatlin O’Donkor headed in from close range when Connor Taylor nodded Kofi Shaw’s free-kick across goal.

Chris Davies’ side were lucky not to have fallen behind by half-time as Rovers twice hit the woodwork.

O’Donkor beat goalkeeper Ryan Allsop to a lofted through ball but saw his header thud off the crossbar before he turned Ruel Sotiriou’s shot on to a post following Shaw’s smart free-kick.

Anderson almost restored the visitors’ lead in the 48th minute but Ward pushed away his powerful rising strike.

Sotiriou blasted over the crossbar before striker Stansfield struck and City bettered the feats of their 1994-95 side – who won 36 times – to move 11 points clear of Wrexham.

READ MORE: Chris Davies believes ‘ugly’ Bristol Rovers win will be one Birmingham remember