Match ends, Birmingham City 1, Derby County 1.
BirminghamBirmingham City1DerbyDerby County1
Johnny Russell's second-half equaliser rescued a point for Derby County at Birmingham City as the Rams earned a fourth successive Championship draw.
Blues, also still unbeaten in the league this season, led on the stroke of half-time through Stephen Gleeson.
The midfielder's speculative 30-yarder, which deflected in off Derby's Chris Baird, was his first goal for the club.
But Derby, who hit the woodwork three times through Tom Ince, Darren Bent and Andi Weimann, deservedly levelled.
Ince's pass was lashed into the roof of the net by Russell for his second goal in as many games, the winger having scored a late equaliser in Tuesday's home draw with Middlesbrough.
| Blues building under Rowett |
|---|
| Birmingham's first home defeat under Gary Rowett came on Boxing Day last season when they lost 4-0 to Derby, which remains their heaviest loss during his 10 months in charge. |
Chances came at both ends in a lively first 45 minutes, but it was in first-half injury time when the deadlock was finally broken by Gleeson's deflected right-foot shot - the former Wolves and MK Dons man's first goal for Blues on his 45th appearance.
Prior to that, Ince had gone closest when he hit Tomasz Kuszczak's post with a powerful 25-yard drive, while ex-Aston Villa striker Darren Bent dragged Derby's best chance wide when he looked sure to score.
Blues went close themselves through two shots from Demarai Gray, while Clayton Donaldson headed straight at Scott Carson from close range.
The unrelenting pace did not lessen after the break as Carson parried from Donaldson and the stretching Jon Toral turned the rebound wide.
Russell levelled for Derby and the Rams could have led seconds later when Bent's header skimmed the bar, before Kuszczak pushed a low shot from Bent's former Villa team-mate Weimann onto the post.
Birmingham City manager Gary Rowett told BBC WM 95.6:
"It was a really good game which the fans probably enjoyed more than the managers, given the amount of chances at both ends.
"Derby might be disappointed with the amount of chances they have had overall, but we should have scored through Jon Toral early in the second half. At 2-0, that might have broken Derby. You have to take those chances or the game turns on its head.
"I'm not disappointed with a point. Look at how far we've progressed from last year, when Derby came here and battered us 4-0."
Derby County head coach Paul Clement told BBC Radio Derby:
"I don't think a win's too far away if we keep playing the way we are. I said to the lads at half-time that the chances would come and we're pleased with the response in the second half.
"We were the team more disappointed not to come away with three points as we had more chances, and we should have had a penalty when Chris Martin went over in the box.
"There was clear contact with the top of his foot and the ref obviously thought he dived as he booked him, but he didn't dive."
Line-ups
Birmingham
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 29Kuszczak
- 31Caddis
- 28Morrison
- 23Spector
- 3Grounds
- 8Gleeson
- 6Kieftenbeld
- 11CotterillSubstituted forMaghomaat 68'minutes
- 20ToralSubstituted forShinnieat 67'minutes
- 7Gray
- 9Donaldson
Substitutes
- 1Legzdins
- 2Eardley
- 4Robinson
- 10Thomas
- 19Maghoma
- 22Shinnie
- 26Davis
Derby
Formation 4-4-2
- 17Carson
- 2ChristieSubstituted forShottonat 82'minutes
- 6KeoghBooked at 81mins
- 14Shackell
- 3Forsyth
- 23Ince
- 12Baird
- 34Thorne
- 11Russell
- 9MartinBooked at 66mins
- 10BentSubstituted forWeimannat 64'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Grant
- 7Dawkins
- 16Pearce
- 24Weimann
- 27Calero
- 32Shotton
- 37Warnock
- Referee:
- Lee Mason
- Attendance:
- 18,134
Match Stats
Home TeamBirminghamAway TeamDerby
- Possession
- Home37%
- Away63%
- Shots
- Home19
- Away20
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away6
- Corners
- Home5
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Birmingham City 1, Derby County 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Chris Martin (Derby County) header from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Tom Ince with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Derby County. Conceded by Andrew Shinnie.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Tom Ince (Derby County) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt blocked. George Thorne (Derby County) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Tom Ince.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jonathan Grounds (Birmingham City) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Stephen Gleeson following a set piece situation.
Post update
Foul by Chris Baird (Derby County).
Post update
Andrew Shinnie (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Johnny Russell (Derby County) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Chris Martin.
Post update
Foul by George Thorne (Derby County).
Post update
Jacques Maghoma (Birmingham City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Attempt missed. Michael Morrison (Birmingham City) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Demarai Gray with a cross following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Jason Shackell.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Clayton Donaldson (Birmingham City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Andrew Shinnie.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Johnny Russell (Derby County) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Craig Forsyth with a cross.
Post update
Foul by George Thorne (Derby County).
Post update
Andrew Shinnie (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Derby County. Ryan Shotton replaces Cyrus Christie.
Booking
Richard Keogh (Derby County) is shown the yellow card.
