Match ends, Birmingham City 0, Blackburn Rovers 0.
BirminghamBirmingham City0BlackburnBlackburn Rovers0
Birmingham City failed to score for a fourth time in five home matches as they were frustrated by Blackburn in a goalless draw at St Andrew's.
In a game of few chances, it took until the second half for Blues to test Rovers when Demarai Gray shot on target from outside the area.
Shane Duffy had Blackburn's best chance as his header after a corner was saved.
Jason Steele did superbly to deny Birmingham midfielder David Cotterill late on to secure a point.
The draw means Birmingham remain in sixth - the final play-off place - while the visitors stay in 15th.
With both teams playing with one striker, defences were on top for the majority of the match.
Blackburn's Tom Lawrence had the first half-chance of the match when he bundled through, but his effort flew over.
Gray's long-range shot was easily saved by Steele, before Tomasz Kuszczak made an excellent save from Duffy's close-range header.
Steele made sure of Rovers' third clean sheet in four games with a diving save to repel Cotterill's powerful strike.
Birmingham manager Gary Rowett:
"It is a first clean sheet at home this season, which is unbelievable. I told them not to give away the first goal, keep our shape and keep our patience.
"I asked them to be tougher defensively. I thought we were a little soft on Wolves and Hull in the previous two games.
"I certainly didn't want to lose three games on the spin. That was the reality of the game because runs like that are very damaging to confidence."
Blackburn manager Gary Bowyer:
"They paid us a massive amount of respect with the way they set up getting bodies behind the ball. It was something new for my lads to deal with.
"To come to a team who are in the play-offs and perform the way we did was positive. We have now gone six clean sheets in the last 11 games and picked up four points out of six in the last two games on the road."
"We had to be disciplined, patient and not get frustrated in not taking three points."
Line-ups
Birmingham
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 29Kuszczak
- 31Caddis
- 28Morrison
- 23Spector
- 3Grounds
- 8Gleeson
- 26DavisBooked at 62mins
- 11CotterillSubstituted forMaghomaat 90+3'minutes
- 22ShinnieBooked at 55minsSubstituted forToralat 65'minutes
- 7Gray
- 9Donaldson
Substitutes
- 1Legzdins
- 4Robinson
- 6Kieftenbeld
- 17Solomon-Otabor
- 19Maghoma
- 20Toral
- 44Brock-Madsen
Blackburn
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 30Steele
- 10MarshallBooked at 70mins
- 22Duffy
- 5Hanley
- 14Olsson
- 19TaylorSubstituted forHenleyat 77'minutesBooked at 89mins
- 17Williamson
- 21Akpan
- 32Conway
- 16LawrenceSubstituted forKoitaat 85'minutes
- 11Rhodes
Substitutes
- 2Henley
- 3Spurr
- 4Kilgallon
- 7Delfouneso
- 8Koita
- 18O'Sullivan
- 33Raya
- Referee:
- Chris Kavanagh
- Attendance:
- 15,701
Match Stats
Home TeamBirminghamAway TeamBlackburn
- Possession
- Home40%
- Away60%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away1
- Corners
- Home12
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Birmingham City 0, Blackburn Rovers 0.
Post update
Attempt missed. David Davis (Birmingham City) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Jon-Miquel Toral.
Substitution
Substitution, Birmingham City. Jacques Maghoma replaces David Cotterill.
Post update
Attempt missed. Paul Caddis (Birmingham City) right footed shot from long range on the right is high and wide to the right. Assisted by David Cotterill.
Post update
Foul by Bangaly-Fodé Koita (Blackburn Rovers).
Post update
Michael Morrison (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Adam Henley (Blackburn Rovers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Adam Henley (Blackburn Rovers).
Post update
Demarai Gray (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Paul Caddis (Birmingham City) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by David Cotterill following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Adam Henley.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Demarai Gray (Birmingham City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jon-Miquel Toral.
Post update
Attempt saved. Clayton Donaldson (Birmingham City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jon-Miquel Toral.
Substitution
Substitution, Blackburn Rovers. Bangaly-Fodé Koita replaces Tom Lawrence.
Post update
Adam Henley (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Demarai Gray (Birmingham City).
Post update
Hope Akpan (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Clayton Donaldson (Birmingham City).
Post update
Attempt missed. Demarai Gray (Birmingham City) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Jonathan Spector with a headed pass.
