Birmingham City 1-2 Burnley

Andre Gray has six goals in his past nine games for Burnley

Burnley moved to within two points of Championship leaders Middlesbrough with a narrow win against Birmingham City.

George Boyd got the Clarets' opener when he struck from the edge of the area into the bottom corner.

Jacques Maghoma equalised after Tom Heaton could only parry on-loan Arsenal midfielder Jon Toral's effort.

Boyd's cross allowed Andre Gray to score his 24th of the season for the winner, before Toral was sent off in injury time for a second yellow card.

Sean Dyche's side have stretched their unbeaten run to 19 games as they look for an immediate return to the Premier League.

The Clarets's next game is at home to top-of-the-table Boro on Tuesday night at Turf Moor.

Burnley keeper Heaton produced smart saves from Toral and David Cotterill as they went into the break ahead, while Jonathan Grounds hit the crossbar in the second-half for Blues.

The Clarets created numerous chances themselves as Dave Jones shot wide and Ashley Barnes drilled into the side netting before Gray's side-foot volley secured three points.

Toral was dismissed in the closing moments when his challenge on Lloyd Dyer brought a second booking.

Birmingham City manager Gary Rowett:

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Rowett on Birmingham v Burnley

"It's frustrating because we were fantastic. We were the better team. It was a really strong performance at a difficult point of the season against an excellent Burnley side.

"Jacques Maghoma had his face kicked off in the penalty box after four minutes. It was a blatant penalty but the referee said he didn't see it.

"Probably Burnley are going to be promoted. They manage to get results in games they do not play well in. But that is a skill in itself and you have to take your hat off to them."

Burnley manager Sean Dyche:

"George Boyd was tireless in his work and his quality was outstanding, while the response of the team after they equalised was to be admired.

"There is a great belief among the players and there is certainly energy and desire.

"We are in a good place for a reason. I was very pleased with the way we played."

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Birmingham

• 1Legzdins
• 31Caddis
• 28Morrison
• 32Shotton
• 3Grounds
• 6Kieftenbeld
• 26Davis
• 11CotterillSubstituted forFabbriniat 79'minutes
• 20ToralBooked at 90mins
• 19MaghomaSubstituted forLaffertyat 79'minutes
• 9Donaldson

Substitutes

• 7Fabbrini
• 8Gleeson
• 15Vaughan
• 17Solomon-Otabor
• 23Spector
• 25Lafferty
• 29Kuszczak

Burnley

• 1Heaton
• 2Lowton
• 5Keane
• 6Mee
• 23WardBooked at 37mins
• 37ArfieldSubstituted forDyerat 60'minutes
• 8MarneyBooked at 84mins
• 13BartonSubstituted forJonesat 45'minutes
• 21BoydBooked at 71mins
• 30Barnes
• 7GraySubstituted forTarkowskiat 89'minutes

Substitutes

• 14Jones
• 15Taylor
• 16Dyer
• 17Robinson
• 18Hennings
• 26Tarkowski
• 27Darikwa

Referee:

Mark Heywood

Attendance:

19,151

Match Stats

Home TeamBirminghamAway TeamBurnley

Possession

Home55%

Away45%

Shots

Home21

Away11

Shots on Target

Home5

Away3

Corners

Home6

Away3

Fouls

Home13

Away17

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Birmingham City 1, Burnley 2.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+6'

Second Half ends, Birmingham City 1, Burnley 2.

Dismissal

Posted at 90'+4'

Second yellow card to Jon-Miquel Toral (Birmingham City) for a bad foul.

Posted at 90'+4'

Lloyd Dyer (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+4'

Foul by Jon-Miquel Toral (Birmingham City).

Posted at 90'+1'

James Tarkowski (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+1'

Foul by Clayton Donaldson (Birmingham City).

Posted at 90'

Attempt missed. Diego Fabbrini (Birmingham City) right footed shot from long range on the right is just a bit too high. Assisted by Paul Caddis.

Substitution

Posted at 89'

Substitution, Burnley. James Tarkowski replaces Andre Gray.

Posted at 87'

Attempt blocked. Andre Gray (Burnley) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Dean Marney with a through ball.

Posted at 87'

Foul by Michael Keane (Burnley).

Posted at 87'

Clayton Donaldson (Birmingham City) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 84'

Attempt blocked. Kyle Lafferty (Birmingham City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Booking

Posted at 84'

Dean Marney (Burnley) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 83'

Diego Fabbrini (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 83'

Foul by Dean Marney (Burnley).

Posted at 83'

Attempt blocked. Diego Fabbrini (Birmingham City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Maikel Kieftenbeld.

Posted at 81'

Ashley Barnes (Burnley) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 81'

Foul by Ryan Shotton (Birmingham City).

Substitution

Posted at 79'

Substitution, Birmingham City. Kyle Lafferty replaces Jacques Maghoma.

Substitution

Posted at 79'

Substitution, Birmingham City. Diego Fabbrini replaces David Cotterill.

Posted at 78'

Matthew Lowton (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 78'

Foul by Jacques Maghoma (Birmingham City).

Goal!

Posted at 77'

Goal! Birmingham City 1, Burnley 2. Andre Gray (Burnley) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by George Boyd with a cross.

Posted at 74'

Attempt missed. Dean Marney (Burnley) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Lloyd Dyer.

Posted at 74'

Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Stephen Ward.

Posted at 74'

Attempt blocked. David Cotterill (Birmingham City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jonathan Grounds.

Posted at 73'

Jonathan Grounds (Birmingham City) hits the bar with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by David Cotterill with a cross following a corner.

Posted at 73'

Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Stephen Ward.

Booking

Posted at 71'

George Boyd (Burnley) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 70'

Foul by George Boyd (Burnley).

Posted at 70'

Jacques Maghoma (Birmingham City) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 70'

Attempt missed. Clayton Donaldson (Birmingham City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Jon-Miquel Toral.

Posted at 67'

Attempt missed. David Jones (Burnley) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.

Posted at 66'

Offside, Birmingham City. Adam Legzdins tries a through ball, but Clayton Donaldson is caught offside.

Posted at 65'

Corner, Burnley. Conceded by Adam Legzdins.

Posted at 65'

Attempt missed. Matthew Lowton (Burnley) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Ashley Barnes.

Substitution

Posted at 60'

Substitution, Burnley. Lloyd Dyer replaces Scott Arfield.

Posted at 59'

Attempt missed. Maikel Kieftenbeld (Birmingham City) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top left corner. Assisted by David Davis with a headed pass following a corner.

Posted at 59'

Attempt blocked. Jacques Maghoma (Birmingham City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by David Cotterill with a cross.

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