Match ends, Birmingham City 2, Derby County 2.
BirminghamBirmingham City2DerbyDerby County2
Derby County twice came from behind to earn a draw at Birmingham City and keep themselves within three points of the Championship play-off places.
Lukas Jutkiewicz gave Blues the perfect start, rifling in at the far post from Jota's corner, but the lead lasted just four minutes when Martyn Waghorn met Craig Bryson's punt forward and lobbed Lee Camp.
Michael Morrison restored City's lead from close range but, in an action-packed first half, the visitors were soon level again as Richard Keogh powered in a header from Ashley Cole's cross.
Jutkiewicz went closest to a winner, heading against the post when unmarked from another Jota corner, while Camp twice denied Fikayo Tomori late on.
Knowing a win would take them above fellow play-off chasers Bristol City following their lunchtime draw with Reading, the Rams bossed possession in a breathless first half, with Mason Mount drawing a fine save from Camp within a minute of City's second goal.
But their weakness at defending set-pieces proved problematic, twice handing the hosts the lead, while danger man Jutkiewicz was inches away from a third, shooting wide after a quick counter-attack.
The intensity, perhaps inevitably, dropped after the break, with Birmingham starting the better and Frank Lampard's side finishing the stronger, but Camp's late double-save denied Derby their first away win in 2019, keeping out Tomori's close-range strike and then his follow-up header.
If the Rams ultimately fall short in their run for the play-offs, their away form will be a big factor, with no wins on the road since a 4-3 victory at Norwich on 29 December.
Birmingham have responded well since their nine-point deduction plunged them into an unexpected battle for Championship safety, losing just once in five games, having also taken points off promotion challengers Leeds and Sheffield United.
The draw kept Derby in eighth, three points adrift of sixth-placed Middlesbrough with a game in hand, while 18th-placed Birmingham took another step closer to guaranteeing safety, seven points above the bottom three with three games to play.
Birmingham City manager Garry Monk:
"Considering we were playing against another promotion candidate we acquitted ourselves fantastically well.
"My players have shown great effort and commitment. We have a good structure and always look a threat.
"We now want to finish the season strongly as it has been tough for everyone as a lot of things have gone on."
Derby County manager Frank Lampard:
"We have a game in hand, we have to play at Bristol City and Swansea but it is becoming more critical as we need to win games.
"This Championship is so difficult to predict as four games can mean such a lot.
"We have to remain positive and focus on QPR on Monday."
Line-ups
Birmingham
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Camp
- 5Colin
- 12Dean
- 28Morrison
- 3Pedersen
- 23Jota
- 20GardnerBooked at 38mins
- 26Davis
- 19Maghoma
- 9AdamsBooked at 90mins
- 10JutkiewiczBooked at 56minsSubstituted forVassellat 79'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Roberts
- 8Gardner
- 11Vassell
- 18Mrabti
- 27Trueman
- 31Lakin
- 45Harding
Derby
Formation 4-3-3
- 21Roos
- 37Bogle
- 6Keogh
- 5Tomori
- 26ColeBooked at 66mins
- 4BrysonBooked at 45mins
- 15Johnson
- 8Mount
- 7WilsonSubstituted forBennettat 71'minutes
- 9WaghornBooked at 48minsSubstituted forMarriottat 71'minutes
- 10LawrenceSubstituted forNugentat 84'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Carson
- 2Wisdom
- 14Marriott
- 17Evans
- 20Bennett
- 28Nugent
- 44Huddlestone
- Referee:
- Simon Hooper
- Attendance:
- 23,902
Match Stats
Home TeamBirminghamAway TeamDerby
- Possession
- Home32%
- Away68%
- Shots
- Home20
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away5
- Corners
- Home9
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home17
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Birmingham City 2, Derby County 2.
Post update
Foul by Bradley Johnson (Derby County).
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Isaac Vassell (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Kelle Roos (Derby County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Che Adams (Birmingham City).
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Attempt blocked. Che Adams (Birmingham City) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is blocked.
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Attempt blocked. Gary Gardner (Birmingham City) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jota with a cross.
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Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Richard Keogh.
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Attempt blocked. Michael Morrison (Birmingham City) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is blocked.
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Attempt blocked. Harlee Dean (Birmingham City) header from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jacques Maghoma with a cross.
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Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Fikayo Tomori.
Booking
Che Adams (Birmingham City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Bradley Johnson (Derby County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Che Adams (Birmingham City).
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Attempt blocked. Che Adams (Birmingham City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jacques Maghoma.
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Craig Bryson (Derby County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by David Davis (Birmingham City).
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Attempt missed. Fikayo Tomori (Derby County) header from very close range misses to the left following a corner.
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Attempt saved. Fikayo Tomori (Derby County) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Mason Bennett with a headed pass.
