Birmingham City 1-1 Derby County: FLW report as Blues and Rams play out dramatic draw | OneFootball

FLW report from St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park for this Boxing Day clash

Birmingham City and Derby County played out a dramatic 1-1 draw on Boxing Day lunchtime at St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park.

John Eustace returned to his former club once more and saw his side take the lead on 27 minutes after Patrick Agyemang headed home his sixth of the season with a well-timed header from inside the box, before Joe Ward was shown a red card 12 minutes later for a second yellow card.

Blues, who have endured a frustrating December, were able to draw level through Jack Robinson after 64 minutes, and after applying plenty of second half pressure, were also reduced to 10 men after Christoph Klarer's high boot on Ebou Adams in second half stoppage-time.

Birmingham City 1-1 Derby County

Both sides had opportunities to make a fast start to this clash. Derby would create the first chance inside three minutes as Agyemang's ball across goal was cleared as far as Callum Elder, who saw a curling effort blocked, before Patrick Roberts and Demarai Gray were both thwarted by Jacob Widell Zetterstrom.

Blues' wide duo continued to cause havoc early on, with Gray hitting the post after being played through by Paik Seung-ho, before the home side saw strong appeals for a penalty dismissed as Roberts fell under pressure from Matt Clarke.

The Rams went close after 12 minutes as Ward was afforded plenty of time to deliver a hanging cross which Agyemang powered over.

Roberts had two further chances midway through the half, initially firing an effort easily gathered by Zetterstrom, before bursting into the box from Robinson's switch and eventually seeing his latest strike well blocked.

However, Birmingham's pressure wouldn't pay off as Derby took the lead on 27 minutes. Rhian Brewster raced onto a long ball from Ward before picking out his unmarked strike partner, Agyemang, who coolly nodded the ball past James Beadle.

After failing to muster any clear-cut chances in response, Blues were handed a lifeline as Ward was shown a second yellow card by Ben Toner after bringing Roberts down just outside the area on 39 minutes, with Zetterstrom easily gathering the subsequent free-kick from Marvin Ducksch.

Five minutes into the second period, the German saw appeals for a spot-kick turned down after bringing down substitute Lewis Koumas' inswinging ball before tussling with Matt Clarke inside the six-yard box.

Blues did have the ball in the net six minutes later through Stansfield. It would count for nothing, though, as Toner had called for a foul on Zetterstrom from Ducksch in the lead-up, before the striker was replaced by Kyogo.

After being frustrated for 64 minutes, Blues would eventually claw themselves level as Leonard's free-kick was turned home by Robinson, who battled his way past Sondre Langas and Agyemang to poke the ball under Derby's Swedish keeper.

Tensions flared immediately after the equaliser as Curtis Nelson brought down Kyogo from kick-off, before Zetterstrom pulled off a stunning save to thwart Robinson, who let fly from 20 yards out.

Tomoki Iwata looked to add to his collection of stunning strikes nine minutes from time, but the Japanese's fierce drive was eventually caught by Zetterstrom, before Jay Stansfield's curling effort was blocked by the head of Nelson.

Kyogo looked to end his well-documented goal drought with a first league strike for Blues two minutes from time. However, the summer recruit could only glance a tame header wide of the mark.

The Rams would be grateful for Zetterstrom's services in the first minute of second half stoppage-time as Paik Seung-ho's stunning strike was impressively diverted by the 27-year-old.

Tensions came to a head once again moments later as Klarer was also shown his marching orders for a high boot on Derby substitute, Ebou Adams.

Such drama continued as added time continued, with Zetterstrom, once again, preserving a point for his side as he tipped a looping Robinson header onto the crossbar.

Ahead of the 3PM fixtures, Derby have moved up to 11th on 32 points, whilst Chris Davies' men are two points and three places behind their Midlands counterparts.

FT: Birmingham City 1-1 Derby County

Player Ratings

Birmingham City

James Beadle - 6

Tomoki Iwata - 7.5

Christoph Klarer - 6 (Sent off 92")

Jack Robinson - 8

Eiran Cashin - 6.5 (Sampsted 58" - 6.5)

Marc Leonard - 7 (Willumsson 78" - 6)

Paik Seung-ho - 6.5

Patrick Roberts - 7.5

Jay Stansfield - 6

Demarai Gray - 6.5 (Koumas 15" - 6) (Dykes 78" - 6)

Marvin Ducksch - 6.5 (Kyogo 58" - 6)

Unused Subs: Ryan Allsop, Phil Neumann, Kanya Fujimoto, George Wynne

Derby County

Jacob Widell Zetterstrom - 8.5

Sondre Langas - 7.5 (Forsyth 95" - N./A)

Danny Batth - 7.5

Matt Clarke - 6.5

Joe Ward - 6 (Sent Off 39")

Liam Thompson - 7

Bobby Clark - 7

Callum Elder - 6

Rhian Brewster - 6.5 (Nelson 46" - 7)

Ben Brereton Diaz - 6 (Adams 46" - 6.5)

Patrick Agyemang - 7 (Jackson 84" - 6)

Unused Subs: Richard O'Donnell, Corey Blackett-Taylor, Owen Eames, Lars-Jorgen Salvesen, Andreas Weimann

Chris Davies reacts as Birmingham City held by Derby County

Issuing his thoughts post-match, Davies said: "I think, from our point of view, we sit here frustrated that we didn't get the three points.

"I think we did enough to win the match in the end. But, it wasn't to be.

"11v11, for most of that first half, I liked a lot of our play. We were very good against a team who don't give much away, normally," he added.

"Patrick Roberts and Tomoki Iwata's combinations, Demarai Gray makes a great move to have a shot, set-pieces and a good bit of fluency to our play

"After the setback of the weekend, we came out in the right frame of mind," the Blues boss stated.

"One really sloppy goal conceded out of nothing. I think they had one shot and they scored.

"A big clearance up the pitch, we get it wrong with our movements and out of nothing, against the run of play, they score.

"We have a bit to do then. Before half-time, it goes 11 v 10.

"When we had the man advantage, I thought the footballing idea was good. Some decision-making, a little bit, in the final third, was off. We were trying to stretch it, maximum width, forward runs and bodies in the box and trying to be consistent with that and build pressure as it's not always as easy as it sounds against 10 men," Davies explained.

"We get the goal with about 25 minutes to go, and it was a case of getting the second.

"The players gave everything. It wasn't for the want of trying.

"The biggest moment was Jack Robinson's off the underside of the bar. But, I can think of several big moments.

"There was a lot there. We just needed that goal to go in, and obviously it didn't, so we get one point instead of three."

John Eustace reacts to Derby County's draw at Birmingham City

Reacting to the Rams' point in B9, Eustace said: "I'm obviously very proud of the effort of the group.

"I'm very disappointed we didn't win the game, I won't lie," he added. "I thought, after the start, when they looked dangerous and hit the post, we adjusted a couple of things and then I felt very comfortable.

"We scored a fantastic goal, areas we felt we could hurt Birmingham with. The connection is really good at the moment between Patrick (Agyemang), Rhian (Brewster) and Ben Brereton Diaz.

"It's took us time to adjust, losing, arguably, the best striker in the league in Carlton (Morris,)" he claimed. "We've had to find a different way to play, and I thought the front three are getting that connection, so we look a threat, especially on transition

"We knew Birmingham would have a lot of the ball, and they wanted to play on the sides.

"From our shape and our structure, they had lots of possession, but they're putting crosses in the box. The way we defended them, the changes we made at half-time with Ebou (Adams) and (Curtis) Nelson coming on, they enjoy defending those kinds of balls.

"They had a lot of possession and shots. But, the way we defended was really pleasing," said Eustace.

The attendance at St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park this lunchtime was 28,082.