Jack Robinson rescued some extent for Birmingham in a bad-tempered 1-1 draw towards Derby which noticed each groups end with 10 males.
The veteran defender netted his first purpose for the membership from shut vary within the sixty fourth minute to cancel out Patrick Agyemang’s first-half header.
The Rams had been lowered in numbers simply earlier than the interval when Joe Ward was dismissed for choosing up two bookings in fast succession.
That left the guests on the again foot however Birmingham additionally noticed a person dismissed throughout stoppage time when residence skipper Christoph Klarer was despatched off following a reckless problem on substitute Ebou Adams.
Regardless of being the season of goodwill, the match was a niggly affair from the beginning with Derby boss John Eustace, who himself was booked for overstepping the mark with the fourth official, returning to face the membership he managed earlier than being changed by Wayne Rooney.
Birmingham had began brightly and had been unfortunate to not take a fifth-minute lead when Demarai Grey labored himself to the flawed aspect of Ward however his end hit the foot of the submit.
The subsequent contribution by the Derby defender was extra constructive, nonetheless. His right-wing cross discovered the top of Agyemang, however he may solely direct his effort extensive of the goal.
Agyemang was, nonetheless, in the correct place within the twenty seventh minute to present the guests the lead.
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Patrick Agyemang opens the scoring for Derby towards Birmingham after a speedy counter-attack
It got here by way of a protracted punt up discipline by Ward to Rhian Brewster, who used his tempo to outstrip Robinson earlier than lofting the ball into the world the place Agyemang nodded previous James Beadle.
Moments later, Ward picked up the primary of his two cautions for delaying the restart.
After which Roberts, who regarded Birmingham’s most attacking risk, bore down on the Rams’ purpose just for Ward to clip his heels seven minutes earlier than the break.
Referee Ben Toner produced his second yellow in a matter of moments to dismiss Ward.
Residence boss Chris Davies made a double substitution simply earlier than the hour in an effort to spark a revival and was rewarded within the sixty fourth minute when Birmingham drew stage.
Marc Leonard’s free-kick was defended by Matt Clarke and Agyemang on the far submit however each managed to get in one another’s method, leaving Robinson to power the ball previous Jacob Widell Zetterstrom.
Birmingham then threw warning to the wind in an try and power a winner and got here shut just for Zetterstrom to tug off a wise cease from Paik Seung-Ho’s snapshot from the sting of the world.
And within the dying seconds the woodwork got here to Derby’s help when Robinson’s header crashed into the crossbar.
The end result marked Birmingham’s fifth recreation with out a win since their 2-1 defeat of Watford at first of December, whereas the Rams stretched their unbeaten run to 4.
The managers
Birmingham’s Chris Davies:
“I think I’m sitting here frustrated we haven’t got the three points. I think we did enough to win the match, but it wasn’t to be.
“I actually preferred a number of our play. I assumed we had been excellent towards a workforce that does not give a lot away.
“I think they’ve had one shot on goal. It was a really sloppy one conceded out of nothing after they’ve had a big clearance up the pitch.
“Clearly, we acquired the purpose and it was a case of whether or not we may set the second. It wasn’t to be nevertheless it wasn’t for the need of attempting.”
Derby’s John Eustace:
“I am not going to lie, I used to be upset we did not win the sport. Clearly, they’ve regarded harmful however then we adjusted a few issues and we regarded very comfy.
“Patrick has scored a fantastic goal and they had a lot of possession. Birmingham are an excellent team with the ball so we had to respect that.
“They had been placing a number of crosses into our field however the best way we defended them was excellent.
“I’m really disappointed in the way we conceded from a free-kick. We got that set up wrong and also, it’s handball. I thought everyone could see that.”
