2.41 Blackburn 3.21 Draw 3.10 Birmingham

2.41 Blackburn 3.21 Draw 3.10 Birmingham

Kerim Mrabti (left) was making his first appearance for Birmingham since the home defeat by Fulham on 9 November

Birmingham City ended a run of three straight Championship defeats as they came from behind to draw at Blackburn Rovers in a game of two penalties.

After a goalless first half, Adam Armstrong fired Rovers ahead from the spot after Wes Harding brought down Sam Gallagher.

But Kerim Mrabti earned Blues a point eight minutes later with his first goal of the season, sending Christian Walton the wrong way after Jacques Maghoma was fouled in the area by Amari'i Bell.

Derrick Williams then saw his injury-time header hit the bar for Blackburn, who were held at home for the second time in four days.

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The draw extended Rovers' unbeaten run to eight games, leaving them three points outside a play-off spot, while although Birmingham ended their losing streak, they have now only won one of their past 10 matches.

Blackburn were without Bradley Dack, who faces 12 months out because of the results of a scan on the knee injury he suffered during Monday's goalless draw with Wigan.

Clear chances were at a premium during an even first half which saw Maghoma twice fire wide, Walton deny Mrabti and Lukas Jutkiewicz head over from six yards for Birmingham, while Trueman saved from Armstrong and instinctively kept the ball out when Harlee Dean diverted Lewis Holtby's cross towards his own net.

After the penalties, Blackburn had the better chances to win it, but Holtby curled a free-kick over and Trueman denied substitute Joe Rothwell before Williams' late chance.

Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"It wasn't a very good football match but when we got 1-0 up with a penalty I was struggling to see how they were going to score an equaliser.

"We're stood here with two dropped points from a game that was always going to be difficult for us.

"We found it difficult to create chances, as they did, and we'll have to take a point."

Birmingham head coach Pep Clotet told BBC WM:

"With Blackburn having only lost twice at home, and with being in very good form, we knew that we had to deal with their aerial threats and their quick players. We knew we had to do a lot of things right to keep them out of our box.

"At the same time we had to do a lot of things right ourselves to stop the little bad run we've been having. To me, it's a goal achieved in that sense."

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Blackburn

Formation 4-2-3-1

• 1 Walton
• 2 Nyambe Booked at 70mins Substituted for Travis at 72' minutes
• 26 Lenihan
• 3 Williams
• 17 Bell
• 39 Buckley Substituted for Graham at 81' minutes
• 4 Johnson Booked at 60mins
• 31 Bennett Booked at 82mins
• 22 Holtby Substituted for Rothwell at 81' minutes
• 7 A Armstrong
• 9 Gallagher

Substitutes

• 8 Rothwell
• 10 Graham
• 12 Samuel
• 13 Leutwiler
• 19 Downing
• 20 Brereton
• 27 Travis

Birmingham

Formation 4-2-3-1

• 27 Trueman
• 5 Colin
• 12 Dean
• 2 Harding
• 3 Pedersen Booked at 85mins
• 26 Davis
• 20 Gardner Booked at 76mins
• 11 Bela Substituted for Bellingham at 77' minutes
• 18 Mrabti Booked at 23mins Substituted for Giménez at 83' minutes
• 19 Maghoma Substituted for Sunjic at 88' minutes
• 10 Jutkiewicz

Substitutes

• 1 Camp
• 7 Crowley
• 15 Montero
• 16 McEachran
• 22 Bellingham
• 24 Giménez
• 34 Sunjic

Referee:

Robert Jones

Attendance:

15,887

Match Stats

Live Text

1. Match ends, Blackburn Rovers 1, Birmingham City 1.

2. Second Half ends, Blackburn Rovers 1, Birmingham City 1.

3. Attempt missed. Kristian Pedersen (Birmingham City) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.

4. Foul by Darragh Lenihan (Blackburn Rovers).

5. Álvaro Giménez (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

6. Joe Rothwell (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick on the left wing.

7. Foul by Maxime Colin (Birmingham City).

8. Derrick Williams (Blackburn Rovers) hits the bar with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Joe Rothwell with a cross following a corner.

9. Corner, Blackburn Rovers. Conceded by Kristian Pedersen.

10. Attempt blocked. Gary Gardner (Birmingham City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jude Bellingham.

11. Attempt missed. Joe Rothwell (Blackburn Rovers) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Amari'i Bell following a set piece situation.

12. Substitution, Birmingham City. Ivan Sunjic replaces Jacques Maghoma.

13. Lewis Travis (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

14. Foul by Álvaro Giménez (Birmingham City).

15. Lewis Travis (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

16. Foul by Jacques Maghoma (Birmingham City).

17. Kristian Pedersen (Birmingham City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

18. Elliott Bennett (Blackburn Rovers) wins a free kick on the right wing.

19. Foul by Kristian Pedersen (Birmingham City).

20. Substitution, Birmingham City. Álvaro Giménez replaces Kerim Mrabti.

2.41 Blackburn 3.21 Draw 3.10 Birmingham

Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50846972

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