Marvin Ducksch netted a second half equaliser for Birmingham City in their draw with West Brom
Marvin Ducksch celebrates his equaliser for Birmingham City against West Brom(Image: Ryan Browne/Shutterstock)
Another goal from Marvin Ducksch sealed a battling point for Birmingham City against West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday night.
The German striker netted his third goal in two games with a late header to cancel out Alex Mowatt’s opener.
Blues failed to capitalise on an opportunity to jump into the Championship play-offs but they did avoid defeat on the road for just the fourth time this season.
Albion started the brighter of the two teams and gained the lead in the 11th minute through Mowatt.
A long throw-in was only half-cleared by Blues and Mowatt’s strike from the edge of the box deflected off Phil Neumann to wrongfoot James Beadle.
Blues had plenty of the ball in the first half without seriously threatening Josh Griffiths’ goal.
The Albion goalkeeper was stretched by a Demarai Gray cross-cum-shot but, other than that, he was a spectator in a half where the hosts kept Blues at arm’s length.
A poor first half for Blues was compounded when Tomoki Iwata was booked for a foul on Callum Styles. Iwata’s fifth booking of the season means he will miss Monday’s clash with Watford.
It was the Baggies who started the second half in the ascendancy too. George Campbell found space down the right to cross for Aune Heggebo to test Beadle with a glancing header.
Chris Davies resisted the urge to make changes and Blues started to up the ante 20 minutes into the second half.
Ducksch, who had been anonymous for much of the game, slipped in Jay Stansfield but the striker opted to cross when he really should have shot from the left of the penalty area.
Patrick Roberts skinned Styles soon after and delivered a cross that created panic inside Albion’s six-yard box. Nat Phillips slammed the ball clear.
Albion showed their threat on the counter-attack when Karlan Grant streaked away through the centre and fed Isaac Price on the left. Price’s centre would surely have been gobbled up by Mikey Johnston without the intervention of Stansfield of all people.
Price raced down the left again with 20 minutes to play after a mistake by Neumann but couldn’t find the top corner.
Albion were punished for not killing the game when Ducksch directed Tommy Doyle’s inswinging free-kick into the far corner in the 78th minute.
Blues pushed for a winner and Griffiths was forced into a smart double save in the closing stages by Stansfield and Iwata.
Those stops ensured the spoils were shared and, in truth, that was the least Albion deserved on a night where Blues sealed a plucky draw on the road without being at their best.
Get the latest Blues headlines sent straight to your phone
BirminghamLive has its very own Birmingham City WhatsApp community to deliver the latest headlines straight to your phone. Just click this link to receive daily Blues content and breaking news. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. Click on the name at the top of your screen while in WhatsApp and click ‘Exit Group’. Read our Privacy Notice.
James Beadle 6
Beadle wasn’t overly worked due to Albion’s rash finishing. The goalkeeper was decent with the ball at his feet.
Tomoki Iwata 6.5
Iwata’s position created all manner of issues for Blues in the opening exchanges. Albion kept getting in on turnovers with Iwata occupying a midfield position. Iwata improved after half-time and started to combine with Roberts down the right.
Phil Neumann 5
Neumann’s distribution was poor all evening. He was very lucky that Price didn’t punish one error in the second half.
Christoph Klarer 7
The skipper made one excellent defensive header to prevent Heggebo from doubling Albion’s lead towards the end and generally defended Blues’ box well.
Alex Cochrane 7
Another solid showing from the left-back who looked assured against a dangerous Championship winger in Mikey Johnston.
Tommy Doyle 7
Doyle imposed himself on the game an hour in and Blues started to play with fluency. The midfielder’s delivery for Ducksch’s goal was a peach.
Paik Seung-ho 6
There were some lovely bits of skill from Paik to work space in midfield but he often ignored opportunities to drive through the centre when space appeared.
Patrick Roberts 7
A fantastic challenge on Heggebo prevented an Albion second shortly before Blues equalised and Roberts was a big threat in the second half.
Jay Stansfield 6
It was a game of few chances for Stansfield but he grew into it late on and worked Griffiths with one powerful strike from the edge of the box.
Demarai Gray 6
Gray tried to run his man but he struggled to work the yard needed to take a shot or a cross. Some of his touches in and around the box were loose.
Marvin Ducksch 6
The striker frustrated for much of the evening by failing to get hold of the ball or even challenge Albion’s centre-backs aerially, but the one header he did win nestled into the bottom corner to draw Blues level and it’s goals we’re judging him on.
SUBS
Kyogo Furuhashi (for Ducksch, 83) N/A
Keshi Anderson (for Gray, 83)
Marc Leonard (for Stansfield, 90’) (N/A
Not used: Allsop, Robinson, Cashin, Osayi-Samuel, Koumas, Dykes
How did you rate the Blues players? Let us know HERE