Birmingham Metropolis 3-1 West Bromwich Albion: Gary Gardner’s chic freekick seals Blues derby day win
- West Brom’s in-form midfielder John Swift gave the Baggies an early lead
- Juninho Bacuna, Captain Dion Sanderson and Gary Gardner all scored for Blues
- Take heed to the most recent episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off’
Birmingham Metropolis celebrated derby delight after benefitting from a controversial penalty as they got here from behind to beat rivals West Bromwich Albion at St. Andrew’s.
Cedric Kipre’s clumsy lunge on Koji Miyoshi was deemed a spot kick by referee James Linington and Juninho Bacuna equalised within the twenty third minute.
From that second, John Eustace’s aspect have been a distinct proposition as Dion Sanderson headed Blues in entrance within the thirty eighth minute earlier than substitute Gary Gardner grabbed a 3rd with an 87th-minute free kick.
John Swift put West Brom forward within the sixth minute together with his sixth purpose of the season.
The 28-year-old ahead coolly handed the ball into the online first time from 20 yards from Grady Diangana’s sq. ball, the shot getting into off the publish.
The timing and precision of the strike meant goalkeeper John Ruddy had no likelihood of saving Swift’s second purpose of the week.
Some Metropolis followers thought that they had equalised within the twelfth minute however Miyoshi’s shot ripped excessive into the sidenetting from a good angle after Adam Stansfield headed Bacuna’s nook throughout purpose.
Birmingham have been stage within the twenty third minute with a penalty which was hotly disputed by West Brom’s gamers.
At first look the choice regarded harsh as Miyoshi was falling anyway earlier than Kipre’s lunge on him, however there was a follow-through from the latter which presumably made up the thoughts of referee James Linington.
Bacuna made no mistake from the spot for his first Championship purpose of the season, sending his kick low to the left of Alex Palmer, who dived the alternative manner.
In a typical derby, motion swung from finish to finish and a bouncing header from West Brom’s Alex Mowatt was held by Ruddy.
But it surely was Blues who dominated the remainder of the half.
The full of life Bacuna noticed a low shot deflected simply huge off Kyle Bartley earlier than John Eustace’s aspect took the lead in thirty eighth minute.
Dion Sanderson guided a header excessive into the online from Cody Drameh’s deep cross after West Brom partly cleared a nook.
Sanderson, the previous Wolves academy graduate, ran in entrance of the West Brom followers to have fun enthusiastically.
West Brom wasted a golden likelihood to equalise within the 59th minute.
Darnell Furlong slid in unmarked on the far publish however his shot from six yards out flew inches huge after Matt Phillips crossed.
Furlong had one other likelihood quickly afterwards however his far-post header flew straight at Ruddy.
However they needn’t have nervous as Gardner curled dwelling a pleasant free kick to seal Blues’ second dwelling win in per week after Kipre was booked for bringing down substitute Scott Hogan within the D.
