Birmingham City vs Ipswich Town match report: Christophe Berra's double takes the bounce out of Birmingham
Birmingham City 2 Ipswich Town 2
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Christophe Berra’s second goal of the match in stoppage time salvaged a point for Ipswich, who were contemplating a second away defeat in four days after David Edgar and Clayton Donaldson had given Birmingham the upper hand here tonight.
The former Wolves defender Berra, who had supplied Ipswich’s first equaliser to cancel out a 1-0 half-time lead for the home side, headed home a cross by Paul Anderson in the fourth of five added minutes to deflate what had until then been a buoyant St Andrew’s atmosphere as the home crowd prepared to celebrate the rarity of back-to-back home wins for Lee Clark’s team.
Both Conor Sammon and Daryl Murphy looked dangerous in the early exchanges and the visitors might have scored first had the latter not fluffed a chance from a miscued clearance by Jonathan Grounds. As it was, Birmingham led through Edgar after half an hour when Ipswich left the former Burnley centre back unmarked to head home a David Cotterill corner, won by Donaldson.
However, Birmingham’s defending was collectively much less impressive five minutes into the second half, when no one could deal with a low free-kick from the left by Paul Anderson which centre back Berra converted at the far post to put Ipswich level.
But Birmingham regained the lead in the 63rd minute, Wesley Thomas quickly turning a block by substitute Stephen Gleeson into a chance by sweeping the ball forward for Donaldson to chase, the striker bearing down at speed on the Ipswich goal before keeping his composure to slide the ball under Dean Gerken into the net.
After ending 10 months without a home Championship win with Saturday’s defeat of Brighton, Birmingham looked to have done enough to repeat the trick, but Berra had the last word.
Birmingham City (4-4-2): Randolph; Spector, Edgar, Hall, Grounds; Cotterill, Caddis, Davis (Gleeson, 60), Novak; Thomas (Johnstone, 81), Donaldson. Substitutes not used Doyle (gk), Gray, Duffy, Gleeson, Brown, Robinson, Johnstone.
Ipswich Town (3-4-1-2): Gerken; Chambers, Berra, Smith; Anderson, Skuse, Hyam, Mings; Tabb (Henshall, 80); Murphy (Bajner,80), Sammon (McGoldrick, 60). Substitutes not used Bialkowski, Parr, Hewitt, Bru, Henshall, Bajner, McGoldrick.
Referee R East (Wiltshire).
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments