Birmingham City Player Ratings: Derby Frustration as Blues Denied by West Brom
Birmingham City were left to rue missed opportunities and a controversial late decision as they were held to a goalless draw by local rivals West Bromwich Albion in a tense Championship encounter. The result denied August Priske's side the victory that would have propelled them into the coveted play-off positions, leaving them just a point adrift of the top six.
A Night of Near Misses and Controversial Calls
The Blues dominated possession in the opening exchanges and created the game's first clear chance from a well-worked set piece. Kai Wagner's delivery found Paik Seung-ho unmarked at the far post, but the South Korean's goal-bound header was cleared off the line by Callum Styles. Replays suggested the ball struck Styles' hand, but referee Adam Herczeg waved away penalty appeals in a decision that would set the tone for a frustrating evening.
Compounding Birmingham's misery, Paik was forced off with a shoulder injury following the incident, replaced by Tommy Doyle after just 15 minutes. Despite this setback, Chris Davies' side continued to press, with Bright Osayi-Samuel – making his first start in two months – testing Albion goalkeeper Max O'Leary with a smart effort.
Second Half Intensity and Late Drama
Davies introduced Tomoki Iwata, Carlos Vicente, and August Priske before the hour mark in a bid to inject fresh impetus. The changes almost paid immediate dividends, with Vicente winning a corner and Ibrahim Osman seeing a shot miraculously cleared off the line by Charlie Taylor.
Osman volleyed over from another Vicente cross before the game's major talking point arrived in stoppage time. Priske powered home a header from Wagner's corner, sparking wild celebrations, only for the assistant referee's flag to cut them short. The header itself was legitimate, but Demarai Gray was adjudged to have been in an offside position, impeding O'Leary's view.
Individual Performances Under the Microscope
James Beadle (6) – Commanded his area well but distribution lacked sharpness at times.
Bright Osayi-Samuel (6) – Showed flashes of his pace and athleticism but didn't fully synchronise with Patrick Roberts, forcing a tactical adjustment.
Phil Neumann (6) – Solid defensively but guilty of overplaying in possession during the second period.
Christoph Klarer (7) – A dominant aerial presence who bravely threw himself into every challenge, including taking a boot to the face.
Kai Wagner (7) – Defensively shrewd but his usual attacking threat was somewhat neutered by the system change.
Jhon Solis (6.5) – Not as precise in possession as recent games but provided a solid defensive shield.
Paik Seung-ho (N/A) – Influential in the early exchanges before his unfortunate injury.
Patrick Roberts (6) – Less effective than usual, spending much of the game infield rather than exploiting the right flank.
Marvin Ducksch (5) – An off-night where his touch deserted him and that moment of magic never arrived.
Ibrahim Osman (7) – Birmingham's most dangerous outlet for 70 minutes, using his searing pace to trouble the Albion defence.
Jay Stansfield (6) – Worked tirelessly upfront with minimal support before being substituted.
Substitutes Make Their Mark
Tommy Doyle (6) – Grew into the game after replacing Paik, trying to drive the team forward.
Tomoki Iwata (6) – Restored natural balance at right-back after his introduction.
Carlos Vicente (7) – Showed sublime technical quality and delivered dangerous crosses.
August Priske (6.5) – Made a physical impact and scored what should have been the winner.
Demarai Gray (N/A) – Limited time to make an impact.
The final whistle brought contrasting emotions: frustration for Birmingham City, who remain just outside the play-off places, and relief for West Bromwich Albion, who edge a point further from the relegation zone. With 27,307 fans packed into St Andrew's, this derby delivered tension and drama, if not the goals the home supporters craved.
