Birmingham 1-1 Burnley: Vincent Kompany's side miss out on top spot after draw

Birmingham 1-1 Burnley: Vincent Kompany's side miss out on top spot after draw

Burnley missed the chance to regain top spot in the Sky Bet Championship after they were held to a 1-1 draw by a resolute Birmingham at St Andrew’s.

Johann Berg Gudmundsson handed the Clarets a 74th-minute lead just four minutes after coming off the bench.

But Scott Hogan equalised just six minutes later to give John Eustace’s side a deserved point.

The point for Vincent Kompany’s side was not enough for them to retrieve pole position but it extended their unbeaten run to 12 league games.

There were chances for both sides as the teams tested each other’s resolve.

Burnley threatened first when centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis sent a looping header wide from a deep cross.

Auston Trusty – who scored twice from set-plays in Birmingham’s 3-0 home win over Bristol City last time out – got to Tahith Chong’s free-kick fractionally before goalkeeper Arijanet Muric only to nod just wide.

Burnley striker Nathan Tella curled wide after taking on Trusty before the visitors went even closer when Jay Rodriguez’s flick hit the post from 12 yards after Josh Brownhill crossed.

The Clarets had another chance when left-back Vitinho was found unmarked but he sliced high and wide from just inside the box after another cross from the right, this time from Connor Roberts.

But Birmingham forced the only real save of the first half. Hogan and Troy Deeney combined to slip in Maxime Colin, whose poke towards goal was smuggled behind by Muric.

Birmingham had the first opportunity of the second half when Krystian Bielik unleashed a full-blooded volley that would have given Muric no chance had it not dropped a few feet wide, from Chong’s corner.

Burnley appealed for a penalty when Anass Zaroury went sprawling to the ground after chasing down a long ball from defence. But referee Dean Whitestone instead booked the forward for diving.

Blues were next to pose a threat when Hogan’s header deflected wide off Harwood-Bellis after Deeney’s deep cross.

Substitute Gudmundsson broke the deadlock just four minutes after coming on.

The Iceland international midfielder won a tussle with Emmanuel Longelo and bent a lovely curling, left-footed shot beyond John Ruddy into the bottom corner for his first goal of the season.

But Hogan levelled on 80 minutes when he steered home George Hall’s cross at the near post for his sixth goal of the season.

Hogan went close to a second goal when his left-wing cross clipped the angle of post and bar on 87 minutes.

More News on this


Burnley sign England U-21s hero Trafford from Man City

Burnley sign England U-21s hero Trafford from Man City


Burnley have completed the signing of goalkeeper James Trafford on a four-year deal.

The 20-year-old arrives at Turf Moor from Manchester City for an undisclosed fee after spending last season on loan at League One club Bolton.

Read more
Burnley forward Obafemi to miss start of season with hamstring injury

Burnley forward Obafemi to miss start of season with hamstring injury


Burnley forward Michael Obafemi will miss the start of the Premier League season with a hamstring injury suffered while on international duty.

The 22-year-old tore his hamstring in the Republic of Ireland’s 3-0 win over Gibraltar and will undergo an operation later this week before beginning a rehabilitation process.

Read more
Burnley sign Vigouroux on free transfer from Orient

Burnley sign Vigouroux on free transfer from Orient


Burnley have signed goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux on a free transfer from Leyton Orient, the newly-promoted Premier League club have announced.

The 29-year-old has signed a three-year contract at Turf Moor and becomes the Clarets’ second signing since they secured their return to the top flight.

Read more
Burnley sign Republic of Ireland defender O’Shea from West Brom

Burnley sign Republic of Ireland defender O’Shea from West Brom


Burnley have completed the signing of Republic of Ireland defender Dara O’Shea from West Brom.

The 24-year-old has agreed a four-year deal at Turf Moor following the Clarets’ promotion to the Premier League.

Read more