RYAN JUST THE TONIC
BOURNEMOUTH finally found their goal touch after 225 minutes without scoring.
The Cherries failed to net in their opening league defeats against West Brom and Watford, leaving boss Eddie Howe desperately needing a goal tonic.
With Jermain Defoe making his first start since his return, you would have fancied him putting one across old boss and mentor Harry Redknapp.
But it was Ryan Fraser, without a goal since January, who ended the drought with an equaliser right after the break.
Fraser cancelled out Maikel Kieftenbeld’s 10th-minute goal for Brum and Marc Pugh put Bournemouth in front with a cracker after 67 minutes.
Kieftenbeld’s goal separated the sides at the break. Birmingham got a corner and Kieftenbeld rammed the ball home at the far post after Jonathan Grounds had nodded Stephen Gleeson’s kick back across goal.
They nearly had another when Isaac Vassell rounded keeper Artur Boruc and sent his angled shot goalwards but Tyrone Mings made an heroic back heel clearance off the line. The big defender clattered into the net support and needed four minutes of treatment.
Brum claimed a penalty in the 29th minute when Vassell was sent tumbling by a Mings shoulder barge.
Twice Defoe had left-foot shots blocked by keeper Tomasz Kuszczak who also saved well from Lys Mousset.
Bournemouth were rewarded for their efforts 52 seconds into the second half when Fraser played a ball to Adam Smith and ghosted in at the far post to take the return pass.
Defoe had a goal ruled out for offside but Pugh hit the winner, twisting in the box before rifling home off the bar.