LUK OF THE DRAW

TWO-GOAL hero Lukas Jutkiewicz came to Birmingham’s rescue against struggling Ipswich.

The Tractor Boys were ploughing through City’s five-game unbeaten run with two first-half goals.

Birmingham were stunned. Ipswich had only scored one away goal all season and here they were two up by half time.

“We didn’t compete in the first half,” admitted City boss Garry Monk.

“I could have taken them all off at half time but I haven’t got 11 subs.”

Birmingham were expected to follow their win at Leeds last week with an easy victory over Ipswich, who haven’t won this term.

But they were two down four minutes before half- time and went off to boos. Jon Nolan got Ipswich’s first on 26 minutes from Kayden Jackson’s pass and then Ipswich hit the hosts again, Matthew Pennington sending a shot in from six yards.

Pennington was later sent off for two yellow cards leaving his team with 10 men for the last hectic six minutes, including the added time.

Birmingham were rampant again by then, their fierce comeback fired by Jutkiewicz (inset). He scored his first goal minutes after the break, added a 68th minute leveller and also headed against the bar. Ipswich manager Paul Hurst insisted: “When Birmingham fought back some teams could have gone under quite easily but that didn’t happen to us. “I saw some leadership on the pitch.”