JAKE’S DERBY JOY
West Brom fired up by rocket from Livermore
Docked nine points during the international break, returned Birmingham to gto the field and endured another painful experience.
Garry Monk’s side led twice at West Brom but ended up losing g when Jake Livermore struck a rocket of a shot to confirm fears a relegation scrap is yet to be avoided.
Punished for spending breaches, Birmingham went from having an outside hope of the play- offs to trying to stay above the dotted line e when the EFL finally delivered d their punishment last week.
So this loss, a fifth in a row, will prompt concern. It was also so marred when two Birmingham am fans tried to get on the pitch in celebration, three weeks on from Paul Mitchell being jailed for assaulting Jack Grealish.
West Brom were far from their best but ground out a third win in a row under caretaker manager James Shan, who is in pole position to keep the job for the remainder of the season and into a play-off campaign.
This being a Friday night under the lights between local rivals the atmosphere sizzled from the off. And it did not take long for those noisy travelling fans to have something to cheer.
Seven minutes were on the
clock when Gary Gardner escaped the attentions of West Brom’s defenders at connor Mahoney’s corner to head in unchallenged from six yards. It was set-piece simplicity and a poor goal for the hosts to concede.
Wild celebrations in the away section saw two blue smoke bombs thrown onto the pitch, not exactly helping goalkeeper Lee camp’s vision or Birmingham’s bruised reputation. Those same fans gave their verdict on their club’s nine-point deduction. ‘F*** the EFL,’ they sang.
For West Brom, the errors kept coming. c Passes repeatedly went astray as and camp ended the first half ha without a save to make.
At A the other end Ahmed Hegazi produced pr a super last-ditch block to stop che Adams and Lukas Jutkiewicz Ju headed firmly but straight st at Sam Johnstone.
dwight d Gayle had a good chance just before the break but he got ahead of the ball from a chris Brunt corner and nodded over.
A minute after the restart though, the same combination got West Brom level.
Brunt curled over a perfect freekick and Gayle glanced on to defeat camp for his 17th goal of the season — and first since early February.
Birmingham retook the lead just before the hour in an identical manner to their first.
Mahoney delivered a deep corner and Jutkiewicz beat Jay Rodriguez in the air to nod down and in. Scoring in front of the travelling fans encouraged two to leap the hoardings to join the players.
There was none of the malicious intent that fuelled Grealish’s assailant but the West Brom stewards were understandably on guard and forcibly led both Birmingham supporters away.
So they missed West Brom equalise again six minutes later. Mahoney undid his two assists by sliding in foolishly on conor Townsend. The foul began outside the box but continued inside and referee david Webb was right to point to the spot. Rodriguez converted confidently, sending camp the wrong way.
And West Brom won it 16 minutes from time when Livermore unleashed a fearsome half-volley. Harlee dean and david davis failed to properly clear Gayle’s cross and Livermore’s shot tore through the crowd.