GRANT FIRES BAGGIES BACK TO TOP SPOT

KARLAN GRANT’S late strike took West Bromwich Albion back to the top of the Championship — but they will have to play much better than this to be still there at the end of the season. Bournemouth can return to the summit if they avoid defeat at Bristol City today and, even though Grant’s 75th-minute goal was enough here, Albion made hard work of it in a tough derby clash. Birmingham, meanwhile, are now without a goal in five games yet they were unlucky not to claim a point. Ivan Sunjic hit the bar and Scott Hogan squandered two good chances. After losing 3-0 at home to Nottingham Forest before the international break, Lee Bowyer’s side looked solid in the first half. Albion had the majority of the ball but struggled to create chances. Matija Sarkic tipped a 25-yard effort from Conor Townsend over the bar and Dion Sanderson did well to block a low shot from Callum Robinson following good work from Townsend. Lukas Jutkiewicz took a buffeting as the visitors’ lone forward and at one point had to change his shirt. But he had his team’s best chance with a flicked header that drifted just over. Albion took Robinson off at half-time with Jordan Hugill replacing him but it did not produce an immediate improvement. Instead, it was Birmingham who created the first two clear chances of the half. Jeremie Bela burst down the right and crossed for Hogan, who guided his volley wide. Soon afterwards Hogan was too clever for Semi Ajayi and raced into the box before setting up Sunjic, whose shot clipped the bar. Hogan missed another opportunity with 20 minutes remaining, firing over after Albion did not clear Marc Roberts’ long throw. And Birmingham were punished for wasting chances when Grant’s low strike fizzed past Sarkic from 20 yards. There was still time for Sarkic to make a superb late save from Kyle Bartley’s close-range header but Albion still got over the line.