Brentford 1-1 Birmingham City

Written by: Oliver Osborn

Birmingham City have made it three league matches unbeaten after a 1-1 draw at Brentford’s Griffin Park.

Despite playing against 10-men for the majority of the match, Blues were unable to take their chances and gifted the Bees a lifeline back into the game.

A Paul Caddis penalty after Tony Craig’s sending off for a professional foul was canceled out by Moses Odubajo with almost ten minutes to go.

Blues started off the stronger of the two sides and were awarded a penalty just 15 minutes into the game.

Former Brentford striker Clayton Donaldson was brought down through on goal by Tony Craig as referee Robert Madley pointed to the spot.

With the chance to give Blues the lead, Caddis tucked away his penalty comfortably and sent goalkeeper David Button the wrong way.

Lee Clark’s side continued to dominant and having the extra man meant they could look to create more chances.

David Cotterill’s set pieces were causing a threat, but a great point blank save from Button denied Lee Novak from close range.

Just as the half time whistle approached, Wes Thomas had a great chance to give Blues a two goal lead, but headed his effort from six yards out over the bar.

After the break, Brentford were the side looking for the next goal as Blues started to drop deeper and take less risks.

The Bees had their own penalty shout when Jonathon Spector appeared to bring down Jake Bidwell, but Madley waved away the Brentford protests.

Clark brought off Clayton Donaldson and Wes Thomas, much to some supporters frustrations, and with ten minutes left in normal time Brentford found an equaliser.

A mistake from Jonathon Grounds put Brentford’s Moses Odubajo through on goal, with just Randolph to beat, and the right back equalised for the home side.

It meant that Blues had failed to hold onto a lead twice in a week and dropped four points, four points that could be important at the end of the season.

Both sides are in Capital One Cup action midweek, with Brentford up against London rivals Fulham on Tuesday night and Birmingham at home to Premier League Sunderland.

Brentford boss Mark Warburton:

“We showed tremendous character going down to 10 men so early to ride it, come back and get something out of the game.”

“The first 10 minutes were disappointing because we didn’t win enough of the physical battles. Maybe there was a bit of edginess, but it isn’t [a lack of] self-belief and it certainly wasn’t there at the end.”

Birmingham manager Lee Clark:

“We have had chances to finish it in the first half but, if I’m honest, Brentford deserved something from the game. They looked like they had the extra man.

“We created good chances but the way we used the ball and our possession overall wasn’t particularly great. It was an extremely frustrating result for us.”

Starting line up: Randolph; Spector, Edgar, Hall, Grounds; Cotterill, Caddis, Davis (Johnstone 87′), Novak; Thomas (Gray 56′), Donaldson (Gleeson 68′)

Subs not used: Doyle, Brown, Robinson, Duffy

Man of the match: David Button