Birmingham held at home by Queens Park Rangers-ZoomTech News

Birmingham Metropolis have been held to a draw for the second successive residence recreation as lowly Queens Park Rangers battled laborious to keep up this season’s improved away type.

However they might not discover a well past QPR keeper Asmir Begovic, whereas Birmingham stopper John Ruddy was in equally good type.

The true standout second of the night time, nonetheless, was former West Bromwich Albion midfielder Sam Area’s astonishing acrobatic clearance to stop his team-mate Steve Cook dinner from scoring an embarrassing first-half personal objective.

QPR’s level, on the again of away wins at Cardiff and Middlesbrough, maybe made up for the sad night they suffered within the second metropolis on their final go to to St Andrew’s 11 months in the past, which turned out to be a fateful night time for them.

Then below Michael Beale, the then high-flying Hoops would have gone prime of the second tier if that they had gained.

As a substitute, Blues’ 2-0 win, sparked by an impressive overhead-kick from on-loan Arsenal defender Auston Trusty, despatched them on a nosedive down the Championship desk, hastened by Beale’s high-profile departure to Rangers, unchecked by new boss Neil Critchley and ended solely by the 2 late season wins below Ainsworth which saved them up.

The one factor that seems to be totally different to final season is their comparative defensive meanness.

Since being battered 4-0 at Watford of their season opener, QPR have solely conceded eight targets in seven league video games – and this was their second successive away clear sheet.

No well past Ruddy and Begovic

Regardless of plenty of early menace down the appropriate from on-loan Jay Stansfield, the closest Birmingham got here earlier than the break was a frantic scramble which culminated in a exceptional goal-line clearance from Area, who hooked Cook dinner’s tried clearance out from beneath his personal bar.

Stansfield additionally dangerously bobbed and weaved his approach into a lot of different potential openings, however the ball didn’t bounce kindly sufficient due to the shut intervention of some gutsy last-ditch QPR defending.

The closest both facet got here to a objective earlier than the break got here when Paul Smyth lower in from proper for the guests and unleashed a low left-foot shot which compelled a save from the strong Ruddy.

With Blues disrupted by a late first-half hamstring damage for Keshi Anderson, it was the identical sample after the break as the 2 36-year-old custodians vied to outdo one another.

Begovic made essential saves from Scott Hogan and the full of life Stansfield, whereas Ruddy maybe outshone him when he obtained down sharply to maintain out Lyndon Dykes’ header from substitute Albert Adomah’s right-wing cross, reacting with an excellent tumbling save.

However whereas Blues have nonetheless not misplaced a house Championship match this season and ended a run of two right away defeats at Watford and Preston, they may certainly be the extra upset of the 2 sides.

Who’s subsequent?

Birmingham are on the highway subsequent Saturday after they go to Norwich, whereas QPR host Coventry Metropolis.

Birmingham Metropolis boss John Eustace advised BBC Radio WM:

“Total, a degree is a good outcome and John Ruddy saved us with an impressive save there on the finish.

“It was essential that we have been aggressive and had some good possibilities.

“However QPR have been at all times a menace and we needed to keep alert – and we restricted them to just a few possibilities.”

QPR boss Gareth Ainsworth:

“I would have taken a degree earlier than the sport, though you at all times need all three.

“However Birmingham are a great group and John Eustace is an efficient supervisor and it is a robust place to get one thing.

“We virtually obtained in bother a few instances then, however for John Ruddy making a unbelievable save on the finish there from Lyndon Dykes we would even have come away with one thing. However we’re in all probability the happier facet on the finish.”