A Kieran Dowell penalty was enough to break City’s stubborn resistance at St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park, as they were edged out by runaway league leaders Birmingham City.
The Imps had battled valiantly throughout the contest against a Blues side who went into it defending the only unbeaten home record in Sky Bet League One. They were ultimately undone when substitute Sam Clucas was penalised for a foul on Tomoki Iwata after 71 minutes, with Dowell’s spot kick proving decisive.
City head coach Michael Skubala made two changes to the side that beat Crawley Town 4-1 last Tuesday, with skipper Paudie O’Connor immediately reinstated after serving a two-game suspension.
Tom Hamer made way, with the other alteration seeing forward Ben House start up front in place of Reeco Hackett.
The Imps had an early opening inside six minutes when Wickens sent a free kick into the area which was won by Jackson, but his header was gathered by Allsop.
The returning skipper O’Connor was called into action a minute later. Hansson’s delivery was met by his opposite wideman Gardner-Hickman at the far post, but the defender was able to make an important interception to prevent the header from reaching Stansfield inside the six-yard box.
With 10 minutes on the clock, Roughan speared in a long-throw which was met by the head of Ben Davies. He could only clear as far as the defender, who saw a speculative effort from wide clear the crossbar. Blues broke quickly down the other end, with Jackson sliding in to thwart Iwata inside the box, after he’d exchanged passes with Cochrane on the left side.
The home side were beginning to turn the screw, and an excellent Wickens save thwarted Gardner-Hickman on 13 minutes. Paik found the attacker at the far post and he let fly with a first-time effort on the volley, but the Imps stopper flew across his goal to keep it out. The same player had another opportunity from virtually the same position just two minutes later. This time it was Cochrane who supplied the cross, but he couldn’t keep his effort down.
City were posing questions at the other end and another Roughan long-throw presented House with a shooting opportunity after some head-tennis inside the area on 26 minutes. The ball found the striker on the edge of the area, but a deflection saw his effort comfortably into the arms of Allsop.
Blues continued to focus their attacks down the left flank and another dangerous delivery from Paik had to be repelled by O’Connor. The resulting corner saw Bielik get an effort away at the far post, but his low shot was kept out on the half-hour-mark.
Collins did excellently to meet a long pass into the area from Wickens and direct it into the path of House, who was just beaten to it by Davies on 33 minutes, as City continued to ask questions of the league leaders.
With a minute to go until the break, Cochrane won the ball back on halfway for the hosts and fed Hansson, who cut inside before curling an effort from the left just wide of the far post.
The second period started with an opportunity for Jefferies after he was threaded through by House. Unfortunately, he was forced wide and unable to find his intended target with the resulting cross. The hosts countered and Stansfield forced Wickens to push away his powerful low drive on the spin.
Blues boss Chris Davies was first to show his hand in an attempt to break down a stubborn City resistance when he introduced Keshi Anderson and Willum Willumsson 10 minutes into the second half. Anderson was involved instantly when he exchanged passes with Cochrane on the edge of the area, with the latter seeing his cross well defended by Jackson on the left.
The Imps continued to stand firm with Jackson twice called into action to deny Anderson and then Willumsson with excellent blocks inside the box as the clocked ticked past the hour-mark. Boss Michael Skubala freshened it up after 64 minutes with a triple substitution. Sam Clucas, Freddie Draper and Reeco Hackett all entered the action, with James Collins, Tom Bayliss and Jovon Makama all making way.
The home side were presented with an opportunity to take the lead when Iwata went down in the area following a challenge from Clucas and the referee pointed to the spot. It was left to Kieran Dowell, who converted the penalty to give the hosts the lead on 71 minutes.
City went in search of instant response, and almost had it when Hackett directed a cross from the left flank into a dangerous area. Darikwa met it and fired an effort low into a crowd of bodies, but a Blues defender was able to block.
With 10 minutes left, Iwata cleared the crossbar with a drive from 25 yards, after Dowell’s corner was cleared as far as the midfielder.
The Imps were presented with a great chance to equalise with just two minutes left. A sliced clearance from Cochrane was directed into the path of Hackett by Draper, but he could only stab his effort wide. They continued to push for an equaliser but it wasn't to come, with the home side able to see out the result despite a battling City display on the road.
Birmingham City: Allsop, Klarer, Bielik (Willumsson 54’), Hansson (Anderson 54’), Paik, Gardner-Hickman, Cochrane, Iwata, Davies, Stansfield (May 74’), Dowell (Hanley 88’). Unused: Peacock-Farrell, Jutkiewicz, Leonard.
Imps: Wickens, Darikwa (Gardner 75’), Jackson (Hamer 81’), Bayliss (Clucas 64’), McGrandles, O’Connor, Jefferies, House, Roughan, Collins (Draper 64’), Makama (Hackett 64’). Unused: Jeacock, Hamilton.
Attendance: 26,210 (992 away)
Referee: David Rock
