By James Burch
Birmingham secured a crucial hard fought draw away at unbeaten side Charlton, in front of good backing from the 1,500 Blues fans. A 1-1 score line didn`t do Lee Clark`s men justice as they had the majority of the second half and had a goal wrongly disallowed in the first forty-five. David Davies first goal for his new club gave Blues a four point gap from the relegation zone and four points from six in their last two away games gives City a good platform to build on after the International break.
Birmingham City started the game at the Valley sluggishly conceding an early goal before dominating the final twenty minutes of the first half against unbeaten Charlton side, The Addicks took the wind out of Lee Clark`s team`s sail with a goal in the 11th minute through forward Igor Vetokele. Lee Clark will berate his defenders for not picking up the Belgian who was there at the near post to head in from a Bullot cross.
After Charlton`s goal Birmingham came back into the game and began trying to put more of a mark on the game. After good play from midfielder Callum Reilly, the ball was shifted to Clayton Donaldson who scored his second goal of the season in Tuesdays night win over Millwall and his shot from over 20 yards out went an inch over the crossbar.
The big talking point of the first forty-five came when Blues should have had an equaliser in the 34th minute. Youngster Koby Arthur had the ball in the net from a Paul Caddis cross and the referee gave it..However the linesman over turned this decision as he said forward Donaldson was interfering with play and the goal to the frustration of the Blues side was then disallowed.
Callum Reilly had a sterling first-half performance showing great determination and drive. Blues really pressed in the final ten minutes before the break and were driven on by the goal that wasn`t given but Charlton went in a goal to the good at half-time.
Half-Time Charlton 1-0 Birmingham City
Birmingham came out for the second half, still determined to overturn the first half score line and in the 53rd minute they did just that. David Davis scored his first goal for the club to give Blues the equaliser with a goal from outside the area. Stephen Gleeson showed great composure from a corner and laid the ball off to the former Wolverhampton Wanderers man who sweetly drilled the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
After this it was up to Blues to push for a winner and they tried their hardest to get that elusive goal. Demarai Gray came on with a quarter of the game to go and gave Birmingham real life and energy. Blues looked comfortable and the defence were never really in trouble from the home side`s forward line.
Substitute Wes Thomas could have easily scored the winner with ten minutes to go. Demarai Gray burst down the left hand side and played in Thomas but unluckily he slipped at the last minute and the ball slid away from his touch before he could pull the trigger or set up on one of his teammates and the game ended 1-1 giving Blues an invaluable point at the Valley.
Full-Time Charlton 1-1 Birmingham City
Charlton Athletic Side: Henderson Solly Morrison Bikey Amougou Wiggins Wilson (Tucudean – 70′ ) Buyens Jackson (Moussa – 58′ ) Cousins (Fox – 90′ ) Bulot Vetokele
Unused Subs Harriott Pope Thomas Ahearne-Grant
Birmingham City team Randolph Caddis Edgar Robinson Grounds Davis Reilly (Gray – 65′ ) Cotterill Gleeson Arthur (Thomas – 79′ ) Donaldson
Unused Subs Packwood Hall Johnstone Lee Doyle
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