Clark Had Butland To Thank For Point

Birmingham boss Lee Clark watched Birmingham come back from a goal down to draw 1-1 at Blackburn on Saturday and knew that Jack Butland was the man to thank.

Things looked like going wrong again when the home side were awarded a penalty just twelve minutes into the game at Ewood Park.

Ruben Rochina had the job of taking the kick and he coolly put the ball past Butland, giving the young keeper no chance.

But City were in the sort of mood that saw them defy to lie down and soon hit back with Marlon King again on the mark with his second in as many games.

But it was the home side that had the best of the chances after that, but Butland was in no mood to be beaten again and pulled off a string of good saves to give his side a precious point.

And speaking to PA Sports after the game, Clark was sure who he owed his praise to, he said: ‘He (Butland) can be anything he wants. He is improving all the time. In the last few weeks he’s looked what he is – top quality and a future international goalkeeper.’

Clark also put the better performance from his side down to the fact that they had conceded a penalty so early in the game and was determined to get back into the game.

He added: ‘We started the first half quite average and I’m glad the penalty happened when it did because it gave us a bit of a wake-up call.

‘We showed great character when it’s easy to buckle and finished the first half on the front foot and maybe could have gone in at half-time in front, and we started the second half well. We defended well as a group and, towards the end; we had some good situations where we could have nicked it.’