On-loan Manchester United striker Federico Macheda made a dream start to his Birmingham stay by grabbing a late equaliser in the dying minutes of the 3-3 draw with Derby County at St Andrews today.
Derby had an early chance to go in front but Craig Bryson’s spot kick was saved by Darren Randolph before Brian Howard gave City the lead.
Just a minute later and Derby were level through Patrick Bamford, then Chris Martin had a shot deflected in and Craig Forsyth added a third.
Chris Burke put Blues back in with a shout when he scored and then Macheda struck from close range following a corner deep into injury time.
Birmingham were looking for their first win at home since the start of October and the Rams needed the points to keep tabs with Burnley and QPR who look like gaining promotion.
Derby made the better start to the game, but their best chance to go in front didn’t come until the 38th minute when Will Hughes was tripped in the area and the referee pointed to the spot. Bryson took the kick but Randolph went the right way and made the save.
Blues got off to the better start in the second half and just three minutes in they had the lead when Paul Caddis crossed from the right and Howard headed home.
But that lead did not last very long, just about a minute later and the visitors were level again when Bamford fired against the woodwork and then got to the ball the quickest to hammer home.
Derby then went in front when Martin fired in a shot that took a deflection and dropped into the net despite the best attempts of Randolph to stop the ball from going in.
Then it was good work by Jamie Ward that created Derby’s third, he got the ball to Forsyth and he had the ball in the net while the defence stood and watched.
Macheda could have opened his account for Blue’s but should have done better before Burke cut in and curled the ball beyond the keeper and into the net to make it 2-3.
Six minutes were added on and in the third of those Rusnak sent in a corner that Emyr Huws flicked on and Macheda was in the right place to smash the ball home and give Blues a point.
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