That one feels like two points dropped.
Blues had to come from behind at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park and, having turned the game completely on its head after the break, looked to be heading into the international break with another three points.
Instead, a late Middlesbrough equaliser means we have to settle for one.
Blues actually started the game pretty brightly. Jhon Solis went close inside the opening few minutes before a really good move involving Carlos Vicente and Bright Osayi-Samuel ended with Luis Vázquez forcing Radek Vítek into a save.
There were opportunities there, but as the half went on Middlesbrough began to grow into the game.
Amario Cozier-Duberry was causing us problems down their right and, after already passing up a decent opportunity, he eventually created the opener right on the stroke of half-time.
He worked his way into the area before finding Max Arfsten, who finished brilliantly into the top corner.
0–1 at half-time and, after a decent enough start, suddenly we had work to do.
Whatever was said in the dressing room certainly had an effect.
Blues came flying out after the break and within ten minutes we were level.
Tomoki Iwata won the ball back, Solis drove into the box and Liam Millar arrived at exactly the right moment to fire home his first goal for Blues.
And we weren’t level for long.
Just four minutes later, Millar delivered a corner deep into the area, Jay Stansfield headed it back across goal and after a bit of pinball inside the six-yard box, the ball eventually found its way in off former Blue Riley McGree.
From 0–1 to 2–1 in four minutes.
St Andrew’s was rocking and suddenly the game looked completely different.
There were chances to make it three too. Iwata went close from another Millar delivery, but as the game entered its final stages Middlesbrough started throwing bodies forward and Blues were being pushed deeper.
Even so, with just a couple of minutes remaining, it looked like we’d done enough.
Then came the sucker punch.
A Boro free-kick was sent into the area and looked to be heading safely into James Beadle’s hands, but the ball came loose and Adilson Malanda was there to turn it home from close range.
2–2.
A horrible way to concede and an even worse time to do it.
Chris Davies described the manner of the equaliser as “sickening” afterwards, while also backing Beadle, who has produced some massive moments for us already this season.
And that’s probably the overriding feeling leaving St Andrew’s today - frustration.
There were definitely positives. The reaction after half-time was excellent, Millar was a real threat and deserved his first Blues goal, while we showed again that this side has the character to respond when things aren’t going our way.
But when you’ve battled back from 1–0 down, turned it into 2–1 and you’re still leading with only a couple of minutes remaining, you want to see the game out.
We didn’t.
Another point on the board and plenty to build on, but this one will definitely feel like an opportunity missed.
Full Time: Birmingham City 2–2 Middlesbrough.
What did you make of today’s performance, Bluenoses? 👇
#BCFC #KRO #BirminghamCity
