Blues and Coventry play out scoreless draw

Published on: 17 September 2022

Gustavo Hamer has now been sent off twice in six games this season

Birmingham City played out an entertaining scoreless draw with bottom-of-the-table Coventry City, who had Gustavo Hamer sent off late on for kicking out at substitute Hannibal Mejbri.

Hamer was the star performer as the visitors dominated the first half, going close on four separate occasions.

But the midfielder saw red for his petulant reaction following an 89th-minute tussle with on-loan Manchester United midfielder Mejbri.

Blues improved after the interval but struggled to create many chances, Scott Hogan going closest with a glancing header, while Coventry's search for a first win of the season continues.

    Relive Saturday's EFL action

Before kick off, emotional scenes saw supporters from both sides sing the national anthem following a minute's silence in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II.

The Sky Blues, who have not in 11 games since their 4-2 victory at Birmingham in April, then dominated a thrilling first half, impressing more than 2,200 noisy travelling fans as they created plenty of chances through some slick passing and clever movement.

Hamer was the main goal threat, the midfielder twice testing keeper John Ruddy with long-range strikes and also shooting narrowly off target with two other efforts. Jonathan Panzo glanced a header wide and had another header blocked from a corner, while Jamie Allen was also denied by Ruddy.

The hosts were unable to match the heights of their midweek derby victory over West Brom, but should have been ahead early on, only for Juninho Bacuna to shoot over the bar from six yards when it looked easier to score.

Blues, chasing a third consecutive win, upped their game after the interval. Josh Williams went close before keeper Ben Wilson had to make a superb save to prevent Hogan grabbing his sixth goal of the season with a close-range header.

But both sides struggled to create much in the latter stages as the game became increasingly disjointed and fractious, with Hamer seeing red for the second time this season in the closing moments.

Blues pressed for a winner, which almost came when Auston Trusty's volley was blocked by Wilson on the line in stoppage time.

Coventry remain at the foot of the table and winless in their past nine league games played on a Saturday, but still have at least two matches in hand on all the teams above them, having had three Championship games postponed because the pitch at the Coventry Building Society Arena was deemed too dangerous.

    Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text

Line-upsBirmingham

Formation 3-4-1-2

21Ruddy2Colin28Sanderson5Trusty48Williams31Bielik18Chong11Graham7Bacuna8Deeney9Hogan

    21Ruddy2Colin28SandersonBooked at 87mins5Trusty48Williams31Bielik18Chong11Graham7BacunaSubstituted forMejbriat 67'minutes8DeeneySubstituted forJutkiewiczat 79'minutes9Hogan

Substitutes

    1Etheridge6Mejbri10Jutkiewicz14Leko19James27Bellingham35Hall

Coventry

Formation 3-5-2

13Wilson3Doyle5McFadzean2Panzo23Dabo8Allen38Hamer14Sheaf27Bidwell24Godden17Gyökeres

    13Wilson3Doyle5McFadzean2PanzoBooked at 73mins23DaboBooked at 87mins8AllenSubstituted forPalmerat 77'minutes38HamerBooked at 89mins14SheafBooked at 53mins27Bidwell24GoddenSubstituted forWalkerat 77'minutes17Gyökeres

Substitutes

    1Moore9Waghorn19Walker20Kane28Eccles32Burroughs45Palmer

Referee:Graham ScottAttendance:16,633Match StatsHome TeamBirminghamAway TeamCoventryPossessionHome48%Away52%ShotsHome12Away13Shots on TargetHome4Away3CornersHome6Away4FoulsHome6Away17Live TextPost update

Match ends, Birmingham City 0, Coventry City 0.

90'+5'Full Time

Second Half ends, Birmingham City 0, Coventry City 0.

90'+5'Post update

Attempt missed. Tahith Chong (Birmingham City) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.

90'+4'Post update

Attempt saved. Auston Trusty (Birmingham City) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Tahith Chong with a cross.

90'+4'Post update

Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Jake Bidwell.

90'+3'Post update

Attempt blocked. Tahith Chong (Birmingham City) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.

90'+2'Post update

Kasey Palmer (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

90'+2'Post update

Foul by Josh Williams (Birmingham City).

90'+1'Post update

Attempt missed. Jordan Graham (Birmingham City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Josh Williams following a corner.

90'+1'Post update

Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Kyle McFadzean.

89'Dismissal

Gustavo Hamer (Coventry City) is shown the red card for violent conduct.

89'Post update

Foul by Gustavo Hamer (Coventry City).

89'Post update

Hannibal Mejbri (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

87'Booking

Dion Sanderson (Birmingham City) is shown the yellow card.

87'Booking

Fankaty Dabo (Coventry City) is shown the yellow card for hand ball.

87'Post update

Hand ball by Fankaty Dabo (Coventry City).

87'Post update

Kasey Palmer (Coventry City) wins a free kick on the right wing.

87'Post update

Foul by Krystian Bielik (Birmingham City).

84'Post update

Foul by Viktor Gyökeres (Coventry City).

84'Post update

Krystian Bielik (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

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Source: bbc.com

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