Wolves 0-0 Birmingham City

1 November 2014

Wolves v Birmingham City, Lee Evans and David Davis — Image caption,
Wolves finished the day fourth after the goalless draw

By Ged Scott

BBC Sport at Molineux

New Birmingham City boss Gary Rowett inspired his team to a draw in his first game in charge as their derby at Wolves ended goalless.

Just a week on from losing 8-0 at home to Bournemouth in a club record home defeat, Blues kept only their second clean sheet of the season.

Wolves sub Dave Edwards' left-foot chip clipped the top of the bar.

Blues' best chance fell to Jonathan Grounds, whose header was parried by Wolves keeper Carl Ikeme.

Grounds was also the man involved in a penalty shout when James Henry's cross struck his outstretched left arm.

Goalless in the Black Country
It was the first time Wolves had failed to score in front of their own fans since their last local derby - the goalless draw against Shrewsbury Town in March.
Blues' only previous clean sheet this season was the 1-0 win over Brighton in August - their only home victory.

Wolves' point from the lunchtime derby was enough to take them briefly to the top of the Championship for the first time this season, before dropping down to fourth later in the day.

Rowett, a former Birmingham defender, left his job at Burton to join Blues on Monday, two days after the thrashing by Bournemouth and a week after Lee Clark's departure.

And the new man made changes to his side, drafting in loan signing Michael Morrison, signed from Charlton Athletic on Friday, while Andrew Shinnie was recalled alongside Wolves old boy David Davis.

After an early onslaught from the home team, it all worked for the new-look line-up before the break as Wolves quickly ran out of ideas.

Rowett played 106 games for Birmingham between 1998 and 2000

Blues, by contrast, visibly grew in confidence, creating two chances for youngster Koby Arthur and another for Clayton Donaldson.

The second half proved more lively, both sets of fans becoming animated following the handball shout against Grounds.

After Ikeme had saved a header from the Blues left-back, Wolves began to create chances following the arrival of substitutes Edwards and Bakary Sako.

Analysis: Mike Taylor, BBC WM 95.6
"It's the first step on a long road, but Gary Rowett's Birmingham were sure-footed for the most part in securing a worthy point. They demonstrated all the qualities of organisation and discipline associated with their new manager, and deserved reward for their efforts, even though Wolves gathered momentum in the second half. "For Wolves, as soon as the teamsheet arrived, the writing was on the wall, and it was in French. Without Bakary Sako and Nouha Dicko from the start, they set a plodding pace, although it was raised by the introduction of Sako and Dave Edwards in the second half. The league table shows there's by no means cause for concern, but it's a measure of Wolves' ambition that they went top and were still disappointed."

Analysis: Mike Taylor, BBC WM 95.6

"It's the first step on a long road, but Gary Rowett's Birmingham were sure-footed for the most part in securing a worthy point. They demonstrated all the qualities of organisation and discipline associated with their new manager, and deserved reward for their efforts, even though Wolves gathered momentum in the second half.

"For Wolves, as soon as the teamsheet arrived, the writing was on the wall, and it was in French. Without Bakary Sako and Nouha Dicko from the start, they set a plodding pace, although it was raised by the introduction of Sako and Dave Edwards in the second half. The league table shows there's by no means cause for concern, but it's a measure of Wolves' ambition that they went top and were still disappointed."

Kevin McDonald rifled a low shot just wide, before Edwards was twice denied by keeper Darren Randolph.

Sako's low cross was then somehow allowed to pass across the face of goal, just inches away from Leon Clarke, who also saw a near-post header fly just over.

But, although the dangerous Edwards then saw his chip hit the bar, that was as close as Wolves got to forcing a winner.

Wolves boss Kenny Jackett told BBC WM:

"We huffed and puffed and we had a lot of the ball but we didn't do enough going forward in the final third.

"It didn't surprise me the way they set up, playing 5-4-1. But it was down to us to break them down.

"As for the penalty shout, sometimes you get them, sometimes you don't. It could have gone either way."

Birmingham City boss Gary Rowett told BBC WM:

"It's been a fresh start this week. Last week's result really wasn't mentioned. It's all been about looking forward and I'm very pleased with what I saw.

"I didn't expect us to come and keep a clean sheet at Molineux. But I'd certainly have taken that. It's something to build on now.

"Most of our focus this week has been working on our defensive shape and structure, but we also broke into some good areas and, with a bit more composure, that could have have brought us something."

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