Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Birmingham City: Kerim Mrabti earns Blues a point
- Published
Kerim Mrabti (left) was making his first appearance for Birmingham since the home defeat by Fulham on 9 November
Birmingham City ended a run of three straight Championship defeats as they came from behind to draw at Blackburn Rovers in a game of two penalties.
After a goalless first half, Adam Armstrong fired Rovers ahead from the spot after Wes Harding brought down Sam Gallagher.
But Kerim Mrabti earned Blues a point eight minutes later with his first goal of the season, sending Christian Walton the wrong way after Jacques Maghoma was fouled in the area by Amari'i Bell.
Derrick Williams then saw his injury-time header hit the bar for Blackburn, who were held at home for the second time in four days.
The draw extended Rovers' unbeaten run to eight games, leaving them three points outside a play-off spot, while although Birmingham ended their losing streak, they have now only won one of their past 10 matches.
Blackburn were without Bradley Dack, who faces 12 months out because of the results of a scan on the knee injury he suffered during Monday's goalless draw with Wigan.
Clear chances were at a premium during an even first half which saw Maghoma twice fire wide, Walton deny Mrabti and Lukas Jutkiewicz head over from six yards for Birmingham, while Trueman saved from Armstrong and instinctively kept the ball out when Harlee Dean diverted Lewis Holtby's cross towards his own net.
After the penalties, Blackburn had the better chances to win it, but Holtby curled a free-kick over and Trueman denied substitute Joe Rothwell before Williams' late chance.
Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray told BBC Radio Lancashire:
"It wasn't a very good football match but when we got 1-0 up with a penalty I was struggling to see how they were going to score an equaliser.
"We're stood here with two dropped points from a game that was always going to be difficult for us.
"We found it difficult to create chances, as they did, and we'll have to take a point."
Birmingham head coach Pep Clotet told BBC WM:
"With Blackburn having only lost twice at home, and with being in very good form, we knew that we had to deal with their aerial threats and their quick players. We knew we had to do a lot of things right to keep them out of our box.
"At the same time we had to do a lot of things right ourselves to stop the little bad run we've been having. To me, it's a goal achieved in that sense."