Birmingham City 0-0 Coventry City: Gustavo Hamer sent off in entertaining draw
- Published
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 header, while Coventry's search for a first win of the season continues.
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 from close range.
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. He has now been sent off three times for the Sky Blues and booked a total of 15 times, with his latest misdemeanour meaning he now faces a four-match ban.
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.
Birmingham City head coach John Eustace:
"In the first half we certainly had the best chance with Bacuna. He should have put that away. But overall a draw was a fair result.
"I'm delighted with a point. In the first half we were under a lot of pressure and we didn't start well, although a lot of their chances were from distance. Defensively we were much better in the second half and much more on the front foot.
"After Wednesday's performance and the effort the lads put in at The Hawthorns, I always knew this game would be very difficult because Coventry are a very good team and are in a false position."
Coventry manager Mark Robins on Hamer's red card:
"It's absolutely ridiculous. We need everybody fit and available and then that happens. He's got to learn. It looked like to me like Mejbri grabbed hold of his legs and rolled and you can't really see what happened.
"But the eagle-eyed officials saw fit to send him off for violent conduct so he misses four games. It gives the referee - or somebody - a picture, and if they then feel that's not right, you run the risk, don't you?
"It was a brilliant first half from us. We really we should have been three goals up without any real reply from them."