Three things we learnt from Birmingham’s 1-1 derby draw with Aston Villa

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Blues excel in possession but need to get balance in attack right

During this latest derby encounter in the second city, hosts Birmingham had the lion’s share of possession with a match total of 60%. They did however find it difficult to create regular chances, but they were able to keep Villa boxed in for periods of the game, particularly in the second half.

Gary Rowett’s Blues eventually seized an equaliser and salvaged the point that they merited at the very least, but he will be more than aware that they must show their ruthless streak in front of goal to make the possession football they play count, and ultimately build towards promotion.

Clayton Donaldson in particular however was a work horse for the hosts, and was unlucky not to have scored in the first-half as his headed effort that came off the underside of the crossbar was adjudged to have not crossed the line. But the former Crewe and Brentford forward often found himself isolated up front, with the support from Che Adams and Jacques Maghoma out wide and David Davis in the midfield often too deep.

To remedy the situation in the second-half, Rowett looked to get Birmingham flooding forward by pushing the fullbacks further up the pitch in support of the wingers and Donaldson, and we saw much more of Rhoys Wiggins and Jonathan Spector in the Villa half.

Spector’s balls from wide and the target of Ryan Shotton on set-pieces caused the Villa defence some scares, but despite their misfortune with the end product the telling issue is that the forward march often left space in behind that the visitors late in the game almost exploited.

What is obvious is that the forward line needs more support from the rest of the team for Birmingham, but Rowett has to contend with the task of finding the right balance if the Blues are to maintain their challenge near the top of the table.