West Bromwich Albion’s faint play-off hopes suffered another blow as Lyle Taylor’s penalty clinched Birmingham City’s first home win over their West Midlands rivals for over 15 years to ruin Steve Bruce’s return to his former club.
Taylor’s seventh goal of the season – and fourth in nine games on loan at Birmingham – left 12th-placed West Brom eight points off the play-offs with seven games left, at the start of what manager Bruce described as a ‘defining week’ for his team.
West Brom had most of the play late on after bringing substitute Andy Carroll but Birmingham’s defence remained resolute.
But in a game of very few chances, they failed to force an on-target effort to leave Birmingham to clinch their first home win over West Brom since October 2006, when Bruce managed City.
Bruce received a warm ovation from the Birmingham fans on his return to St. Andrew’s, where he spent eight years, including six as manager that included a promotion to the Premier League.
The much-travelled 61-year-old is hoping to lead West Brom to the play-offs but that looks a distant hope after their four-match unbeaten run going into this derby ended.
Before the game there was a minute’s applause for well-known Birmingham City supporter and community activist Barrington Patterson, who died recently at the age of 56.
But there was little else to cheer in a dull, lifeless first 45 minutes that did neither side any credit.
Replays showed West Brom should have won a penalty in the second minute for a handball against Marc Roberts from Darnell Furlong’s long throw-in.
But referee Dean Whitestone inexplicably awarded Birmingham a free kick with no West Brom player challenging for the ball.
Apart from that, unusually, there were no serious chances created by either team before half-time, with the game more resembling an end-of-season nothing-to-play-for affair rather than a West Midlands derby.
Players from both teams barely laid a glove on each other throughout the first half, though Birmingham captain Gary Gardner and West Brom midfielder Taylor Gardner-Hickman exchanged handbags after Gardner fouled.
After that, the only incident anywhere near an opportunity was a wayward shot from West Brom striker Karlan Grant that sailed way over the bar.
The first chance finally arrived in the 48th minute. Another throw-in from Furlong was flicked on by Matt Clarke and Kyle Bartley’s headed was nodded behind by Kristian Pedersen.
Birmingham had the game’s first effort on target in the 52nd minute when Juninho Bacuna’s low drive flew straight at Sam Johnstone.
The real drama came in the 65th minute when Birmingham won a penalty.
This time the referee did see a handball in the box as Conor Townsend clearly stuck out a hand to block Onel Hernandez’s cross from Bacuna’s long ball.
Lyle Taylor confidently strolled up and stroked the ball low to Sam Johnstone’s right from the spot to give Blues a 67th-minute lead.
West Brom responded by bringing on Andy Carroll for Grant up front and midfielder Alex Mowatt blazed high and wide as they sought an equaliser.
There was another off-the-ball clash when Taylor responded to a stray boot by Carroll in the corner by throwing the ball at the retreating striker and it hit him on the back, before the Birmingham striker and Albion forward Callum Robinson exchanged shoves.
West Brom finally began showing some urgency in the dying minutes.
Pedersen blocked clean-through Robinson’s shot and Carroll headed wide from another Furlong throw-in.
But Birmingham comfortably held on for their first home victory in four attempts, while the final whistle was greeted by a chorus of boos from West Brom fans.