West Bromwich Albion 1-0 Birmingham City - Karlan Grant hits winner as Baggies go top

3 years ago 82

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Karlan Grant's low right-foot shot finally broke the deadlock for West Brom against Birmingham City on 75 minutes

Karlan Grant scored the only goal of the game as West Bromwich Albion ground out a West Midlands derby win over Birmingham City to move top of the Championship.

Grant's powerful low 75th-minute strike was enough for the Baggies to overtake Bournemouth at the top on goal difference.

Defeat leaves Lee Bowyer's Blues with only one point - and no goals - from their last five games.

The first West Midlands derby to be played in front of a crowd since the Covid-19 pandemic generated a tremendous atmosphere inside The Hawthorns - but it quickly evaporated as the hosts struggled.

However, it took the game's one moment of genuine individual brilliance from forward Grant to settle it.

More to follow.

Line-ups

West Brom

Formation 3-4-3

1Johnstone
6Ajayi
5Bartley
16ClarkeBooked at 72mins
2Furlong
8Livermore
27MowattSubstituted forMolumbyat 62'minutes
3Townsend
10Phillips
7RobinsonSubstituted forHugillat 45'minutes
18GrantBooked at 89minsSubstituted forReachat 90+1'minutes

Substitutes

14Molumby
17Hugill
20Reach
21Kipré
22Bryan
23Snodgrass
25Button

Birmingham

Formation 3-4-3

13Sarkic
21Sanderson
4Roberts
5FriendSubstituted forGrahamat 83'minutes
2ColinSubstituted forBelaat 47'minutes
20Gardner
34Sunjic
3Pedersen
7Chong
10Jutkiewicz
9HoganSubstituted forAnekeat 78'minutes

Substitutes

6Woods
11Bela
12Dean
15Aneke
24Graham
27Trueman
36Deeney

Live Text

Match ends, West Bromwich Albion 1, Birmingham City 0.
Second Half ends, West Bromwich Albion 1, Birmingham City 0.
Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Dion Sanderson.
Attempt saved. Kyle Bartley (West Bromwich Albion) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Matt Phillips with a cross.
Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Adam Reach replaces Karlan Grant.
Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Dion Sanderson.
Karlan Grant (West Bromwich Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Karlan Grant (West Bromwich Albion).
Tahith Chong (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Conor Townsend (West Bromwich Albion) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Karlan Grant with a cross following a corner.
Attempt blocked. Karlan Grant (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Chuks Aneke.
Attempt blocked. Karlan Grant (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Conor Townsend (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Jérémie Bela (Birmingham City).
Attempt missed. Jérémie Bela (Birmingham City) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right following a corner.
Corner, Birmingham City. Conceded by Matthew Clarke.
Substitution, Birmingham City. Jordan Graham replaces George Friend.
Attempt missed. Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
Hand ball by Chuks Aneke (Birmingham City).