Source: Daily_Mail
Birmingham 1 Wolves 1: Honours even as 10-man Blues snatch St.Andrews draw
Should Mick McCarthy lose his battle to remain in the Barclays Premier League, he will look back on this derby with a heavy heart.[LNB]A goal up inside five minutes at St Andrew's and playing for more than an hour against 10 men, his Wolves side were unable to make their advantage count against Alex McLeish's gutsy warriors.[LNB]Gardner sorry over dismissal, reveals Birmingham boss McLeish Spot on: Steven Fletcher gives visitors Wolves the lead from the penalty spot[LNB]This was not pretty. Far from it. Butwhen Craig Gardner received a second yellow card for diving in the 29thminute, Wolves were gifted the kind of opportunity that rarely presentsitself to teams struggling near the foot of the table.[LNB]However, the visitors created little for the rest of the game and Birmingham escaped with a point.[LNB]Steven Fletcher's fifth-minute penalty settled Wolves down but thereafter they failed to seize the moment, and McCarthy's demeanour afterwards suggested he knew it, too.[LNB] Wrong move: Fletcher (far right) sends Birmingham keeper Ben Foster the wrong way with his penalty[LNB]'If we had created loads of chances against 10 men, then I would say it was an opportunity squandered,' he said. 'But Birmingham are pretty adept at having two banks of four and making it hard to play against. We had a good start, but didn't have what was necessary to break the 10 men down.'[LNB]Wolves were handed the perfect platform from an unexpected source. The usually reliable Ben Foster cleared poorly and Matt Jarvis won possession 40 yards from goal. Stephen Ward's diagonal run into the right-back slot then left the England keeper with a dilemma. He dived at Ward's feet but was beaten tothe ball. Referee Kevin Friend pointed to the spot and cautioned him before Fletcher converted from 12 yards. [LNB] Warning signs: Gardener (centre) is shown his first yellow card by referee Kevin Friend[LNB]That inflamed passions and Gardner'sfirst mistake was to react to a late lunge from Jamie O'Hara. Both players were cautioned. Gardner was then taken out by Richard Stearman, but the Leicestershire official failed to book Wolves defender. Foster partly redeemed himself minutes later. It was his long punt downfield that put Michael Mancienne under pressure. [LNB] Leading the way: Larsson (centre) celebrates after scoring Birmingham's equaliser[LNB] Jumping for joy: Larsson continues his celebrations[LNB]The defender's back-header fell well short of his keeper Wayne Hennessey and Sebastian Larsson drilled the ball home.[LNB]'If our season is going to hinge on mistakes, then there's another one,' lamented McCarthy.[LNB]Minutes later came the decision to dismiss Gardner. Friend was well positioned to see the midfielder tumbleas he tried to nip between Jody Craddock and Karl Henry. A second yellow card was the correct decision. [LNB] Marching orders: Gardner (8) is dismissed following his second bookable offence[LNB]'Craig dived,' said McLeish, 'I think he was diving to get out of the way, he had been booted a couple of times before that.' [LNB]Earlier, Birmingham's David Bentley stormed away from St Andrew's after McLeish failed to name him among thesubstitutes for the game.[LNB]McLeish said: 'I think it happens at every club. It's not something I will lose sleep over.'[LNB] Dogfight! The battle to avoid the drop looks set to go down to the wireSo, who rules in Middle England? Blues' cup win is the only gloss All the latest Birmingham City FC news, features and opinionAll the latest Wolverhampton Wanderers FC news, features and opinion[LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People: Craig Gardner, Steven Fletcher, Ben Foster, Alex McLeish, Karl Henry, Wayne Hennessey, Matt Jarvis, David Bentley Places: Birmingham, United Kingdom
