MX23RW : Sunday, April 28 17:28:46| >> :600:152455:152455:
[monks data]
Bolton logo
Championship
May 3, 2014 at 12.15pm UK
 
Birmingham logo

2-2

Lee (57'), Jutkiewicz (76')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Zigic (78'), Caddis (90')

Birmingham City fightback secures their Championship safety

Birmingham City come back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Bolton Wanderers and secure their place in next season's Championship.

Birmingham City came back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Bolton Wanderers this afternoon and secure their place in next season's Championship.

Lee Clark's side looked doomed after the Trotters took a 2-0 lead, but goals from Nikola Zigic and Paul Caddis turned it around late on.

Nikola Zigic, Paul Robinson, Callum Reilly and Tom Adeyemi of Birmingham City look dejected after a goal from Bolton Wanderers on May 3, 2014© Getty Images

Birmingham had the best of the early chances, and Lee Novak forced Andy Lonergan into two saves in quick succession just after the half-hour mark.

Zigic had the ball in the net shortly after Novak's second, but the Serbian striker's effort was chalked off for offside.

Hayden Mullins made an interception to deny Jermaine Beckford as the striker appeared set for a shot inside the six-yard box.

David Wheater headed down a free kick and Lee Chung-Yong smashed home a low drive from the right to leave the visitors with an uphill task.

Neil Danns of Bolton Wanderers tackles Tom Adeyemi of Birmingham City during the Sky Bet Championship match on May 3, 2014© Getty Images

Clark sent on Jordon Ibe and Federico Macheda in an attempt to turn things around, and the on-loan Liverpool youngster almost had an immediate impact.

His cross found Novak, but he could only fire wide of the post on 66 minutes, before Ibe forced Lonergan into a save from a free kick a few minutes later.

Paul Caddis of Birmingham City celebrates as he scores their second goal with a header to equalise during the Sky Bet Championship match against Bolton Wanderers on May 3, 2014© Getty Images

Lukas Jutkiewicz squeezed the ball in at the near post to double Bolton's lead on 76 minutes, before Zigic halved it moments later to give Birmingham a fighting chance in the last 10 minutes.

With seconds remaining, Caddis popped up with the vital goal that sealed Birmingham place in next season's Championship at Doncaster's expense.

ID:153118: cacheID:153118:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5441:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Neil Danns of Bolton Wanderers tackles Tom Adeyemi of Birmingham City during the Sky Bet Championship match on May 3, 2014
Read Next:
Half-Time Report: Birmingham 45 minutes from relegation
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CPortsmouth462813578413797
2Derby CountyDerby462881078374192
3Bolton WanderersBolton462512986513587
4Peterborough UnitedPeterborough462591289612884
5Oxford UnitedOxford Utd4622111379562377
6Barnsley4621131282641876
7Lincoln CityLincoln4620141265402574
8Blackpool4621101565481773
9Stevenage4619141357461171
10Wycombe WanderersWycombe461714156055565
11Leyton Orient461811175355-265
12Wigan AthleticWigan462010166356762
13Exeter CityExeter461710194661-1561
14Northampton TownNorthampton46179205766-960
15Bristol Rovers46169215268-1657
16Charlton AthleticCharlton461120156465-153
17Reading461611196870-253
18Cambridge UnitedCambridge461212223961-2248
19Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury46139243567-3248
20Burton Albion461210243967-2846
21Cheltenham TownCheltenham46128264165-2444
RFleetwood TownFleetwood461013234972-2343
RPort Vale461011254174-3341
RCarlisle UnitedCarlisle4679304181-4030


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!