Championship roundup: leaders Coventry slip up again in thriller at Birmingham

Marvin Ducksch scored doubly arsenic Birmingham ended their seven-game winless streak pinch a 3-2 triumph complete Championship leaders Coventry.

The erstwhile Germany world grabbed a extremity successful each half arsenic fortunes ebbed and flowed successful a derby fixture that delivered play from nan first whistle until stoppage clip erstwhile visiting defender Bobby Thomas was dismissed. Birmingham led 3 times but were pegged backmost doubly by Frank Lampard’s side, who person now won conscionable doubly in their past 8 outings.

The lucifer sewage disconnected to an explosive commencement pinch some teams uncovering nan nett wrong 8 minutes.

Chris Davies’ squad were nan first to notch pursuing a move that began wrong their ain half. Lewis Koumas laid nan shot backmost to Paik Seung-ho, pinch nan South Korea world uncovering debutant Kai Wagner striding down nan left.

The German, signed from Philadelphia Union for £2m connected Friday, crossed nan shot into nan area and Ducksch recovered nan backmost of nan nett pinch a measured decorativeness connected nan volley.

But Coventry were level wrong 2 minutes. Mason Ephron-Clark made a nuisance of himself and nan shot fell to Josh Eccles, 15 yards extracurricular nan Birmingham area. The midfielder strode guardant and fto alert from 25 yards aft nan location defence did not recognise nan threat until it was excessively late.

The goalscorer past held up a garment pinch nan sanction of ‘Allen’ connected nan backmost pursuing nan news that nan long-serving Sky Blues midfielder Jamie Allen had mislaid his mother overnight.

Coventry could person built upon their extremity successful nan moments that followed. James Beadle saved good erstwhile Ellis Simms almost profited from an untimely gaffe by Jack Robinson.

But it was Birmingham who drew humor successful nan 17th infinitesimal pinch a move that saw Koumas people his first extremity for nan nine pursuing his indebtedness move from Liverpool astatine nan commencement of nan season.

Patrick Roberts moved successful from nan correct helping and nan Wales world timed his tally well. He had activity to do but rounded Carl Rushworth and recovered a decorativeness to reconstruct nan hosts’ lead.

Marvin Ducksch pulls a celebratory look aft scoring for Birmingham. Photograph: Kieran McManus/Shutterstock

Both sides traded blows but it was not until nan hr people that nan adjacent extremity was scored. Mason-Clark had already been fixed 1 sighter, that Beadle saved, but he was again beaten from region erstwhile nan aforesaid subordinate nodded a shot wrong to Jack Rudoni. The Coventry playmaker was fixed nan clip to hole his purpose and his debased thrust went done nan legs of Robinson, possibly unsighting nan goalkeeper Beadle who was again beaten.

But Birmingham were not a spent unit going forward. A agelong clearance 3 minutes later was picked up connected nan correct by Roberts. Ducksch pointed to wherever he wanted nan shot and it arrived. The German tried his luck and defeated Rushworth astatine his adjacent post.

Birmingham past retreated, allowing Coventry to property forward, and their vexation spilled complete successful nan 5th infinitesimal of stoppage clip erstwhile Thomas was dismissed. He exchanged words pinch location defender Phil Neumann pursuing a free-kick and past aimed a slap astatine nan German centre-half, which was spotted by referee nan James Linington.

Rayan Kolli scored 2 precocious goals for QPR successful a 3-0 triumph astatine location to strugglers Sheffield Wednesday.

Rumarn Burrell’s 10th extremity of nan play put nan R’s up and Kolli’s double sealed their first triumph successful 4 matches. But nan points came astatine a cost, pinch apical scorer Burrell among their players who picked up injuries.

• This communicative will beryllium updated