Ipswich nicked a scarely-deserved stoppage-time point as they drew 1-1 at Birmingham on the Championship’s opening night.
Two divisions separated the two sides mere months ago, but the playing field was more than levelled at a buoyant St Andrew’s in a fiery encounter that boiled over on the pitch more than once.
Jay Stansfield thought he had sealed all three points for the Blues after slamming home early in the second half, but Ipswich levelled from the penalty spot in added-time thanks to George Hirst after a Lyndon Dykes handball.
Early Kyogo effort ruled out for contentious foul
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Kyogo Furuhashi’s goal was disallowed after a foul on Jacob Greaves in Birmingham City’s Championship clash with Ipswich Town
Birmingham started brilliantly and felt they should have been in front after just eight minutes, but Kyogo was penalised for a foul on Jacob Greaves before looping a brilliant effort over Alex Palmer.
Stansfield steers Blues ahead
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Jay Stansfield scores the opening goal at St Andrew’s in the first match of the new Championship season
But it was a decision that didn’t matter in the end as Birmingham found the lead.
Kyogo was involved again, as he found himself in the box and dinked one over Palmer and onto the post, with Stansfield quickest to slam the the rebound in.
Hirst digs out late point for Ipswich
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George Hirst scores a ‘harsh’ equalising penalty as tempers boil over in stoppage time
There was more drama to come. A deathly silence fell around St Andrew’s deep in injury-time as the referee pointed to the penalty spot following an Ipswich corner.
Replays showed that substitute Dykes had risen and seen the ball hit his raised and outstretched arm. Hirst did the rest, as he stepped up and slotted in coolly from 12 yards to earn Ipswich the draw.
Davies: Penalty decision harsh
Birmingham boss Chris Davies:
“I was really pleased with how we played. We’re very disappointed with the penalty and to concede so late is always a sore one.
“It’s really, really harsh. You won’t see many like that given this weekend. It’s also the context of it being so late in the game, it makes it more painful.
“For the large part of the game we’re the better team. There were a lot of positives and we’ve got to take a lot from that.
“You hope that over the course of the season you get those types of decision back.”
‘Referee probably gets it right’
Former Birmingham striker Clinton Morrison on Sky Sports Football:
“You can’t raise your hands. We’ve seen it before. The letter of the law is once you raise your hand like that, I think the referee probably gets it right. But I don’t like the rule.”
Former Ipswich captain Luke Chambers on Sky Sports Football:
“Dykes goes across and both of his hands go up. His right hand stays up and it’s an unnatural position. It’s a little bit harsh but his hand shouldn’t be there.
“Ipswich will be very pleased they’ve nicked a point, there. But I don’t think they’ll be pleased with their performance individually and collectively. There’s a lot of work for them to do.”
