Striker Delroy Facey enhanced his growing reputation to rescue a point for
Huddersfield against 10-man promotion chasers Birmingham.
Facey, 18, hit his third goal of the season to cancel out Michael Johnson's
opener.
City's chances of a fourth successive victory evaporated 10 minutes from time
when defender Gary Rowett was sent off for his second bookable offence.
Birmingham dominated a goalless first half but finally broke the deadlock two
minutes into the second period.
Bryan Hughes drove in a free-kick from the left and Town keeper Nico Vaesen
was caught on no-man's land and centre-half Johnson headed home at the far post.
Vaesen got a touch but could not keep it out.
That was just reward for City's first half command but Town grabbed a lifeline
in the 55th minute.
Former Manchester United winger Ben Thornley sent over a corner from the right
which the City defence failed to clear and the ball dropped invitingly for Facey
who lashed home a shot from just inside the box.
Birmingham still looked the most likely to take maximum points but their hopes
were ended in the 80th minute when Rowett was dismissed.
He was booked in the 77th minute after tangling with Town striker Marcus
Stewart and received his marching orders just three minutes later after a
lunging tackle from behind on Facey.
Birmingham created the best early chances and could have taken the lead in the
fourth minute when Vaesen came out at the feet of striker Dele Adebola and his
clearance fell for Martin Grainger whose lob almost caught Vaesen stranded.
Three minutes later Grainger fired a shot into the side netting and seconds
later Adebola just failed to connect after a strong run into the box.
Thornley had a 30-yard shot flash just wide in the 36th minute and a minute
later Town almost went ahead in bizarre fashion when Facey's cross hit Jonathan
Bass on the knee and Rowett and Martin O'Connor somehow kept it out on the
line.
A minute from the break Adebola fed the unmarked Peter Ndlovu whose shot was
tipped round the post by Vaesen.
After the two goals and the sending off Huddersfield had chances to steal the
game when Stewart's shot on the turn was blocked by Bass and in injury time
Stewart's drive went just wide.
Teams
Huddersfield: Vaesen, Jenkins, Edwards, Johnson, Armstrong, Gray,
Facey (Baldry 88), Hamilton (Beech 86), Stewart, Allison,
Thornley.
Subs Not Used: Edmondson.
Booked: Armstrong, Stewart, Thornley.
Goals: Facey 55.
Birmingham: Poole, Bass, Charlton, Grainger, Rowett, Johnson,
McCarthy, O'Connor, Adebola (Furlong 52), Hughes (Robinson 84),
Ndlovu (Forster 75).
Booked: Bass, Charlton, Rowett.
Goals: Johnson 47.
Att: 14,667
Ref: S Bennett (Orpington).
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