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Birmingham 1-1 Derby: Gary Rowett and Paul Clement reaction

Stephen Gleeson of Birmingham celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Derby
Image: Stephen Gleeson of Birmingham celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Derby

Post-match reaction to Birmingham City's 1-1 draw with Derby County.

Boss Paul Clement questioned referee Lee Mason's failure to award Derby a penalty as the Rams' winless start to the season continued.

Official Mason booked Chris Martin after a challenge by Jonathan Spector in the second half of the 1-1 draw at Birmingham.

Johnny Russell's second-half equaliser salvaged a point for the Rams who have now drawn all four of their Sky Bet Championship games.

Clement, still waiting for his first win as boss, was left to rue missed chances after Tom Ince, Darren Bent and Andi Weimann all hit the woodwork and he felt they deserved a penalty after Martin went down in the area.

He said: "We've had a great shout for a penalty. I thought it was a penalty when I saw it. It looked like the referee had given it and then for some reason changed his mind, maybe it was the way Chris went to ground.

"There was clear contact on the top of the foot and it's a penalty but he books Chris. That's at 1-1 and you think you have a great chance of winning the game if that's awarded.

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"We don't want draws, we want wins but we have a good platform, I don't think the wins are far away."

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Clement has made a new midfielder a priority with the club having a bid rejected by Nottingham Forest for Michail Antonio while they are reportedly interested in Brighton's Dale Stephens.

He added: "We have targeted a couple of good midfielders and good midfielders are hard to get. We are pushing hard and we hope something will be done soon to compliment the good squad we have got."

Stephen Gleeson's deflected strike a minute before half time had given Birmingham the lead and they are now unbeaten in 10 home games.

Demarai Gray, Clayton Donaldson and Jon Toral missed chances to win it for Blues but boss Gary Rowett, a former Derby defender, is happy with their unbeaten start against some of the league's big spenders.

He said: "I don't like to use money as a reasoning but look at Burnley, they've just bought another striker (Andre Gray) for £9million , Derby have a centre-half on the pitch (Jason Shackell) and they have paid #3million or #4million (for him).

"We've got a team of free transfers and someone's pocket money and we're more than matching teams. In some ways that's winning for us but we want more.

"On Boxing Day last season Derby came here and battered us 4-0. This time we were more than a match, we just have to have the discipline to do it for longer spells."

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