Birmingham City 1-1 Derby County: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Dive into Coral’s post-match review of Birmingham City 1-1 Derby County in the Championship on Friday, 26 December 2025, with stats, key moments and our take on the match.

Birmingham City and Derby County played out a 1-1 draw at St Andrew’s. Derby took the lead in the 27th minute when Patrick Agyemang found the net, assisted by Rhian Brewster, giving the visitors an edge after a solid start that built on their recent form of draws and a win against Sheffield Wednesday. Birmingham, coming off a string of losses and draws like their 0-3 defeat to Sheffield United, pushed back but couldn’t break through before the break, especially after Derby’s Joe Ward was sent off for a second yellow in the 39th minute.

In the second half, Birmingham made changes with Kyogo Furuhashi and Alfons Sampsted coming on in the 58th minute, and they equalised through Jack Robinson in the 64th minute. The game grew tense with yellow cards for both sides, and Birmingham’s Christoph Klarer saw red in stoppage time at 90+2’, matching Derby’s earlier dismissal. This result extends Birmingham’s winless run, while Derby will be pleased with a point away from home following their mixed recent results including a 1-1 draw with Portsmouth.

Birmingham City dominated possession with 73% of the ball, racking up 12 corners compared to Derby’s one, which shows they controlled much of the play and created pressure in the attacking third. However, Derby were more effective in transitions, completing 40 successful dribbles against Birmingham’s 22, suggesting they posed a real threat on the counter despite less of the ball. Both teams picked up three yellow cards each and one red card apiece, with no penalties or injury-time goals, and Derby recorded the only assist of the match.

On substitutions, Birmingham used all five with Lewis Koumas replacing Demarai Gray early at 15 minutes, then Kyogo Furuhashi for Marvin Ducksch and Alfons Sampsted for Eiran Cashin at 58 minutes, followed by Lyndon Dykes for Lewis Koumas and Willum Thór Willumsson for Marc Leonard at 78 minutes. Derby made four changes, starting the second half with Ebou Adams for Ben Brereton Díaz and Curtis Nelson for Rhian Brewster at 46 minutes, then Kayden Jackson for Patrick Agyemang at 85 minutes and Craig Forsyth for Sondre Langås deep in stoppage time at 90+6’.

The match turned on Derby’s early goal in the 27th minute, with Patrick Agyemang slotting home after a neat assist from Rhian Brewster, putting the visitors ahead against the run of play. Things shifted when Derby’s Joe Ward received a yellow card in the 29th minute and then a second yellow leading to a red in the 39th minute, leaving them a man down for most of the game. Birmingham capitalised after the break, bringing on Kyogo Furuhashi and Alfons Sampsted at 58 minutes, and Jack Robinson equalised in the 64th minute to level things up.

Further drama came with yellow cards for Birmingham’s Jay Stansfield and Seung-ho Paik around the 71st and 74th minutes, and Derby’s Sondre Langås at 71 minutes, before late substitutions like Lyndon Dykes and Willum Thór Willumsson for Birmingham at 78 minutes. The game ended on a heated note with Birmingham’s Christoph Klarer sent off for a red card in the 90+2nd minute, ensuring both sides finished with 10 men.

Birmingham City lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, which allowed them to build play from the back and dominate possession, with players like Seung-ho Paik anchoring the midfield. Jack Robinson stood out in his role, netting the equaliser, while partnerships in attack were tested early with Demarai Gray making way for Lewis Koumas at 15 minutes. Later changes saw Kyogo Furuhashi replace Marvin Ducksch and Alfons Sampsted come on for Eiran Cashin at 58 minutes, adding fresh legs to push for the leveller.

Derby County set up in a 3-4-1-2 shape, focusing on a solid defensive base that helped them absorb pressure and hit on the break, with Patrick Agyemang leading the line effectively for his 27th-minute goal. Rhian Brewster provided the assist for that opener, showing good link-up play, but the team had to adjust after Joe Ward’s red card in the 39th minute. Substitutions like Ebou Adams for Ben Brereton Díaz and Curtis Nelson for Rhian Brewster at 46 minutes helped shore things up, while Kayden Jackson replaced Patrick Agyemang late at 85 minutes.

Coral’s Man of the Match goes to Jack Robinson, who made a big impact for Birmingham City with his 64th-minute goal that secured the draw. He didn’t record any assists or big chances created, but his two key passes highlighted his involvement in building attacks. Robinson’s contribution stood out in a game where Birmingham needed a spark to come back from behind.

Recent Championship matches:

• Draw: 1-1 vs Derby County (H)
• Loss: 0-3 vs Sheffield United (A)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Charlton Athletic (H)
• Loss: 1-2 vs Queens Park Rangers (A)
• Loss: 1-3 vs Southampton (A)

Recent Championship matches:

• Draw: 1-1 vs Birmingham City (A)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Portsmouth (H)
• Win: 3-0 vs Sheffield Wednesday (A)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Millwall (H)
• Loss: 1-3 vs Leicester City (H)

Birmingham City have just drawn 1-1 at home to Derby County, leaving them in 14th place on 30 points after a tough run of recent results including losses to Sheffield United and Queens Park Rangers. They’ll be looking to turn things around and climb the table when they face Southampton next on 29 December 2025 at 20:15. Southampton sit 12th on 31 points, so a win could help Birmingham close the gap and build some momentum away from the lower half.

Derby County have just earned a 1-1 draw away at Birmingham City, keeping them in 11th place on 32 points following a steady patch with draws against Portsmouth and Millwall plus a win over Sheffield Wednesday. Their next challenge is against Leicester City on 29 December 2025 at 19:45, with the opponents in 13th on 31 points. Picking up points here could solidify Derby’s position in the upper mid-table and keep them pushing for more.

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