Demarai Gray struck a sensational 99th-minute equaliser to rescue Birmingham City and preserve their long unbeaten home league run in a breathless 2-2 draw with Sheffield Wednesday at St Andrew's. The winger lashed a rising shot in off the underside of the bar deep into stoppage time, denying the visitors what would have been a remarkable victory after they had battled back from an early deficit to lead.
Jay Stansfield's sharp ninth-minute finish put Birmingham ahead and seemed to set them on course for a comfortable night, only for a triple defensive error to gift Jamal Lowe an equaliser before the break. Teenager George Brown then volleyed in Barry Bannan's free-kick with 14 minutes remaining to send Wednesday to the brink of a famous win, until relentless late pressure culminated in Gray's dramatic intervention to extend City's home league unbeaten run to 29 games, stretching back to April of last year.
Stansfield ignites Blues response to derby pain
Birmingham arrived under pressure after a chastening 3-0 derby defeat against Frank Lampard's Coventry at the weekend, but they responded with purpose. Chris Davies made five changes to his starting line-up and his side flew out of the blocks, quickly pinning Wednesday back and seizing control of territory and possession.