Match Reports

Albion 2-3 Birmingham City

Karlan Grant in action against Blues

Albion were beaten 3-2 by Birmingham City in the Sky Bet Championship on Wednesday night.

Scott Hogan’s hat-trick at The Hawthorns earned Blues all three points despite Baggies efforts from Jed Wallace and Brandon Thomas-Asante.

Steve Bruce’s side are next in action this Saturday away to Norwich City.

Albion and Blues pay their respects to Her late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II

The manager named an unchanged team from Albion’s last outing, the dramatic 1-1 draw with Burnley 12 days earlier.

Ahead of kick-off there was an impeccably observed minute’s silence from both sets of supporters in remembrance of Her late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, followed by a stadium-wide rendition of the national anthem.

It was the visitors who started strongest and secured the lead 13 minutes in, Hogan escaping the Baggies back-line and slotting a composed finish past David Button.

Albion responded well, though, and equalised midway through the first period. Jayson Molumby played an inch-perfect pass to send Wallace one-on-one with John Ruddy, and the winger made no mistake.

Much of the remaining half was disrupted by various stoppages – yet Taylor Gardner-Hickman was forced into producing a goal-saving tackle just before the break to deny Birmingham’s Tahith Chong from scoring.

Much like in the first half, Blues began brightly and netted their second of the evening on the 54th minute when Hogan smashed home via the post after a quick counter-attack.

Bruce brought on Thomas-Asante and Albion searched for another leveller – Dara O’Shea curling over and Wallace seeing a shot blocked.

Birmingham, however, withstood the pressure and extended their lead through Hogan’s run and near-post poke, sealing his hat-trick and Blues’ third.

Still, Albion were handed a lifeline with seven minutes remaining, Thomas-Asante earning a penalty and picking himself up to convert from 12-yards.

And they pushed late on but just couldn’t grab that goal, Grady Diangana heading the best opportunity straight at Ruddy as Blues held onto the win.

Albion: Button, Gardner-Hickman (Phillips 77), Bartley (Pieters 77), O’Shea, Townsend; Yokulsu (Thomas-Asante 60), Molumby; Wallace, Swift, Diangana; Grant (Livermore 77).

Substitutes: Palmer, Furlong, Reach.

Attendance: 23,089