Priske penalty gives Blues derby win at The Hawthorns

August Priske's first-half penalty gave Birmingham City a 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns on Saturday, lifting Blues above their neighbours in the Championship.

The win was Blues' third in the league this season, and all three have come away from home.

An end-to-end start

The first real chance fell to Blues inside six minutes. A throw-in was worked back to Alex Cochrane, and his in-swinging cross from the right was headed back across goal by Phil Neumann to Jay Stansfield, but the forward could not get the ball past the outstretched leg of Albion goalkeeper Max O'Leary from close range.

Albion went straight up the other end, and Aune Heggebo volleyed against the post.

Jhon Solis swung and missed when a poor defensive header fell to him on the penalty spot, and Albion's Felix Horn Myhre headed over from eight yards in the 28th minute, when he was left unmarked after Cochrane's clearance went back across his own goal.

The decisive moment

The goal came four minutes before half-time. Albion defender Nat Phillips was penalised for pulling back Priske as he went to attack a cross from the right, and the Danish striker sent O'Leary the wrong way from 12 yards.

Neumann had a header superbly saved by O'Leary before the break, and Solis might have scored a second soon after half-time, only for his shot from Cochrane's corner to be blocked by a crowd of defenders.

Blues hold firm

Albion offered little in the second half, and when centre-back Chris Mepham ran through on goal, James Beadle came out to save. Blues had more chances to finish the game, through Stansfield and substitute Demarai Gray, but one goal was enough.

Beadle made several good saves to keep a clean sheet, and captain Christoph Klarer won almost every header. Bright Osayi-Samuel was outstanding at right-back.

Taylor Gardner-Hickman came on for the closing minutes, his first competitive appearance for the club in more than a year.

What it means

Blues move level with Albion on 14 points and above them in the table, after nine games. Albion had been unbeaten at home before Saturday, and their manager, James Morrison, said afterwards that his side had lacked intensity.

The result will please Chris Davies, who had challenged his players to be better on the ball after the international break. "They have been better with the ball today than they have in any other game this season," Birmingham Live's reporter said at half-time.

Blues' next three league matches are at home, against Preston North End, Queens Park Rangers and Millwall, a run that will test whether their improved away form can be matched at St Andrew's.