Fer Lopez scores the opening goal for Wolves against Birmingham City at St Andrew's Shutterstock

Wolves' third-minute goal set the tone for a St Andrew's Sunday lunchtime thriller

Ged Scott
BBC Sport England

Birmingham City twice came from behind to earn a West Midlands derby draw with Wolves at St Andrew's - thanks to a comical Jackson Tchatchoua own goal.

All four goals came before the break as Fer Lopez poked Wolves ahead from close range before Jay Stansfield hammered a controversial first Blues equaliser, Ladislav Krejci's header restored Wolves' lead and then came the game's main talking point.

Tchatchoua miscommunicated with Jose Sa and his backpass floated past his own keeper into the net. And, despite an awful lot more second-half drama, there were astonishingly no further goals.

It was the third successive Championship home draw for unbeaten Blues, who still sit just a point behind Wolves in the fledgling table.

But, once the tension had eased, it was enough to put a smile back on the face of Blues' American chairman Tom Wagner, who got a wonderful reception back at St Andrew's for the first time in seven months following the stroke he suffered in February.

Tom Wagner waves to the Birmingham City fans before the gameBirmingham City FC

Birmingham City fans were delighted to see USA-based chairman Tom Wagner back at a game for the first time since his stroke in February

Some local derby games can fail to live up to the pre-match hype and turn out to be a bit of a non-event – but not this one.

Wolves made a dramatic start in only the third minute when Lopez got on the end of a hard, low Rodrigo Gomes cross from the right to touch home from close range – his third goal of the season.

But Blues were level on 22 minutes when Patrick Roberts released Stansfield with a lofted pass over the top from the right and the £15m man went on to blast a superbly struck right-foot shot into the roof of the net.

It did look suspiciously like he might have first brought the ball down with his outstretched left arm. Either way, it was his first goal of the season, long overdue and euphorically received by the raucous home fans.

Nine minutes later, Wolves were back in front when Andre flicked on Hugo Bueno's left-wing corner and Ladislav Krejci timed his run to bullet home a header.

But the visitors were back in front for only five minutes before calamity intervened.

Wolves defender Jackson Tchatchoua under pressure from Birmingham winger Liam Millar just before lobbing the ball out of reach of his own keeper to earn City a draw at St Andrew’s David Rogers - Getty Images

Wolves defender Jackson Tchatchoua put through his own net

There looked to be absolutely no danger in a hopeful long punt forward as Tchatchoua attempted to knock the ball on the volley to his own goalkeeper Sa from just outside the box.

But he got too good a touch, it was slightly off target, the keeper barely moved and the ball tantalisingly dropped the wrong side of Sa and into his net.

Both sides had chances to win it in a breathless second half, which Blues dominated.

Chiefly Wolves striker Adam Armstrong, who has a great scoring record against Blues down the years but fluffed his lines in the 87th minute after being set up by Lopez.

But it was Blues who had the last chance of all, only for Sa to go full length to keep out sub Marvin Ducksch's injury-time free-kick.

Stanno the man again

Birmingham City's Jay Stansfield celebrates his first goal since AprilDavid Rogers - Getty Images

Jay Stansfield's controversial first goal of the season was his first since 22 April

Jay Stansfield has had a pretty depressing few weeks when it comes to the business of what he was bought for in Birmingham City's League One days back in August 2024 - finding the back of the net.

He might not even have scored the most memorable goal of this Midlands derby thriller, but it could turn out to be the most crucial if it gets him back on a good scoring run.

This was Stansfield's first goal of the season to end a barren run going back to last term.

Having failed to score in last season's final two games, this was his first for Blues in nine games - and helped erase the immediate memory of some of the much easier chances he has failed to put away this season.

Admittedly, with a big target man alongside him now in August Priske, Stansfield's role has changed and he spends more time out in wider areas, helping to explain why he has not scored away from home in over a year.

He was also lucky that Blues are not in the Premier League yet. This one would have been chalked off by VAR for use of his upper left arm just before he struck his shot.

But he was due a break. And it atoned for Blues not having had much luck in front of goal in recent weeks.

Post-match reaction

Birmingham City boss Chris Davies told BBC Radio WM:

"The players gave their heart and soul but I'm also frustrated. I'm proud of them but a little disappointed that we didn't turn that into three points.

"It was a terrible start and they scored out of nothing but we showed great resilience, as you're going to need ovcer the course of any season.

"And we put them to the sword second half and we had a lot more touches in dangerous area than they did.

"Jay Stansfield has scored a few volleys in his time at the club. It was a nice team goal with a fantastic finish. It was all about the touch and it sat up nicely for him."

Wolves boss Cesar Peixoto told BBC Radio WM:

"It was a fair result. A point away is good. If you want to get promoted you can not lose too many.

"We have doubts about their first goal. It was handball. And the second goal was a mistake. It can happen.

"Important for us to improve, to stay competitive and to stay organised.

"I like the atmosphere and the game being so intensive. But it was not the best we have played."

Player of the match

Fer López
7.19
28 J. Stansfield
6.77
17 L. Millar
6.64
16 P. Roberts
6.36
5 P. Neumann
6.14
26 B. Osayi-Samuel
6.06
4 C. Klarer
6.03
1 J. Beadle
5.92
9 A. Priske
5.88
20 A. Cochrane
5.83
33 M. Ducksch
5.59
8 Paik Seung-Ho
5.43
24 T. Iwata
5.28
10 D. Gray
5.26
2 E. Laird
5.18
7 Carlos Vicente
5.09
32 L. Vázquez
4.91
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