Birmingham manager Wayne Rooney is denied a first-ever victory as Ipswich rallies for a draw

Following a 2-2 draw at St. Andrew’s, high-flying Ipswich overcame a two-goal deficit to deny Wayne Rooney his first victory as Birmingham manager.

Six minutes after the half, Cameron Burgess’ own goal gave City their second goal of the game, which came from Jay Stansfield’s fifth goal of the year in the 13th minute.

After that goal, though, Ipswich were a different story, as Marcus Harness, a substitute, scored goals in the 79th and 89th minutes to secure a share of the spoils.

Once Rooney replaced John Eustace, the team had lost three straight games before Rooney’s first point.

It made Ipswich’s league winning streak to 11 games longer. In that time, they had only dropped four points out of 33 to finish second in the Sky Bet Championship.

Birmingham had an early lead as a result of their strong start.

Stansfield turned with his back to goal and blasted home when Juninho Bacuna crossed with the outside of his right foot, just as it appeared the ball would find its way to goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky.

Blues’ intense pressure appeared to be bothering Ipswich, as Koji Miyoshi’s angled attempt was deflected straight at Hladky.

It took until the 28th minute for Ipswich to make their first effort, as Nathan Broadhead misjudged a couple of yards after Burgess had headed Harry Clarke’s free kick back across goal.

In the 38th minute, Ipswich unexpectedly came dangerously close to tying the score. When Conor Chaplin attempted a 35-yard lob to John Ruddy, the goalie backpedaled and tipped the ball over the bar.

Despite the favorable conditions, Birmingham doubled their advantage in the 51st minute when they broke. Burgess slid in to redirect it past Hladky at his near post after Bacuna crossed from the left.

Within minutes, Hladky twice denied Oliver Burke his first goal for City.

The Scotland international was first denied a clear opportunity to score from Stansfield’s cross, and then Burke slightly overran the ball, forcing the goalkeeper to react quickly.

As Ipswich returned, Ruddy was asked to tip over Broadhead’s cross and then provide a crucial fingertip to Chaplin’s toe poke.

When three replacements combined to score for Ipswich, the pressure from the visitors was evident. Ruddy stopped Freddie Ladapo’s shot after Dane Scarlett crossed the field, and Harness then finished with a tap-in.

After that, Ruddy stopped Scarlett’s angled effort at his near post, but Kieran McKenna’s team was not out of the game. Harness scored a volley from 12 yards out after the outstanding Omari Hutchinson’s cross was partially cleared.

With his two goals, Harness has now scored four goals in his previous six games and has made 100 league substitute appearances overall.