Birmingham 1-0 West Brom - Player ratings

Booed by the home crowd due to his previous ties to Villa, Johnstone was spectator for long spells here and didn’t really put a foot wrong.

Assured 6

Semi AJayi

It shouldn’t be the case, but Ajayi looks Albion’s most dangerous player at the minute. Given the licence to get forward as an over-lapping centre-back, the Nigerian international is one of the few Baggies players currently capable of sending in a dangerous cross.

Effective 6

Kyle Bartley

Solid enough in the middle of the back three – the defender made a couple of crunching tackles you need in a derby.

Steady 6

Matt Clarke

Like Ajayi, Clarke tried to give Albion an attacking threat and was also coped well with Blues’ attacking threat.

Roaming 6

Darnell Furlong

Should have won a penalty when his long-throw was punched clear by Marc Roberts. Aside from his throw’s, though, Furlong once again offered very little.

Disappointing 4

Jake Livermore

The skipper battled relentlessly and was constantly in the referee’s ear in a bid to get any advantage he could for his side. Not his fault Albion lost this game.

Battled 6

Alex Mowatt

The midfielder had one or two tenacious moments but he isn’t getting anywhere near the levels he produced for Barnsley last season.

Lacking belief 4

Taylor GardNer-Hickman

The youngster tried his best but nothing really came off for him.

Quiet 5

Conor Townsend

Appealed for a goal-kick and ended up giving away a penalty in a farcical moment which decided a farcical game.

Headloss 3

Callum Robinson

The Republic of Ireland international had a dreadful afternoon. Robinson offered next to no attacking threat. His hold-up play was non-existant. And he was also too quick to blame his team-mates.

Woeful 3

Karlan Grant

Like Robinson, the striker had next to no impact on the game with Albion’s lack of physical presence and focal point one reason they performed so badly.

Poor 3

Substitutes

Grady Diangana (for Gardner-Hickman 60); Andy Carroll (for Grant 68); Adam Reach (for Townsend 76). Not used: Button, Kipre, O’Shea, Molumby.