Barnes strike earns a point (From The Argus)

Barnes strike earns a point

5:06pm Saturday 21st April 2012 in Albion By Brian Owen

Ashley Barnes grabbed a late equaliser to ensure Albion’s first home season at The Amex ended on an upbeat note.

The Seagulls’ leading scorer notched his 11th of the Championship campaign to secure a well deserved 1-1 draw with Birmingham, who are heading for the play-offs.

His goal, in the 84th minute, came quarter of an hour after Nathan Redmond had fired Blues ahead from the edge of the box.

Redmond was introduced as a first-half substitute for midfielder Morgaro Gomis, who was walking a disciplinary tightrope.

He shot low past Peter Brezovan after strong work from striker Marlon King to hold the ball up and lay it off.

Albion played the more attractive football, with man-of-the-match Vicente pulling the strings.

Barnes sidefooted them level after Inigo Calderon had got to the byline and pulled back a low cross.

Hard-working Vicente was at the heart of the game’s best moments and created the only clear chance of the first half on 12 minutes.

He chipped and angled an exquisite through ball into the path of Will Buckley, whose shot was half blocked by keeper Colin Doyle before bouncing up on to the roof of the net.

Calderon had a shot blocked as Vicente pulled the resulting corner back to him.

But otherwise there was little to excite against a solid, no-frills Blues side.

Birmingham were on guard as Vicente attacked again straight after half-time.

But this time he slipped a simple pass to Alan Navarro, whose well struck 25-yarder was pushed past the post by Doyle as he dived to his right.