An early dismissal for Maël de Gevigney created an uphill task for the Reds at the league leaders as the Reds fell to defeat at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park. It was a nightmare start for the Reds, as Maël de Gevigney was shown a red card just three minutes into the encounter after bringing down Keshi Anderson as the Birmingham attacker looked to advance down the left. Referee Sam Purkiss adjudged that the Frenchman was the last man and gave him his marching orders. However, the Reds almost took the lead in Birmingham through former Bluenose Marc Roberts in the 7th minute. Luca Connell's inswinging delivery with his left peg caused problems in the area and bounced through to the Barnsley defender at the back post. He made contact with the ball, but it struck the post, much to Allsop's relief. Following de Gevigney’s dismissal, Hourihane turned to his bench and introduced Jonathan Bland in place of Max Watters in the 8th minute. With the man advantage, the hosts looked dangerous with every attack, but the Barnsley defence did well to weather the early storm. On the counter-attack, Stephen Humphrys spun his man and drove forward. He played in the advancing Phillips on the right, who struck early and true, stinging the palms of Allsop. More good play followed for Barnsley, as they kept the ball well in the Blues’ final third and won a free-kick on the left after O’Keeffe was fouled. The set-piece was taken quickly, finding Humphrys on the left, who took the ball to the by-line and stood a cross up to the back post, only for it to be turned behind by a Birmingham defender. The resulting corner was cleared to safety. Humphrys showed great desire to pinch the ball from the last Birmingham defender on halfway and drive forward with defenders in pursuit. Spotting Allsop off his goal line, Humphrys attempted to chip the ’keeper, but the effort lacked the height to trouble the retreating stopper. Birmingham’s pressure paid off on 32 minutes after the referee pointed to the spot when Anderson was tripped in the area by Kieren Flavell, who had attempted to gather the ball with his hands. The attacker got there first. Stansfield stepped up and calmly rolled the ball into the bottom corner from twelve yards, despite Flavell going the right way. The next goal felt crucial in the contest, and it was the Reds who got it, levelling the scores in the 36th minute. A long throw by Roberts from the right was hurled into the area, flicked on by Phillips at the front post to the back, where Keillor-Dunn arrived to bundle home his 15th of the season. Seven minutes of stoppage time were added at the end of the first half, but the scores remained level at the break. Half-time: Birmingham City 1-1 Reds Soon after the restart, Birmingham restored their lead. Alfie May was the man to pop up in the box for the hosts, turning home after Roberts had cleared off the line following a corner delivery. May added to his tally in the 55th minute, ghosting between the Reds defenders to nod home from close range after a whipped delivery from the left. The flurry of second-half goals continued, this time with the Reds getting one back. Some neat interplay between Phillips and Humphrys resulted in the latter being played in behind, and from a tight angle, Humphrys squeezed a shot underneath Allsop to reduce the deficit to one just before the hour mark. An error at the back from Conor McCarthy almost saw Birmingham restore their two-goal cushion, but tireless work from captain Luca Connell ensured the ball was turned behind for a corner. The Reds made a substitution in the 72nd minute, with Fábio Jaló replacing Phillips. In the same minute, Birmingham added a fourth. A combination of May and Luke Harris broke through the Barnsley defence, with the latter calmly rolling the ball past Flavell from inside the area. Humphrys kept Allsop alert with a long-range strike that required a smart save down to the ’keeper’s left on 74 minutes. Kieran Dowell added a fifth for Birmingham in the 82nd minute, sweeping the ball into the bottom corner from 20 yards. A triple substitution was made by the Reds four minutes from time, with Kelechi Nwakali, Jon Lewis and Dexter Lembikisa replacing Connell, Humphrys and O’Keeffe. A minute from time, Birmingham added a sixth through Lukas Jutkiewicz. Roberts did well to block the striker’s initial effort, but the rebound fell kindly back to his feet and he side-footed home into an empty net. Full-time: Birmingham City 6-2 Reds Reds: Flavell (GK), Russell, Roberts, de Gevigney (Sent off, 3'), O'Keeffe (Lembikisa 86'), Phillips (Jaló 72'), McCarthy, Watters (Bland 8'), Keillor-Dunn, Humphrys (Lewis 86'), Connell (c) (Nwakali 86'). Unused subs: Hayton (GK), Barratt. Continue reading...
