Birmingham City are now just two points clear of Wrexham in the final play-off spot in the Championship after a hard-fought 2-1 away win against Norwich City.
The Blues’ big spend in January appears to have paid off, with Carlos Vicente breaking the deadlock against Norfolk with his first goal for Chris Davies’ side. The catch-up from Alaves cost around £7m.
As well as Vicente’s goal, fellow new signing August Pliske also provided an assist, with Marvin Dachsh standing out as the hero for Birmingham’s all-important second goal, sealing the three points against the brave Canaries.
Norwich never conceded in the second half and although Birmingham’s attackers were at their best for the first 45 minutes, victory was all but sealed thanks to some excellent goalkeeping from the lucky visitors, James Beadle.
Beadle’s outstanding performance against Norwich
Despite only being 21, Beadle is well used to the pressures of the Championship, having previously played at this intense level for Sheffield Wednesday.
The No. 25 went on to keep 17 clean sheets for the Owls over two seasons in the second division, and Birmingham decided he had what it took to compete in the upper division and signed him on loan at the start of the season.
Beadle certainly showed off his shot-stopping abilities at Carrow Road, as he made eight big saves to end a back-and-forth game.
At the final whistle, Davies praised the “quick reacting” nature of the agile stopper, who recently came under fire when he was left out of Birmingham’s FA Cup game against Leeds United.
But he is now firmly in the Blues’ good books as Philippe Clement’s side managed just one goal all afternoon despite having 18 shots in total.
Beadle wasn’t the only one who stood out in Birmingham’s solid defense in the second half. One of the standout performers in the Blues’ backline could be credited with being as influential as former West Midlands giants Jay Stansfield.
Birmingham star could become Stansfield 2.0
Previously, Stansfield arrived at St Andrews on a temporary loan deal from Championship side Fulham before signing a permanent deal with Birmingham.
Despite Birmingham succumbing to relegation during the 2023/24 season, the energetic 23-year-old stood out as a big plus, with Stansfield starting 39 games in the second division and scoring 12 goals at home. Therefore, the 23-year-old remains a mainstay for the Blues, having already scored nine goals this season, and it was a no-brainer for him to sign an extension.
The Birmingham City star, who left in 2024, is now a bigger talent than Stansfield.
The star, who was sold to Birmingham City in League One, is now a bigger talent than Jay Stansfield.
Jonathan Panzo will be hoping he can stay longer than just a few months, as the new defender’s contract at St Andrews only runs until the end of the season.
His heroics against Norwich give him a good chance of becoming a mainstay in the first team and instantly turning into a fan favorite, much like Stansfield once was.
See Panzo’s performance in numbers | |
|---|---|
Play time (minutes) | 90 |
Number of points | 0 |
assist | 0 |
touch | 62 |
failed touch | 1 |
exact path | 36/38 (95%) |
loss of ownership | 3 times |
intercept | 2 |
clearance | 14 |
blocked shot | 1 |
collect | 3 |
tackle win | 2/2 |
Total number of duels won | 5/7 |
In fact, Panzo must have been exhausted when the final whistle blew in Norfolk. The 6ft 1in Warrior was a beast at the heart of the away team’s defence, racking up 14 clearances, making seven tackles and winning a duel while hardly making a mistake throughout the match.
But like Stansfield, he too avoided pretense and proved to be a classy operator, completing only two of his 38 passes. Furthermore, out of 62 touches on the ball, only one was a miss.
If he can maintain these performances, Panzo will definitely be able to solidify his place as a regular starter under Davis, and his stay at the club will certainly extend beyond this season.
With the likes of Beadle, Panzo and Stansfield at his disposal, Davies has a very talented squad with back-to-back promotions in his sights, not the wildest of screamers.
Birmingham City player appears to have made the club’s biggest mistake since Deeney
Even worse than Marvin Dachsh, the Birmingham City forward looks like the club’s biggest failure since Troy Deeney.
