Birmingham City delivered a performance worthy of their 150th-anniversary celebrations with a commanding 4-1 victory over Norwich City at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park on Saturday.
The win, which saw Blues score four goals for the third consecutive home match, was a fitting tribute on a significant day for the club, coming just days after a major stadium unveiling.
Deadly Duo Deliver Double Trouble
Strikers Marvin Ducksch and Jay Stansfield were the heroes of the hour, each scoring a brace to dismantle Norwich. Ducksch broke his scoring duck for the club with his two goals, while Stansfield took his league tally to an impressive eight for the season.
Only Coventry’s Brandon Thomas-Asante and Derby’s Carlton Morris have found the net more in the Championship. The burgeoning partnership between the two forwards, both on and off the pitch, is quickly becoming the cornerstone of Birmingham’s attacking threat this campaign.
Midfield Mastery and Aerial Dominance
While the strikers took the plaudits, the foundation for the win was built on a display of sheer intensity and control. Tommy Doyle produced a masterclass in midfield, dictating the tempo with a remarkable 90 percent pass completion rate and breaking up Norwich attacks with crucial tackles and interceptions.
His performance was so complete that his omission from the official Man of the Match poll caused outrage among fans. Further astonishing statistics revealed Birmingham won 83 percent of their aerial duels in the first half, a feat made more impressive by the general lack of height in Chris Davies’ starting line-up.
Gray Finds His Form
After admitting his recent performances had fallen below his own high standards, winger Demarai Gray chose the perfect moment to rediscover his best. The former Premier League star set the tone early with a warning shot that forced a save, and he immediately followed it up by marauding down the left wing to provide the assist for the opening goal.
Gray added a second assist for Stansfield’s second goal, taking his total to six goal contributions in 16 league matches and proving the decisive quality he can bring to the Championship.
Norwich manager Philippe Clement summed up his side's woes by bemoaning a lack of "duel power" in the first half, a severe understatement given the one-sided nature of the contest. Mathias Kvistgaarden did manage a reply against the run of play, but it was nothing more than a consolation for a punch-drunk Canaries side.
For Chris Davies and Birmingham City, this comprehensive victory signals a team that has firmly grasped what is required to succeed in the Championship, making it a potentially transformative week for the historic club.
