Ducksch and Stansfield Fire Birmingham to Emphatic Victory
Birmingham City delivered a stunning performance at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park, comprehensively beating Norwich City 4-1 in a Championship clash. The victory was spearheaded by a devastating display from strike partners Marvin Ducksch and Jay Stansfield, who both netted two goals apiece.
New Strike Partnership Pays Immediate Dividends
The game marked a turning point for German striker Marvin Ducksch, who opened his account for Blues with two first-half goals. His clinical finishing, combined with Stansfield's brace, took the latter's season tally to an impressive nine goals across all competitions.
Manager Chris Davies was quick to highlight the transformative impact of a fully-fit Ducksch. "We've got him going and fitter," Davies stated. "He's a player that will always create chances for other people around him via his link up play and his intelligence."
Davies specifically praised Ducksch's movement, noting his "blindside position for the first goal" and his instinct to arrive for the second. The manager also emphasised how the new partnership benefits Stansfield, allowing him to utilise his speed and energy more effectively while linking play.
A Week of Celebration and Rising Fortunes
The three points lifted Birmingham City to ninth in the Championship table, capping a significant week for the historic club. The match was part of the club's 150th-anniversary celebrations, coming just two days after the designs for a new 62,000-seater stadium were unveiled.
Reflecting on the occasion, Davies said, "It's been a good week, our 150th anniversary week, so a momentous week for the club. My focus and the players' focus was the football game on the Saturday and making sure we were prepared for it."
The team's form has seen a remarkable upturn since Ducksch's return to the starting line-up. Birmingham have now won four of the five league games he has started, scoring 14 of their 24 Championship goals in that period.
Davies also commended the chemistry within the entire front line, which includes quality wide players Patrick Roberts and Demarai Gray. He highlighted the team's intensity and relentless style, which was evident from the first minute of the match, setting the tone for a dominant victory.
