Birmingham City climbed to seventh in the Sky Bet Championship after securing a gritty 2-1 victory over Watford at St Andrew's on Monday night. First-half goals from Paik Seung-ho and Demarai Gray proved decisive, with Othmane Maamma's second-half strike for the Hornets only a consolation.
A Fortress Tested and Passed
This win marked Birmingham's sixth home triumph in nine league outings this season, a record bettered only by leaders Coventry City. However, this victory differed from previous comfortable successes at St Andrew's. Watford applied significant pressure in the closing stages, forcing Blues to dig deep and withstand an onslaught in front of over 26,000 anxious supporters.
The ability to see out such a tense encounter represents another crucial step in their development, proving they can win in different ways. While their formidable home form is a superb platform, manager Chris Davies knows improving their away record is essential for any sustained promotion push.
The Unwavering Influence of Tomoki Iwata
The match also highlighted the immense value of Tomoki Iwata to Davies' side. The Japanese international's absence was keenly felt, with his replacement, Bright Osayi-Samuel, working tirelessly to replicate his unique output.
Osayi-Samuel, lacking match sharpness after losing his place to Iwata two months ago, struggled to match the departed star's relentless engine and tactical intelligence. The performance underlined that while Osayi-Samuel possesses raw pace, Iwata's ability to constantly operate at full tilt and influence the game from right-back has become a key component of Birmingham's play.
Davies' Calculated Substitutions Seal the Win
With the game in the balance, Chris Davies' management of his bench was critical. He turned to trusted, reliable options to navigate the final stages. Keshi Anderson was introduced first, a player Davies frequently praises for his dependability.
He then summoned Lyndon Dykes to provide a physical outlet and Alfons Sampsted to shore up the right-back position. The late introductions of Marc Leonard and Lewis Koumas were made with game management in mind. In a tight Championship battle, every decision mattered, and Davies's selections proved correct.
The victory was slightly marred by a yellow card for Jay Stansfield, which means both he and Christoph Klarer are now one booking away from a suspension. They will need to navigate the trip to Southampton carefully to avoid missing the following game against Queens Park Rangers.
