Birmingham City report and player ratings from St Andrew’s after they overcame Sheffield United in the EFL Cup
22:06, 13 Aug 2025Updated 22:12, 13 Aug 2025
Kyogo Furuhashi of Birmingham City celebrates(Image: Getty Images)
Birmingham City are into the second round of the Carabao Cup after Jay Stansfield stepped off the bench to restore Blues lead with only three minutes remaining of their tie with Sheffield United at St Andrew’s on Wednesday evening.
Stansfield slammed home from inside the box after being teed up by Willum Willumsson to ensure Blues would progress and host League One Port Vale in the next round of the competition that they famously won in 2011.
They had opened the scoring after only five minutes thanks to Kyogo Furuhashi, but Gustavo Hamer dramatically netted from just inside the halfway line to bring the Blades level – although whether the goal should’ve counted was a different story, after referee Gavin Ward collided with the midfielder and Stansfield in the lead up to the strike.
Blues might’ve been ahead within two minutes of this tie, when Tommy Doyle’s corner to the near post was met by Kyogo, who couldn’t direct his effort on target and instead glanced the ball across the face of goal. Within three minutes of that opening though, he had, quite literally, a tap in.
The opportunity all stemmed from the hard work of Demarai Gray, who kept running and pressing into the penalty area and eventually forcing Dovydas Sasnauskas into undercooking his pass back to goalkeeper Adam Davies. Gray, whose momentum when chasing the ball carried him forwards, nipped in and laid it on a plate for the Japanese international.
In truth, Blues could’ve put this tie to bed before the first half was out. Tomoki Iwata single handedly created another chance for compatriot Kyogo when he forced Louie Marsh to give the ball up, but Blues’ newest number nine slashed at the ball and dragged it wide. His fourth opening, though, was all of his own making.
Robbing the hapless Sasnauskas of the ball on the halfway line, Kyogo in a flash bore down on goal but got his finish – an intended dink over onrushing keeper Davies – all wrong and the Blades escaped another scare, although they managed to alarm Blues themselves before the break when Tom Cannon bent a shot onto the post having been granted too much space.
Blues didn’t quite enjoy the openings in the second half. They did have the ball in the net from a corner kick, when Ethan Laird powered a header into the corner from Alex Cochrane’s dead ball, but the ref had blown up for a spot of wrestling involving Keshi Anderson and Sam McCallum beforehand.
The lack of a killer second continued to allow the Blades an opportunity to find their way back into the game, and the equaliser itself was a controversial stunner; Hamer and Jay Stansfield were involved in a three-way collision with referee Ward in the centre circle and, although he might’ve blown up for a drop ball, the man in the middle allowed play to continue.
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
£43
£35
Sky
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
What happened from there was, admittedly, a stroke of genius; former Coventry City talisman Hamer, only on as a substitute in the second half, spotted debutant James Beadle off his line and attempted to lob him from just inside the Blues half – something he executed successfully, but much to the bemusement of Chris Davies and his players, who confronted Ward.
Stansfield, though, came good for Blues in the closing stages when he expertly finished off a move involving Willumsson, Anderson and Cochrane and it was a goal which books Blues a place in the second round.
Birmingham City player ratings
Beadle 6
Quick with his decision making and calm with his feet in the first half, receiving the ball in tight spaces from the likes of Klarer and Leonard but never panicking. He was really quick off his line when coming a long way to clear danger he’d read, but was caught off his line for Hamer’s stunner.
Laird 8
Has a real fight on for his position in the league now after the signing and debut of Osayi-Samuel, and he played a leading hand in this performance. So positive from deep, willing to run, athletic and with an end product which might’ve brought about an assist on another night.
Klarer 7
Imperious at the back. Winning practically everything in the air, keeping things calm and simple on the ball but also when it was appropriate playing the diagonals to the wings which he is capable of. Another night in the career of Christoph Klarer, basically – although he did pick up a late yellow card.
Cashin 8
A chance to look at the Brighton loanee. He has a big ask this season to break into the Blues team regularly but on this basis he’s a very useful player to have to call on when needed. Won a big header when making first contact defending a corner and some of his passing was very good. Clearly very happy to attack aerial balls, too.
Cochrane 7
On the receiving end of a heavy challenge at the end of the first half which looked painful, but Cochrane was his usual self, helping to begin the move for the opening goal and almost scoring himself before half time.
Iwata 7
Snappy and aggressive but cool and measured when in possession. Some of his passing was excellent in the first half when he threaded moves together with Doyle ahead of him. Pressed and made Marsh make a mistake which led to one of Kyogo’s first half chances. Metronomic throughout.
Leonard 7
There were brief moments in the first half when Leonard’s range of passing didn’t always make its chosen target, but in the second half he hit his straps, began to pull the strings a little more from deep with quick feet and an eye for a pass.
Willumsson 7
The towering Icelandic operated over on the right hand side, rather than through the middle. There were times when he took too long on the ball and didn’t weigh his through passes properly, but despite that, in the closing stages of the game, he was on hand to keep his cool and tee up Stansfield.
Doyle 8*
Set pieces and deliveries from open play would appear to demonstrate that Blues have a real weapon in their armoury on this basis. Really clever when taking up positions and clearly has a real eye for a pass – and a willingness to bring out the tricks and flicks when pertinent. Fortunate not to have sustained a serious injury from a nasty challenge from Soumare, but a classy full debut.
Gray 7
Effort, persistence and relentless running in the first half, encompassed by two moments – the assist for the goal, through an error forced by his pressing, and then his tracking back from deep and way into his own half before winning the ball back was met with an appreciative roar from the Tilton.
Kyogo 7
Scored once in the first half, might’ve had four – and that’s not even an exaggeration. On hand and live to the chance to bag after five minutes, but he could’ve scored even earlier than that and then he created a one-on-one for himself before half time but got his finish all wrong. He was relentless all night and deserved his goal.
Substitutes
Anderson (for Gray 45) 7
Picked up where Gray had left off at the break, in working tirelessly and playing on the left hand side. Some brilliant work to win the ball back in his own penalty area under pressure from Campbell.
Stansfield (for Kyogo 57) 7
Things weren’t really falling for Stansfield up until his goal, and he did give up the ball once or twice, but his Cruyff turn to create his opportunity was majestic. Nearly scored a stunner when he lifted the ball over the defender and fired just over the bar.
Paik (for Doyle 67) 7
Just class, all the bells and whistles of a top footballer coupled with the honesty and work-rate that fans on the terrace demand. Superb set-piece delivery, really good cameo.
Osayi-Samuel (for Laird 67) 7
A like for like substitution, Osayi-Samuel brought with him the added energy, physical attributes and composure just when Blues needed it.
Dykes (for Leonard 76)
Substitutes not used: Allsop, Neumann, Fujimoto, Gardner-Hickman
Sheffield United: A Davies; McCallum, Cannon, O’Hare (Peck 45), Soumare (Bindon 55), Robinson (Hamer 56), Ukaki (Brooks 82), One (Campbell 56), Curtis, Marsh, Sasnauskas
Substitutes not used: Cooper, Norrington-Davies, Barry, Seriki
GOALS
Blues – Kyogo 5, Stansfield 87; Sheffield United – Hamer 72
The ref: Gavin Ward
Attendance: 16,367
Up next: Blackburn Rovers (A) – Saturday 16 August, 3pm kick off