The talking points as Birmingham City overcome Sheffield United in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night to book their place in the second round
Kyogo Furuhasashi of Birmingham City(Image: Ryan Browne/Shutterstock)
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. Here are the talking points.
In the space of two moments
If anything encompassed what Chris Davies demands of his players, it was two separate moments in the first half – both produced by Demarai Gray. The winger only completed 45 minutes here but exerted plenty in that time – never more so than at either end of the half, when creating a goal and potentially denying another.
Gray’s momentum on the run carried him through as he chased the ball, with Sheffield United in possession, and when the unsuspecting Davydos Sasnouskas sent the ball back towards keeper Adam Davies, he allowed Gray in – he did so and routinely produced a goal for Kyogo on a silver platter.
Then, with Blues having committed men forwards and Alex Cochrane at left-back having been involved in an attack, Gray single handedly snuffed out a Blades counter attack when he tracked Ehije Ukaki all the way onto the edge of the Blues box and nailed his fellow wide-man with a superb challenge. In a nutshell, it’s what Davies will desire from all in his squad.
New signings impress
There were full debuts for both Tommy Doyle and Eiran Cashin here, and it’s safe to say both impressed. Doyle was considered by many to be among the best signings a Championship side could’ve made this summer, and in an hour-long cameo here there were passages of play which made you realise that those calls are justified.
Doyle breezed around the pitch, playing in front of deeper pair Marc Leonard and Tomoki Iwata, picking passes – including one delightful flick around the corner which drew coos of appreciation from the impressed Tilton Road End – and delivering balls from out wide from open play crosses or set-pieces.
Cashin, meanwhile, is perhaps a more understated signing; brought in to rival, but in the first instance, provide cover for first choice pair Phil Neumann and Christoph Klarer, the latter who he partnered here, the Brighton loanee has a fair bit to do to force his way consistently into the Championship XI. On this basis, though, he’s ready when required.
Clutch player
You can’t get away from the fact that Stansfield produces big moments just when Blues need them. He doesn’t just net to complement his seasonal goal tally by scoring the third goal in a 4-0 win; he produces when it matters – never more so than here.
Introduced in the second half in the place of Kyogo, who had run the Sheffield United back-line ragged, had scored but had also enjoyed a number of opportunities over the course of the night, Stansfield’s own performance was comparably quieter, though there was one moment of near brilliance when he lifted the ball over his man on the bounce and over the bar.
Yet he was ready for his chance when it came. Right on cue, Willum Willumsson brought the ball down and laid it off to Stansfield, who deliciously shrugged off his marker with a superbly executed Cruyff turn and fired low, all in one seamless movement. What a start to the season in front of goal, and you’d back him already to get at least near last season’s tally.
Big opportunity for progress
You have to say it – there’s a real chance already for Blues to enjoy something of a cup run this season. Having come through this test, one of the more eye-catching ties in the round against decent Championship opponents who’ll be expected to compete at the top end of the division again this season, Blues will welcome League One Port Vale in the next round.
Davies spoke post match of how he has no intention of treating cup games any differently to league matches, as we saw last year with the Vertu Trophy – and even in this competition and the FA Cup, Blues were only knocked out by Premier League opposition. He’ll take it seriously and he sees victories in this as a way of breeding confidence in what the players do each day.
Vale, promoted under Darren Moore last season, will provide a challenge for Blues, who’ll be big favourites on the night. The prospect of a night spent playing in the third round awaits, though, provided Blues can ease through without any scares and, by that stage the European Premier League teams enter the room. Imagine a night against a ‘Big Six’ side under the lights here.
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