Birmingham City’s main man has rounded on those who have criticised him ever since his big-money return to Blues
Birmingham City’s Jay Stansfield(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)
Jay Stansfield has hit back at the critics who dismiss his goal return as overly reliant on penalties.
The Birmingham City striker converted from the spot in Saturday’s dramatic 2-1 victory at Blackburn – a venue where Blues’ record has been dire.
It looked for all the world as though they were heading for another defeat when they trailed as a frustrating game entered stoppage time.
That was until Ethan Laird was brought down and Stansfield nervelessly beat Rovers’ goalkeeper Balasz Toth to level the scores. Eight minutes later Lyndon Dykes slid home a deserved winner – but it was Laird and Stansfield who inspired the comeback.
Stansfield’s penalty was his first of the season – added to the nine he scored last term, in a goal return of 23 as Blues’ romped their way to the League One title. His only miss came in a 4-0 win over Cambridge in February.
That high total, combined with the division record transfer fee, put the 22-year-old in the spotlight with many lining up to deride the price tag and what they perceived to be a reliance on spot-kicks – some even dubbing him ‘Pensfield’.
However, Blues’ talisman had his say after the win at Ewood Park, as he took the responsibility not only for scoring from 12 yards but for dragging his side back from the brink of defeat.
“I’d like to do that when we’re winning, but we’re in a structure and we know what are we good at and that sort of freedom when you’re chasing the game comes out.
“When we’re chasing the game, that’s when big players need to step up for this team, that’s what I enjoy doing and that’s what I thrive off.
“You see all the crowds there and we’re we’re 1-0 down with however many minutes to go, someone needs to create something and obviously Ethan did for the penalty.
“My heart was racing when I put the ball on the penalty spot. You look up and you think ‘All of these people that have travelled’ and you don’t want to let them down.
“But I practise them every day and last season I got hammered for taking penalties, but at the end of the day, I don’t see anyone else, the people who were commenting, coming to stand up there and being able to put that penalty away in front of 7,000 of your own fans. It’s not as easy as what everyone thinks.
“I know what I’m good at and penalties is obviously one of those things and like I said, it’s not easy to step up and do that in the dying moments of the game when a point away from home is massive in the Championship these days. So it’s a good feeling good.
“I took confidence from last season, I went to the Euros with some unbelievable players and learned a lot there, so I’m bringing that experience, that confidence back to to Blues.
“I had a bit of a niggle in pre-season, which I didn’t play as many pre-season games as possible, but the last four years I’ve not really had a preseason, to be honest.
“I’ve sort of been that young lad who’s been helping the first team and things, so this year has been my first actual preseason where I can go out and get minutes and be ready for the start of the season.
“I think even last season I came in and only played 90 minutes and that was against Birmingham for Fulham, so I sort of got thrown in and had to hit the road running.
“But this season, like I said, I’ve had a full preseason and I’m just buzzing to get up and going and to see what’s to come.
“When you see all those fans there and your family at home watching, there’s only one goal and that’s to help this team win and get them back to where they belong.”
Birmingham City’s Lyndon Dykes celebrates scoring his side’s second goal with Jay Stansfield and Demarai Gray(Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)
Goals in each of his first three games, four if you count the final pre-season match against Nottingham Forest, has Stansfield’s self-belief through the roof.
“Yeah, definitely. I think a forward obviously thrives off goals and that’s going to bring you confidence, but like I said from last year, using that confidence and using the Euros as a boost for me personally is the main thing.
“I took a lot from the Euros to be honest, a lot for my character [building]. You’re away from your family for a long time, you’re playing with some very, very good players, they’re all playing in the Premier League.
“So to be able to step up and go there with those special players is a privilege. I was so lucky to be able to go and join that team and I’ve learned a lot from from those players.
“Hopefully soon that’ll that’ll be me one day and I can say I’ve been to the Euros with some good players and now I’m playing in the Premier League.”
What have you made of Stansfield so far this season? Have your say here
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