Talking points after Birmingham City’s 1-1 draw with Southampton at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park
07:00, 30 Dec 2025Updated 09:19, 30 Dec 2025
Phil Neumann celebrates his goal for Birmingham City against Southampton
Birmingham City had to settle for a point against Southampton on Monday evening after a controversial equalising goal.
Phil Neumann’s second goal of the season had Blues on course for three points before Cameron Archer levelled for the Saints 19 minutes from time.
Blues manager Chris Davies was incensed after referee Matthew Donohue impeded Tomoki Iwata in the build-up to the goal and Southampton went on to equalise.
For Blues, the draw means they are now six games without a win and lost further ground on the Championship’s top six.
Here are our talking points post-Southampton…
A nod for the performance
Davies didn’t have many cards to play when it came to team selection due to the mounting injury and suspension issues facing Blues.
Christoph Klarer (suspended) and Demarai Gray (injured) joined those on the sidelines and Davies patched up his team to go again three days after the taxing draw with Derby County.
With five defenders out, Davies fielded a back four that has never played together before and they coped well. Playing out was a tad nerve-wracking for those in the stands, but defensively Alfons Sampsted, Neumann, Jack Robinson and Eiran Cashin didn’t do much wrong.
All four of them have shown their level, now they must maintain it.
In front of them Blues looked more solid with Tomoki Iwata next to Paik Seung-ho, who produced the type of performance that we know he can.
The front four were creative and effective, albeit wasteful in front of goal in the case of Kyogo Furuhashi.
This was a good showing that was overshadowed by a controversial goal. It must be said that even though Donohue did position himself poorly and prevent Iwata from reaching the ball, Blues had other chances to clear their lines before Archer found the net.
Good riddance to 2025 for Kyogo
Blues have, for the most part, enjoyed 2025. It was the year they won promotion back to the Championship in record-breaking style and returned to Wembley. There have been highlights in the opening 24 games of this season, too.
But not for Kyogo, who continued his barren run in front of goal with two misses of note against Southampton.
Kyogo snatched at them both. His attempted lob was overhit and, when the ball dropped to him 10 yards out shortly before half-time, Kyogo produced the finish of a player without a league goal since January.
The Japanese striker has endured a miserable 2025, first with Rennes before joining Blues in July, and he hasn’t registered a league goal for either club.
Maybe the turn of the year will work in Kyogo’s favour. Irrespective of his finishing, Kyogo offered Blues plenty in the press and should keep his place against Watford.
Birmingham City’s Kyogo Furuhashi shoots at goal but fails to score
Delay, delay, delay
Two weeks ago Blues wouldn’t have stood in Eiran Cashin’s way if Brighton wanted to recall him and redistribute him in January, but the answer might be different now.
That isn’t to say Cashin won’t depart in January, there is every chance that he will, but the 24-year-old has filled in at left-back well enough and Blues need him right now.
The same can be said about Lewis Koumas, although it’s difficult to see him starting games and Liverpool might not care for Blues’ predicament.
The fact Davies had to name three youngsters on the bench against Southampton, plus Kanya Fujimoto – who may never play for Blues again at this rate – tells you just how much their squad is being tested.
Blues will likely look to delay decisions on these players until after the Coventry City game at the end of the week.
Blues have a tough task now
In three of the last six seasons, 70 points has been enough to secure a play-off spot. If that is the case this season, Blues will need to earn 40 points over the second half of the campaign to be in with a chance. Only top-two Coventry City and Middlesbrough managed that in the first 23 games.
A point against Southampton hasn’t massively helped Blues who remain 15th, with 31 points, and seven points outside the play-off places.
They face sixth-placed Watford on New Year’s Day in need of a statement away victory.
Blues can still challenge for promotion, but they have to sort out their away form and be at least 25 per cent better than they were in the first half of the season.
Will Blues make the play-offs? Have your say in the commentsGet the latest Blues headlines sent straight to your phone
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