Birmingham City came from behind to beat Sunderland 2-1 on Saturday courtesy of second half strikes from Jordan James and Koji Miyoshi.
James cancelled out Jack Clarke’s first half strike before Miyoshi forced home Blues’ winner in the 80th minute. Blues have recorded back-to-back Championship wins for the first time since October.
With 10 points from six league games in charge, Tony Mowbray is making his mark in the Second City. His predecessor Wayne Rooney managed the same points tally from 15 games at the helm.
There was a different feel around St Andrew’s yesterday. Some in the press room before kick-off drew comparisons to the memorable day when Blues played Leeds United back in August. Tom Wagner and Tom Brady were in town, St Andrew’s was sold out, and Blues beat promotion favourites Leeds in stoppage time.
Wagner and Brady weren’t in B9 yesterday but 25,000 Bluenoses were present to outnumber their Sunderland counterparts and roar their team to victory. Comebacks are always sweet and that one would have been particularly sweet for Mowbray, who was sacked by Sunderland two months ago.
Hopefully some of those children from local schools and colleges nag their parents to return to St Andrew’s more regularly. Hopefully all those in attendance who wouldn’t normally spend their Saturday watching Blues make it a more regular thing.
The traffic afterwards remains an issue and better transport links are required – Knighthead are well aware of that – but hopefully the on-field product, which has improved no end under Mowbray, and the taste of victory outweighed the delay getting home.
Sunderland goal a consequence of style
In midweek we watched Tyler Roberts miss a gilt-edged chance against Blackburn from an attack which was started by goalkeeper John Ruddy and worked patiently through the thirds. We witnessed the other side of the coin against Sunderland when Paik Seung-ho and Marc Roberts gifted Clarke his goal.
Roberts was on his heels and slow to react, but Paik’s undercooked pass was the primary reason Blues conceded. That won’t stop the South Korean playmaker and midfield sidekick Andre Dozzell from playing those risky passes.
We shouldn’t expect it to be perfect all the time. Blues are changing a style that has been ingrained in this team for years and mistakes will occasionally be made.
Dozzell will become unsung hero
Of Blues’ three January signings, Dozzell was probably the most underwhelming. Not because of his talent, but because he hasn’t got 15 caps for an international team (Paik) or a history of operating at the top of the Championship (Alex Pritchard).
Dozzell followed up his match-winning display against Blackburn by being the deep-lying orchestrator of Blues’ comeback on Saturday. He played forward at every opportunity in a variety of different ways. Short, long, flicks round the corner, Dozzell has an array of passes in his locker.
He never seems flustered in possession, even when multiple players are trying to hurry him, and more often than not picks the right pass. Dozzell won’t get the plaudits or headlines that Blues’ more dynamic stars receive, but he is no less important.
Stansfield stands out – even without a goal
Every Monday morning Blues’ sports scientists compile physical data from the weekend’s and put it on a wall at the training ground. Mowbray expects to see Jay Stansfield’s name at the top of the running stats once again.
“I will tell you now before we get to Monday that it’s him. It’s amazing what he does,” said Mowbray. “The work he gets through is ridiculous.”
Even on a run of five games without a goal, Blues’ top scorer is absolutely crucial to the success of the team. All footballers can run, the intelligence of Stansfield’s runs sets him apart.
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