Midlands | Birmingham City lose at Stoke City

Stoke City 1 - 0 Birmingham City 

Stoke City edged past Birmingham City to claim a fourth win from five Championship outings this season.

Author | Peter Grainger

Stadium | Stoke City Stadium

Bosun Lawal’s looping first-half header proved decisive. The defender rose sharply at the far post to meet Sorba Thomas’s corner, guiding his effort back across goal and into the side netting beyond Ryan Allsop, who was unable to keep it out under pressure. 

It was Lawal’s first goal for the club and gave the hosts a deserved lead at the interval after a positive opening spell in which Thomas also rattled the post and Divin Mubama forced a smart save.

Stoke failed to add to their advantage after the break, though Johansson’s long clearance almost created a second, with Thomas striking the woodwork again. 

READ MORE | Blackburn Rovers earn battling win away at Watford

Birmingham, beaten in successive league games and three in all competitions, offered little threat in the first half but improved after the restart, enjoying the bulk of possession and territory. 

Even so, they struggled to create clear chances and did not manage a single effort on target, while Lawal’s aerial strength underpinned a resilient defensive display that carried the Potters over the line.

Best reaction from the Birmingham fans

Tommy was in the away end, he have his perspective on the defeat, saying: "I think people underestimated how difficult the Championship is compared to League One. Despite that, it's still been a decent start to the season."

Jacqueline added: "I thought we dominated the ball in the second half without turning the possession into meaningful attempts at goal."

The Stoke City perspective

Stoke City boss Mark Robins told local media: "I thought we were really good – it was brilliant, inside the stadium it was really noisy. I thought we started off really well, high intensity, and I thought we carried that through, particularly in the first half, I thought we were outstanding.”

On the Oatcake Stoke City forum, user ‘Block 26’ posted: The first 45 minutes have to be up there with one of the best I’ve seen, and we probably should have had the game wrapped up by halftime. They were always going to come into the game in the second half, as we put so much into the first.”