Birmingham City delivered a commanding performance with a 4-0 victory over Millwall at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park on Tuesday night, marking their second 4-goal haul in just four days.
Goals from Paik Seung-ho, Demarai Gray, Alex Cochrane, and Jay Stansfield sealed the emphatic win against a Millwall side that came into the match sitting fourth in the table.
Right from the start, Tommy Doyle set the tone by winning possession early and unleashing a shot narrowly wide, while goalkeeper James Beadle made a crucial save to keep Blues in control. The hosts struck first when Patrick Roberts’ cross found Paik Seung-ho in space, and the midfielder curled a precise left-footed shot into the far corner.
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Buoyed by the opener, Birmingham intensified their pressure and doubled their lead before halftime. A gifted pass from Wes Harding set Jay Stansfield in motion, who combined cleverly with Marvin Ducksch to assist Demarai Gray’s composed finish. The two-goal lead was a fair reflection of Birmingham’s dominance in the first half.
Just five minutes into the second half, Alex Cochrane fired in a spectacular volley after a partial clearance, catching Millwall’s goalkeeper Max Crocombe off guard. The Blues continued to play fluid, attacking football with captain Christoph Klarer coming close to scoring from distance.
The fourth goal came in the 66th minute with Stansfield making it seven goals for the season. A slick exchange on the edge of the box ended with Keshi Anderson feeding Stansfield, who slipped past a defender before slotting home confidently.
Kyogo Furuhashi, however, was denied by a stubborn Millwall defense and Crocombe in a couple of promising one-on-one chances, but the overall picture remains positive after back-to-back dominant 4-0 wins for Birmingham City.
Player Ratings:
James Beadle – 7
Confident in goal with smart saves, instrumental in maintaining the clean sheet.
Tomoki Iwata – 9
Outstanding performance with relentless runs and excellent positioning, instrumental in the buildup to the fourth goal.
Phil Neumann – 7.5
Steadied the defense with solid physicality and improved passing distribution.
Christoph Klarer – 8
Dominated defensively and posed a threat on set-pieces, nearly scoring himself.
Alex Cochrane – 8
Scored a brilliant volley and continues to grow into a reliable Championship left-back.
Tommy Doyle – 8.5
Energetic and combative in midfield, setting the early tone for the team’s aggression.
Paik Seung-ho – 8
Delivered another classy finish, proving crucial to Birmingham’s attacking threat.
Patrick Roberts – 9
Creative and direct, providing key assists and linking play seamlessly.
Jay Stansfield – 9
Busy and effective upfront, adding both a goal and an assist to his season tally.
Demarai Gray – 8
Dynamic and inventive on the wing, consistently involved in attacking movements.
Marvin Ducksch – 8.5
A classy operator whose clever passes helped unlock Millwall’s defense.
Substitutes:
Kyogo Furuhashi – 6
Unlucky not to score but created chances and showed persistence.
Keshi Anderson – 7
Smart substitutions with intelligent passing leading to a goal.
Overall, Birmingham City showcased a thrilling brand of football, with several players standing out in a comprehensive team performance against Millwall.