Since joining Birmingham City on a season-long loan from Sunderland on transfer deadline day, Patrick Roberts has quickly become a standout performer. The agile right-winger has contributed one goal and two assists in just nine appearances, but his impact extends far beyond the stats.
Roberts played a crucial role in three of Birmingham’s four goals during their emphatic 4-0 win against Millwall on Tuesday. His dynamic partnership with Tomoki Iwata on the right side is flourishing, revitalizing the Blues’ attacking options.
This new right-sided duo was a hot topic on Thursday’s Keep Right On Podcast. Alex Dicken highlighted how this partnership mirrors a successful strategy once employed by Tony Mowbray at Sunderland.
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“Roberts thrives when he stays wide,” Dicken explained. “When I saw him play for Sunderland under Mowbray, he anchored the right wing while the right-back, Niall Huggins, often advanced into more creative roles centrally. Roberts maintained width and supplied key passes, creating multiple scoring opportunities.
“This suits Roberts perfectly as a natural right-winger, even though he occasionally cuts inside, like in the fourth goal against Millwall. Chris Davies deserves credit for adjusting the system. Last season, the setup was fixed: the right-winger would drift inside to act as a playmaker while the right-back provided width. Now, those roles have flipped.
“This change also plays to Iwata’s strengths. As a central midfielder, Iwata excels in the middle of the pitch, and his impressive sprinting ability is adding a new dynamic. While perhaps not matching the explosive speed of Ethan Laird, Iwata’s relentless runs and high work rate are proving invaluable.”
By reinvigorating this tactical approach, Chris Davies is giving Birmingham City a potent and unpredictable attacking weapon down the right flank.