EFL League One | Birmingham City 4-0 Cambridge United | Birmingham send Cambridge home feeling blue

Image Credit: BCFC

22,456 fans piled into St Andrews @ Knighthead Park to witness the biggest home league victory for the hosts in ten years, besting the 6-1 win over Reading in 2014. 

Things went bad for the U’s before the first whistle as Danny Andrew was injured during the warm-up meaning Kelland Watts replaced him from the bench.

The Bluenoses scored their first goal of the game through a Jay Stansfield spot kick after Ethan Laird was shoulder-barged by James Brophey inside the penalty area. The former Fulham striker kept up his 100% record for the season from twelve yards as his driven effort towards the centre of the goal marked his 7th successful penalty kick. 

Tomoki Iwata had a chance to extend the lead with his first time effort going narrowly wide of the post. 

It was then two goals in quick succession for the home side as Keshi Anderson advanced down the right flank before sending the ball in towards Willum Willumsson at the back post but the ball was turned in by Cambridge’s Liam Bennett as he looked to block the pass. Just minutes later former Rangers midfielder Kieran Dowell scored his first goal for the club with a left footed shot nestling into the corner.

Just before the break, Dowell had an opportunity to add to his goal tally as he advanced towards goal with Kelland Watts on his heels, the 27-year-old could only manage a tame effort straight at Nathan Bishop.

Half Time 3-0

Birmingham’s Norwegian midfielder had yet another chance to score with his first time strike forcing the former Manchester United goalkeeper to pull off a world class save from point blank range. 

Just before the hour mark Stansfield would get his second spot kick of the game after he was brought down. However this time the 22-year-old watched as his penalty was saved by the boot of a diving Bishop as he attempted a carbon copy of his first half effort which marked the end of his 100% conversion rate.

The home side's final substitution of the game marked the end of Paik Seung-Ho’s return to action after his injury with the young Luke Harris being rewarded for his work rate in training by manager Chris Davies as he came on for the last thirteen minutes of normal time. 

Full-Time 4-0

During Chris Davies’s post match press conference, the Welshman provided an update on his injury list stating that Taylor Gardner-Hickman is getting closer to returning each day and Marc Leonard was to undergo tests to see if there was any structural damage to his knee beyond the deep gash he sustained vs Newcastle in the FA Cup defeat at the weekend but he is hoping to be back fit in a few weeks if there is no significant damage. Emile Hansen also looks set to return to full training as of next week.