Birmingham City player ratings after Krystian Bielik seals stunning Peterborough comeback

Krystian Bielik and Hector Kyprianou look on as the ball goes in to give Birmingham City a 3-2 lead
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Birmingham City hit the front in League One after a thrilling comeback victory over Peterborough United at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park.

Blues recovered from going two-nil down in the opening stages to record a sixth straight League One victory and take top spot in the table. This is the first time Blues have recorded six straight league wins since 1985.

Ricky-Jade Jones opened the scoring and Emmanuel Fernandez quickly doubled Peterborough’s lead. Willum Willumsson reduced the arrears before half-time before second half goals from Oscar Wallin (OG) and Krystian Bielik completed the comeback.

Bailey Peacock-Farrell’s ability to play out from the back was called into question for the second time this season four minutes in. The goalkeeper was charged down by Posh forward Jones and the ball ended up in his net.

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The visitors doubled their lead inside 16 minutes, thanks in no small part to some lax Blues defending. Peacock-Farrell initially denied Jones at the expense of a corner but Peterborough cashed in. Archie Collins’ flag-kick was met powerfully by Fernandez at the near post and the Blues net bulged again.

Emil Hansson was Blues’ biggest threat in the opening exchanges and his cross found Lyndon Dykes unmarked, six yards from goal. Posh goalkeeper Jed Steer was beaten by Dykes’ header but Jack Sparkes was perfectly positioned to clear off the line.

Peterborough didn’t heed Hansson’s warning and the Swede’s next foray down the left resulted in a goal. Hansson got in via a one-two with Jay Stansfield and picked out Willumsson to convert from close range.

Blues improved after Willumsson’s goal but they weren’t able to satisfy manager Chris Davies. He cut a frustrated figure throughout the first half and no doubt let rip at his charges during the interval.

Davies made two changes at the break with Scott Wright and Keshi Anderson replacing Hansson and Lyndon Dykes. The changes and Davies’ half-time words worked instantly.

With Stansfield closer to goal and in shooting range, the 21-year-old took aim from just inside the box. Stansfield’s shot was heading for the corner flag until it ricocheted off Wallin’s back and found the corner of Peterborough’s goal.

Blues hit the front midway through the second half and their captain scored it. Paik worked a short corner to Tomoki Iwata and his cross was forced home by Bielik at the far post.

Willumsson almost passed a fourth past Steer in stoppage time but the goalkeeper kept him at bay. Blues didn’t need the icing on the cake, three points sent them top of League One.

Bailey Peacock-Farrell 5

Peacock-Farrell made a very good save to deny Jones shortly before Peterborough’s second and punched a corner clear from underneath his own crossbar. But we can’t overlook his glaring error for the first goal and he looked nervous in possession.

Peterborough United's Ricky-Jade Jones scores his side's first goal
Peterborough United's Ricky-Jade Jones scores his side's first goal

Taylor Gardner-Hickman 7

Another performance full of energy from Gardner-Hickman who has made the right-back spot his own in Ethan Laird’s absence. Gardner-Hickman held his width and enjoyed success in the second half.

Christoph Klarer 7

The Austrian improved after a frantic opening 15 minutes. He ironed out the errors and helped Blues see the game out relatively comfortably.

Krystian Bielik 8

Bielik seized control at the back once Peterborough established their lead and completed the comeback in style. The captain led by example and dictated Blues’ play from the back.

Alex Cochrane 6.5

Cochrane conceded possession a few times in the first half and wasn’t his usual solid self. The left-back wasn’t overly worked in the second half as Blues dominated.

Paik Seung-ho 8.5

The midfielder turned on the style in the second half and had a hand in Blues’ crucial third goal with the short corner to Iwata. Paik’s nutmeg on Collins in midfield sparked gasps around St Andrew’s and he bailed Iwata out inside his own box before the comeback was complete.

Tomoki Iwata 7

Iwata was out of sorts for the first 60 minutes until the threat of Marc Leonard warming up inspired an improvement. Iwata’s cross for Bielik’s goal was perfect.

Willum Willumsson 8

Davies asked Willumsson to up his goals tally last week and the Icelandic responded. Willumsson produced a smart finish to get Blues back in it and he was heavily involved in the team’s second half comeback.

Willum Willumsson of Birmingham City scores against Peterborough United
Willum Willumsson of Birmingham City scores against Peterborough United

Jay Stansfield 8

Stansfield was instrumental in Blues’ second half fightback with a willingness to run that few third tier defences can cope with. The striker forced the equaliser and didn’t give Posh’s defence a moment’s peace.

Emil Hansson 7.5

Hansson was Blues’ most effective player in the first half and created two gilt-edged opportunities. Willumsson converted one and the other saw Dykes’ header cleared off the line.

Lyndon Dykes 6

The problem Dykes’ selection created was that it made Blues go long more often than Davies probably wanted them to. He almost notched his first Blues goal from a Hansson cross.

SUBS

Scott Wright (for Hansson, 46) 7.5

Wright was an effective ball carrier for Blues and went close to scoring a couple of times. A positive performance from the wideman in a number 10 role.

Keshi Anderson (for Dykes, 46) 7

Anderson also had the desired impact after coming on at half-time to combine with his teammates.

Alfie May (for Stansfield, 79) 6

May tried to add his name to the scoresheet at the end but couldn't beat the offside trap. The striker will hope for a start on Tuesday.

Alfons Sampsted (for Gardner-Hickman, 79) 6

Sampsted added extra energy on the right flank for the final 15-20 minutes, as he has done in recent weeks.

Marc Leonard (for Paik, 88) N/A

Not used: Allsop, Davies

Attendance: 27,206 (2,117)

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