Birmingham City player ratings vs Huddersfield as Alfie May clinches seventh straight win

Alfie May of Birmingham City celebrates scoring
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Birmingham City extended their lead at the top of the League One table to five points after Alfie May netted the only goal against Huddersfield Town.

May finally converted in the 63rd minute after Blues missed a lorry load of chances at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park. Having almost joined Huddersfield in the summer, May netted the goal that sealed Blues’ seventh straight league win – a feat the club hadn’t achieved since 1946.

For all their quality, Blues are gaining a reputation for being slow starters and Huddersfield had a golden chance to take the lead in the first minute. Mikel Miller was found in space on the left side of Blues’ penalty area but dragged his shot wide. Chris Davies, whose touchline ban saw him seated in the press box, grimaced.

Blues were outplayed in the opening 25 minutes before Willum Willumsson grabbed the initiative. The Icelandic worked Terriers goalkeeper Jacob Chapman for the first time with a free-kick that needed tipping over the crossbar.

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Willumsson then embarked on a slalom through Huddersfield’s defence that resulted in a one-on-one with Chapman. Willumsson chipped the onrushing goalkeeper and the ball appeared to be heading in before May intervened and headed it over.

Jay Stansfield missed a good chance to put Blues ahead on the stroke of half-time. Paik Seung-ho did well to cushion a long ball into Stansfield’s path and the Blues striker outwitted Tom Lees only to fire wide.

Stansfield had an even better chance to open the scoring 10 minutes into the second half. Substitute Alfons Sampsted pulled the ball back for Stansfield who controlled it and fired wide from 10 yards.

When Stansfield found himself in another goal scoring position in the 63rd minute he made no mistake. Instead of taking on the shot, Stansfield gifted May an opportunity that he simply could not miss.

Substitute Emil Hansson got on the end of a clever pass by Willumsson only to see his goal-bound effort blocked. The ball reached Paik and he unleashed a left-footed piledriver that Chapman did well to beat away.

Blues saw the game out playing in Huddersfield’s half and were unfortunate not to score a second when Hansson’s cross was put over his own crossbar by Miller.

Ryan Allsop 6

Allsop wasn’t overly worked on his first league start of the season after replacing Peacock-Farrell. He made one good save to keep out Evans’ free-kick and distributed the ball well.

Taylor Gardner-Hickman 6

The makeshift right-back was exposed at the start of the game for Miller’s big chance but he recovered well enough. Gardner-Hickman was harshly booked and that might have played a part in his withdrawal at half-time.

Christoph Klarer 8

Klarer was excellent in the air and defended the flank well when his right-back was caught upfield. The Austrian looks every bit a Championship defender.

Krystian Bielik 8

Another solid outing from the Blues captain who will be pleased to contribute to a clean sheet. He coped well with Huddersfield’s two-pronged attack.

Alex Cochrane 7

Cochrane overlapped on a couple of occasions and delivered one very dangerous cross in the second half. Blues are getting consistency out of Cochrane.

Tomoki Iwata 7.5

The Japanese midfielder is a ball-winning machine. Every time there’s a 50/50 in the middle of the park Iwata seems to win it. His contributions are invaluable.

Paik Seung-ho 8

Paik looks supreme at this level and picked his moments to play through Huddersfield’s press. Some of his brilliant touches go under the radar because they look so simple.

Willum Willumsson 8.5

There was a 10-minute spell in the second half where Willumsson seemed to have Huddersfield on strings, strolling around the pitch and dictating the movements of everyone else. Blues have found a good one.

Alfie May 7

Fortunately for May, his feet are more trustworthy than his head! He couldn’t miss his second chance after getting a first half header horribly wrong to deny Blues a goal.

Keshi Anderson 6

Anderson had some bright moments without really grasping his chance in the XI. The battle for the left-wing spot remains open.

Jay Stansfield 7.5

Stansfield missed two gilt-edged chances but he created the goal that sealed Blues’ latest victory. Another performance full of intelligent running with a selfless edge.

Huddersfield crowd Jay Stansfield of Birmingham City
Huddersfield crowd Jay Stansfield of Birmingham City

SUBS

Alfons Sampsted (for Gardner-Hickman, 46) 7

Sampsted made a big impact off the bench with his energy down the right. The right-back set Stansfield up for a big chance and used the ball well in his best Blues outing to date.

Emil Hansson (for Anderson, 64) 6

Hansson could have contributed a goal or an assist in a lively outing off the bench. The Swede seems to be fully integrated now.

Scott Wright (for May, 68) 6

Another lively cameo from Wright off the bench whose ball carrying abilities are coming to the fore.

Lyndon Dykes (for Stansfield, 86) N/A

Not used: Peacock-Farrell, Davies, Leonard

Attendance: 24,757 (648)

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