
Player Ratings – Birmingham City 3-1 West Bromwich Albion
Sanderson and co. cap off memorable week as Gardner hits a screamer against sorry local rivals.
Ratings as Blues leapfrog Baggies:
John Ruddy (8) – So assertive inside his own box. Basically claimed everything.
Emmanuel Longelo (8) – Pace and power from the left-back position was both useful and important. Had to defend and did so with good success. Got into some tangles as well.
Cody Drameh (8) – A lovely assist for Sanderson’s towering header. Defensively on point and got his actions spot on.
Dion Sanderson (8) – A peach of a header just before the interval and the skipper shut out the visiting attack. The visitors had all the ball but lacked that killer instinct to trouble the back four.
Kevin Long (7) – Same as Sanderson as the veteran centre back proved to be important when defending in his own box. Won pretty much everything in the air.
Ivan Sunjic (7) – Suffocated in the first half and couldn’t deal with the away side’s intense press. Improved after 2-1 and kept on going, never stopped running
Krystian Bielik (7) – Same as Sunjic and a bit loose at times as he tried to find free runners but kept on fighting.
Siriki Dembele (7) – Excitement whenever he got the ball. Purposeful with his running and went for the back four whenever he could.
Juninho Bacuna (8) – His most influential game this season. Packed his performance by proving to be an outlet, made some nice passes at times even if they didn’t come off at all times. Dealt with the pressure from the spot for 1-1.
Koji Miyoshi (7) – Some great trickery and touches especially in the first half when the hosts were finding it difficult to play through the Albion press.
Jay Stansfield (7) – Some good link-up play, useful running and efficiency with the ball. Had to be patient as the lone frontman.
Oliver Burke (for Koji Miyoshi) (7) – Relived the pressure through direct running. Beauty of a cross nearly made it 4-1.
Lukas Jutkiewicz (for Siriki Dembele) (6) – Some good hold up play.
Scott Hogan (for Jay Stanfield) (6) – Played on the left and did a job. Won the free kick for 3-1.
Gary Gardner (for Juninho Bacuna) (7) – A reward for a tough few months. A peach of a free-kick that will live long in the memory.
Was there,atmosphere spot on and a gmreat result but Ruddy’s distribution was terrible tonight,really awful,he put our two full backs under pressure all the time,must sharpen up.Now get on a roll lads as there are a few tough games coming up.
Best team we have played dubious penalty but great free kick boom we would of lost that game last season
Over the top with your marking. where you going to go when they play well?
Nice to have the rub of the green, we never have any luck KRO ……
Lovely to retire to bed so happy after watching a great result for us.
KRO
We won end of story kro.up the blues you watching hogan
Wagner must extend Eustace contract. We had this problem when Zola took over look where that got us Rooney please NO
Everyone played their part last night. Think they realise that goals win matches. Great attempts. What a free kick.