Match Report: Birmingham City 2-1 Plymouth Argyle
Ryan Deeney reports on Birmingham City 2-1 Plymouth Argyle as Scott Hogan and Jay Stansfield got off the mark at St.Andrews, along with a tactical breakdown and some conclusions.
Talk about the perfect debut.
Tiverton-born Jay Stansfield, who honoured the legacy of his father and Exeter City legend Adam by donning the Grecians jersey last season, joined Birmingham City just in time to debut against boyhood rivals Plymouth Argyle and plunder home a sensational late winner in front of his adoring new fans.
His new side started the stronger and led when Scott Hogan tapped in from close range. Ryan Hardie scored a deserved equaliser and Plymouth came closest to a winner until Stansfield's timely intervention.
Blues came into the game without Ethan Laird and Siriki Dembele, two players key to the "lopsided" shape being utilised by John Eustace. Jordan James and Kijo Miyoshi were the replacements with Juninho Bacuna selflessly remaining at right-back.
Miyoshi was key early doors, he and Keshi Anderson linking up well to force a stop and the pair were at it again after Morgan Whittaker fired wide, Anderson teeing up Miyoshi for a low cross turned home by Hogan.
Blues' strong start didn't stop there. Sanderson found Anderson with a terrific ball and forced a save then Lee Buchanan struck wide. At the other end, Adam Randell produced a moment of brilliance to beat Krystian Bielik and play Hardie in behind, the striker failing to connect to the attempted lob.
Anderson was having a fine game and another driving run ended with a shot being deflected over the bar after beating Joe Edwards twice.
Chances were few and far between for the rest of the half, Plymouth's patient play ending with a John Ruddy stop to deny Kaine Kesler-Hayden while Kevin Long came close to a second at the end of the half from a free-kick won and delivered by, you guessed it, Anderson.
Blues started positively in the second half and the Anderson, Miyoshi and Hogan link almost succeeded again before Bacuna fired wide.
Plymouth soon took control. A quick break led to Whittaker beating Buchanan and hitting the post. Sustained pressure followed and it was Whittaker involved again as the visitors equalised, forcing a stop from Ruddy with Hardie on hand to prod home.
The goal woke Blues up and Anderson was again at the centre of it, an excellent turn and run leading to recently introduced Stansfield finding Miyoshi, denied by the boot of Gibson. Miyoshi then almost fooled Conor Hazard at his near post with a direct corner.
Plymouth got firmly back on top of the game but Blues were defending their box diligently. Whittaker was seeing a lot of the ball and he was again the protagonist but could only fire straight at Ruddy.
The visitors stayed on top despite Blues changes and in the third minute of extra time, a corner found the back post and flicked on by Jordan Houghton only for Bacuna to head away on the line.
That proved important because a minute or so later, Bacuna found the head of Jutkiewicz and Stansfield fought for the loose ball, knocking the ball beyond Gibson and rifling home a half volley into the roof of the net.
The boy had his new fans lapping it up, celebrating all over the stadium and he even left with a cheeky smile for the visiting fans, crushed for the second week in a row by a man associated with Birmingham City Football Club.
If Stansfield could follow in the footsteps of the other match winner, we could be on to something special.
Starting XI
Ruddy; Bacuna Sanderson Long Buchanan; Sunjic Bielik; James (Stansfield 61) Miyoshi (Hall 78) Anderson (Longelo 81); Hogan (Jutkiewicz 81). Unused: Etheridge; Roberts Gardner Khela Cosgrove
Hazard; Edwards Scarr Gibson Kesler-Hayden (Pleguezuelo 78); Azaz (Wright 84) Houghton Randell (Butcher 74); Whittaker Hardie Mumba (Miller 84). Unused: Burton; Warrington Wright Cundle Waine
Tactics
This was fascinating because both sides played asymmetrical shapes that caused problems with either side thanks to the width in attacking areas and numbers in the centre of the pitch. Neither side had much care for what can often feel like pointless possession either, every pass made with the purpose of moving the ball forward.
Plymouth were the side that saw more of the ball and their approach was akin to something we've all seen plenty recently. It was a 4-3-3 shape in which the centre-backs took early possession. Edwards and Kesler-Hayden would start wide but once the first pass was made, they would drift infield with Mumba coming deep to collect - almost every passage of Plymouth play started down the left.
Blues' attempts to deal with this were for Hogan and James to press Scarr and Gibson. Bacuna would step right up onto Kesler-Hayden or Mumba, whoever showed for the ball from Gibson with Hogan and Miyoshi dropping in to central areas to block the space.
When Mumba showed, Kesler-Hayden's presence drifting ahead of Houghton and Randell moving into a similar area would open up space for Mumba to play around the corner or move it towards the right.
When Kesler-Hayden showed, Mumba would stay high and wide and drag Sanderson across, opening space in the centre where Blues were outnumbered.
In both situations, once the ball was worked high and wide down the left, the full-back and attacking midfielder would dovetail, one dropping off, one running in behind and Mumba would have options to either go 1 v 1 or play, the plan to get somebody in the channel to look for the cross or cut back.
Blues were more simple in possession. Bacuna and Buchanan were required to start attacks. Bacuna would play inside to Sanderson, Bielik or James, or just doing whatever Bacuna fancies doing. Buchanan would be more direct, finding the feet of Anderson or Miyoshi with the plan being for the front four to attack in transition.
Blues did have issues with width as the game wore on, Bacuna becoming leggy given his duel with Mumba and being reticent to constantly get forward, meaning Blues became reliant on play down the left, especially as the team tired.
Two more notes. Blues' first change saw Stansfield replace James. Miyoshi moved to the right with Stansfield in the '10' position.
Blues' goal kicks almost always went centrally. This worked out well for the opener, Hogan putting pressure on his man and getting the bounce. Otherwise, it was about putting enough pressure on the defender to allow Blues to win the seconds and play quick.
Players
I love Keshi Anderson. He's one of the most intelligent players we've had for a while, always looking for a way to escape his man, take players in behind. He's not the quickest but he times his movements well and doesn't panic on the ball. An excellent outlet.
Buchanan was largely excellent against Whittaker, a tough duel. Bielik was superb, a constant, composed presence in midfield who read a lot well. Miyoshi had some bright moments on debut and looks impactful. And the two centre-halves defended their box brilliantly.
Bacuna was interesting. He ought to have been booked early doors and looked a little ragged against Mumba, a lively, pacy winger. He stuck at it and started to get the better of the duel. It became a good tussle and though it impacted his ability to get forward, Bacuna didn't shy away from the task. Fair fucks to him for covering the role.
For Plymouth, I thought Mumba was bright. I'm a big fan of Adam Randell from his Torquay United days and he was superb at times, especially the near-assist for Hardie. And Whittaker really grew into the game, being a driving force in Plymouth's pursuit for a win.
Conclusions
There's a long way to go but this was further evidence of the new and improved Birmingham City. The one that continues to play with a clear pressing plan, lots of energy and defensive organisation but with the options to change things up, be positive and finish stronger rather than weaker.
What we do lack is control. While we have technically sound footballers and can produce in moments, we struggle beyond those opening 15/20 minutes when our opponents settle down and start to pop the ball about. It felt inevitable that Plymouth would score given the control and pressure they exerted.
Maybe lacking certain options in the final third didn't help - Laird, Dembele and Roberts are injured, Hall has only just recovered from injury and Stansfield signed a couple of days ago - and that may help.
And let's give Plymouth credit - they're a well coached football team and a proper football team. They were excellent v Southampton last week too and will hurt teams at this level - they just need that extra level of ruthlessness.
Hey, if I can't pick up on things while we're winning, I'll look a right miserable git if we start losing.
For now, we enjoy it. We're third at the end of August and unlike previous years when we've started well, we're good for it.