Birmingham City player ratings after 6-2 Barnsley rout tees up promotion party

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Birmingham City routed Barnsley 6-2 at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park to move to within two points of promotion back to the Championship.

Blues' promotion will be confirmed if they beat Peterborough United on Tuesday after Wycombe Wanderers lost to Reading earlier in the day.

Jay Stansfield (pen), Ben Davies, Alfie May, Luke Harris, Kieran Dowell and Lukas Jutkiewicz scored in a crazy game in B9. Barnsley, who were reduced to 10 men when Mael De Gevigney saw red before the goalmouth action kicked off, scored through Davis Keillor-Dunn and Stephen Humphrys.

De Gevigney’s red card arrived inside three minutes. A raking long ball from Ryan Allsop set Keshi Anderson racing in behind and the winger’s touch across De Gevigney was perfect. De Gevigney clipped Anderson’s heels as he faced down Barnsley goalkeeper Kieren Flavell, leaving referee Sam Purkiss with no choice but to send him off.

The Tykes reshuffled to cope without one of their centre-backs and almost took the lead. Ex-Blues man Marc Roberts tussled with Ben Davies at a corner and the ball clicked off the latter and onto the post.

Blues should have taken the lead when a brilliant run and cross from Kieran Dowell found Anderson in acres of space. In-form Anderson volleyed wide of the target from eight yards when you would have put your house on him to score.

Stansfield had an equally good chance to score when former Blues academy player Corey O’Keeffe gifted him a one-v-one with Flavell. Stansfield rounded the goalkeeper but the recovering Roberts got the ball away before the striker could prod home.

Blues took the lead in the 33rd minute and it arrived via a familiar route: a Stansfield penalty. Anderson was tripped by Flavell and Stansfield dispatched his ninth spot-kick of the season to bring up goal 22.

But their lead was short-lived. A long throw-in from Roberts (remember those?) wasn’t dealt with by Blues’ defenders and Keillor-Dunn ghosted in at the back post to nod in.

A far from happy Chris Davies reacted by substituting Willum Willumsson with 10 minutes of the first half to play.

Barnsley had the final chance of the first half when O’Keeffe crossed for Adam Phillips to head wide. Alex Cochrane did just about enough to put Phillips off.

Blues emerged from their half-time debrief with Chris Davies re-energised and took the lead within two minutes of the restart. Dowell’s corner was headed back across goal by Christoph Klarer to his defensive partner Ben Davies to convert for the second Saturday running.

Blues didn’t have to wait long for their third and it was beautifully crafted by Cochrane’s left peg. The left-back’s precise cross was gobbled up by May from close range to give Blues breathing space.

Breathing space lasted for four minutes before Humphrys pulled one back for Barnsley. The striker’s shot from a tight angle squirmed underneath Allsop to open the game up again.

Substitute Harris restored Blues’ two-goal cushion with 20 minutes to play. The on-loan Fulham youngster finished smartly underneath the goalkeeper after fine work by May to create the scoring chance.

Stansfield almost thundered in the best goal of what proved to be a thriller with a half-volley from 25 yards. Stansfield saw his strike cannon back off the foot of the post.

Dowell went one better with a delightful left-footed finish after he glided past two players on the edge of Barnsley’s box.

There was still time for Jutkiewicz to lift the roof of St Andrew’s at the death. The striker slotted home after his initial effort was saved by Flavell and the stadium absolutely erupted.

The club’s longest serving player wheeled away in front of the Tilton to formally start the promotion party. Blues are going up and it will be confirmed on Tuesday with a victory over Peterborough.

Don't miss your Birmingham Mail Blues at Wembley special souvenir edition Chris Davies's runaway League One leaders face Peterborough United on Sunday, April 13 in the final of the Vertu Trophy, looking to clinch the first past of a double after a season of incredible success.

The St Andrew's all-stars return to Wembley for the first time since their famous Carling Cup victory 14 years ago.

And to mark the big day in the capital, we've produced a stunning 40-page special which is a real must for all Blues supporters.

It is packed with interviews with boss Davies and Blues' key men, including hotshot striker Jay Stansfield, as well as a look back at the club's long road to Wembley.

There's a fascinating trip down memory lane to look at the Blues' previous two wins in the Football League trophy, in the 1991 Leyland Daf Cup and the 1995 Auto Windscreens Shield, with new interviews and pictures from the two glorious days. Buy now and have it delivered directly to your door. Alternatively you can purchase in most supermarkets, high street retailers and independent newsagents in Birmingham from April 2, 2025.

Ryan Allsop 6.5

The goalkeeper won’t be happy with his part in Humphrys’ goal but you can forgive him one slip-up. He made some good saves, particularly in the first half, to keep a bullish Barnsley forward line at bay.

Ethan Laird 6.5

Laird wasn’t at his best but he did skip beyond O’Keeffe a number of times in the first half before his position changed. The right-back’s influence on the game waned a little bit in the second half before he was replaced.

Christoph Klarer 7

It was invariably Klarer’s head that met Marc Roberts’ long throw-ins. On the one occasion it didn’t, the Tykes scored.

Ben Davies 7

Davies scored for the second successive Saturday with a similarly tidy finish. The defender won his fair share of headers against the physical Humphrys.

Alex Cochrane 7

Bend it like Cochrane! The left-back recreated his cross for Stansfield against Wrexham to put one on a plate for May. It wasn’t the best day for Blues’ defenders but Cochrane made amends by helping out at the other end.

Tomoki Iwata 6.5

Iwata was a tad sloppy in possession at times but he battled with a midfield some thought could compete with Blues at the start of the season. Iwata and Paik proved Barnsley's middle men are inferior.

Paik Seung-ho 7

The way he dropped the shoulder to evade Russell on the near touchline in the second half was mesmeric. Very few players in League One history have possessed such talent. Quite simply, he shouldn’t be here.

Kieran Dowell 8

Dowell was back to his best after a poor performance at Bristol Rovers on Tuesday. His dummy to set Anderson away to win the penalty was crafty and he was involved in the second goal with the corner delivery.

Willum Willumsson 5

Chris Davies let Willumsson know a couple of times that he wasn’t where he needed to be before substituting him early. There could well have been an injury preventing Willumsson from impacting proceedings. Willumsson losing the near post header for Barnsley’s goal proved to be Davies’ final straw.

Keshi Anderson 7.5

Another bright performance from Anderson who won the penalty for Blues’ opening goal. He should have scored his ninth goal of the season with a first half volley that he lashed wide.

Jay Stansfield 7

Stansfield nearly scored a stunner before Dowell added Blues’ fifth. The striker got his name on the scoresheet with a penalty before moving wide following Willumsson’s withdrawal.

SUBS

Alfie May (for Willumsson, 36) 8

May made a big impact on the game to score and two assists for Harris and Dowell. He did exactly what Chris Davies would have wanted.

Alfons Sampsted (for Laird, 67) 6

Took over from Laird for the final 23 plus stoppages and acquitted himself well. Sampsted finds space well on the inside, as well as out wide.

Luke Harris (for Anderson, 67) 7

Harris finished a neat Blues move really well to top up his goal tally.

Marc Leonard (for Paik, 83) N/A

Lukas Jutkiewicz (for Stansfield, 83) N/A

What a moment for Jutkiewicz in front of the Tilton. He was desperate for a league goal in his ninth season at the club and now has one.

Not used: Peacock-Farrell, Hanley

Attendance: 25,018

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