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Birmingham City finally discover transfer window breakthrough after early misfires
Birmingham City pair Romelle Donovan and George Hall haven't had it all their own way since leaving the club on loan on transfer deadline day back in the summer - but there were breakthroughs for both players in front of goal on Tuesday night.
While the Bristol Street Motors Trophy isn't quite the bread and butter of League One or Two, it can often be an important competition for many players who are either on the fringes of the first team and in need of minutes, or others who have suffered injuries and are in a similar boat of competitive game-time being in order.
Donovan, who only turns 18 at the end of this month, has had an up and down time of it with League One strugglers Burton Albion so far this season. He's only made one league start to date in a side which has started the season really slowly, but is now threatening to pick up lately.
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The teenager was granted a start in the Trophy on Tuesday night as the Brewers made the journey down the Midlands to Northampton Town, who they conquered 5-2. Donovan netted the fourth for Albion, just as Martyn Waghorn had threatened to lead the Cobblers back into it at 3-2.
Across the Midlands, meanwhile, winger Hall has had to battle familiar injury issues which have dogged his young career at St Andrew's. Although nothing overly serious, Walsall boss Mat Sadler has chosen to be patient with him and there are signs that that is a decision which could now bear fruit.
Walsall have had a great time of it in League Two at the beginning of this season and they hammered Shrewsbury 3-0 in Blues' group - Hall netted the second, with West Brom loanee Reyes Cleary firing the first and Stoke loanee Nathan Lowe plundering the third - to finish top of Southern Group A.
After a pre-season in which Blues boss Chris Davies took a look at both players before deciding that a supply of regular first-team minutes elsewhere would likely be more beneficial, patience has been needed with both academy products - but on Tuesday night there were the first signs that both are making their mark in their temporary surroundings after a less than straightforward start.
