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Birmingham City player ratings after Alfie May double downs Stockport
Birmingham City closed the gap on the League One leaders with a 2-0 win over promotion rivals Stockport County courtesy of a brace from Alfie May.
May struck twice in the first half to send Stockport packing and claw back ground on Wycombe Wanderers and Wrexham. Third-placed Blues trail top-of-the-table Wycombe by three points with a game-in-hand.
On-loan Aston Villa forward Louie Barry arrived at St Andrew’s as Stockport’s dangerman and he demonstrated why five minutes in with a clever pass to find Will Collar in behind. Collar smashed a shot against the underside of the crossbar and Blues escaped unpunished.
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Blues responded by creating a half chance of their own. Alex Cochrane’s wicked delivery from the left was met by Keshi Anderson at the near post but he couldn’t cushion a shot inside the post.
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The opening goal arrived midway through the first half and Anderson created it. The winger intercepted Ben Hinchcliffe’s throw out before advancing into the Stockport box and cutting the ball back for May to fire home via a slight deflection.
The same combination provided Blues’ second goal 10 minutes before half-time. Anderson was once again the creator, leaving May with a simple tap-in from six yards, but credit must also go to Tomoki Iwata and Jay Stansfield for setting Anderson away down the right.
Ryan Allsop was called into action shortly before half-time and produced a sublime double stop to preserve his clean sheet. Allsop got down well to deny Barry before reacting sharply to thwart Kyle Wootton on the follow up. Another decisive moment for the Brummie in Blues’ goal.
Blues managed the game well after half-time and had chances to add to their lead. The best fell to Jay Stansfield after another clever pick-out from Anderson. Stansfield’s acrobatic attempt was well saved by Hinchcliffe to deny Anderson a hat-trick of assists.
Ryan Allsop 8
Allsop’s double save from Barry and Wootton just before half-time shouldn’t be underestimated. Blues’ goalkeeper is rarely busy but he has been decisive in multiple games since displacing Bailey Peacock-Farrell. The first save from Barry was a belter.
Krystian Bielik 7
It turned out to be quite a comfortable evening for Bielik at right-back against Barry. A few of his passes went astray but Bielik justified Davies’ decision to play him in an unfamiliar position again.
Christoph Klarer 8
Klarer was confident and commanding in the air and stepped out when he could. The Austrian won the physical battle with Wootton.
Ben Davies 7.5
Davies asserted himself in his typically unassuming, no nonsense way to help Blues to another clean sheet. It’s no surprise his namesake is so keen to keep him in the XI.
Alex Cochrane 7
You can appreciate the quality Cochrane provides with his crosses from the left now that he is operating further forward. There were a couple in the first half that deserved to be attacked better by those in the middle.
Tomoki Iwata 8
Iwata covered the spaces in front of Blues’ back four superbly. The midfielder rushed to help Bielik every time the dangerous Barry collected the ball in space and completely shut down his route to goal.
Paik Seung-ho 7
Paik was tidy in possession and matched Iwata’s combativeness. The South Korean almost found the net with one wicked free-kick from out wide early on that was flicked over the bar by a Stockport defender.
Keshi Anderson 8.5
Anderson produced a dynamic performance on the right to set up two goals for May and he almost grabbed an assist for Stansfield too. The only frustration for the winger was the booking he picked up that will see him miss the Barnsley match.
Willum Willumsson 6.5
Willumsson had one of his quieter games in a Blues shirt with those around him taking centre stage.
Jay Stansfield 7
Stansfield played an important part in Blues’ game-clinching second goal with a neat pass through to Anderson. He was unlucky not to score with a clever effort in the second half.
Alfie May 9
It was a star-turn from Blues’ number nine back in his natural habitat. May took both of his goals well and combined excellently with those around him before being replaced by Dykes.
SUBS
Lyndon Dykes (for May, 60) 6
The Scot was a willing runner and made himself available as a target for those behind him.
Ethan Laird (for Anderson, 83) N/A
Luke Harris (for Stansfield, 86) N/A
Marc Leonard (for Willumsson, 86) N/A
Not used: Peacock-Farrell, Gardner-Hickman, Jutkiewicz
Attendance: 24,863
