Birmingham City player ratings after Ayumu Yokoyama stars in Swindon success
Birmingham City booked their place in the last eight of the Vertu Trophy with a late show at Swindon Town.
Swindon’s Harry Smith scored an own goal in the 89th minute, a short while after the substitute had cancelled out Ayumu Yokoyama’s opener at the County Ground.
Luke Harris had the first shooting chance of the evening 15 minutes in and stung the palms of Swindon goalkeeper Jack Bycroft. On-loan Fulham midfielder Harris wriggled free of two challenges but his left-footed strike was straight down Bycroft’s throat.
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Blues went closer to an opener when Yokoyama flew down the left wing and rifled a ball across the six-yard box that was deflected onto his own crossbar by Billy Kirkman.
Swindon occasionally worried Blues’ back-line in a first half that ended goalless. Striker Kabongo Tshimanga, who almost joined Blues in the summer of 2022, was their main threat but they couldn’t muster an attempt on target.
Yokoyama was Blues’ most dangerous outlet in the first half and he opened the scoring within four minutes of the second period. Alfie May pounced on a loose pass in Swindon’s defence and teed up Yokoyama to confidently lift the ball over the onrushing Bycroft.
The Japanese winger turned provider for Ethan Laird just before the hour. A delightful inswinging cross from the left found Laird at the far post but Bycroft acrobatically kept out his header.
Swindon boss Ian Holloway threw on his first choice strikers Paul Glatzel and Smith and the latter found the equaliser 15 minutes from time. Smith guided home a header after climbing highest to meet a right-wing cross.
Blues were minutes away from penalties when Alex Cochrane swung in a corner that found its way into the net. Swindon striker Smith was eventually credited with an own goal to turn from hero to villain at the County Ground.
Chris Davies’ team hung on for the final minute of normal time, plus four for stoppages, and booked their place in the quarter-finals. Blues are now just two games from Wembley.
Bailey Peacock-Farrell 6
Peacock-Farrell made some good claims and was confident in his distribution after getting the nod to start back-to-back cup games.
Ethan Laird 6.5
The right-back had licence to maraud forward and almost notched after connecting with Yokoyama’s cross. Laird was solid enough defensively on a night where Blues weren’t overly tested.
Alfons Sampsted 7
Sampsted performed well at centre-back for the second game in a row. He showed quality in possession with one excellent switch to Yokoyama and tried to compete physically.
Ben Davies 7
Davies marshalled Sampsted through another game at centre-back and dealt with Swindon’s aerial assault as well as he could.
Alex Cochrane 7.5
Cochrane was solid in his defensive work without much support from Yokoyama and largely let the winger get on with it at the other end. The left-back fizzed one excellent pass into Gardner-Hickman in the second half to set up a promising Blues attack and took the corner that led to Blues’ winner.
Marc Leonard 6.5
The Scot tested Bycroft with a second half free-kick and showed more composure in possession than most.
Taylor Gardner-Hickman 7
Gardner-Hickman reverted to his preferred midfield position and played well alongside Leonard. The on-loan Bristol City man was involved in Blues’ best play.
Luke Harris 6
Harris was tidy enough in possession but he didn’t impose himself on the game from the right side. Harris wasn’t able to combine with Laird on the right in the way Willum Willumsson does.
Lyndon Dykes 6
Dykes struggled to find his way into the game and wasn’t able to build on his showing on Saturday. Dykes’ touch let him down too often on the night.
Ayumu Yokoyama 8
Yokoyama carried the fight to Swindon for the first 60 minutes and notched his third goal in the Vertu Trophy – making him Blues’ top scorer in this competition. The winger has contributed to a goal on his last three starts.
Alfie May 7
May was among the many Blues players who were below-par in the first half but the striker did well to tee up Yokoyama straight after the restart. The 31-year-old worked Bycroft once on a night of few chances.
SUBS
Scott Wright (for May, 73) 6
Wright showed some nice touches and took up a good position for a cut-back from Laird late on but he wasn’t found.
Lukas Jutkiewicz (for Harris, 79) 6
Jutkiewicz gave Blues an aerial option and he was in the vicinity making life uncomfortable for Swindon’s defenders for the winning goal.
Not used: Allsop, Klarer, Pendleton, Home, Betteka
Attendance: 3,509 (1,254)
