Birmingham City dismissed Burton Albion 2-0 on Boxing Day to extend their winning run to eight matches.

The festivities continued for jubilant Bluenoses thanks to Jay Stansfield’s penalty and an own goal from Burton goalkeeper Max Crocombe. Blues’ latest win ensured they retained top spot in League One with the three teams below them all picking up victories of their own.

Blues began with the intensity that you would expect in front of a sell-out St Andrew’s and would surely have taken the lead through Alex Cochrane’s ferocious volley 10 minutes in had Burton defender Jason Sraha not bravely flung himself in the way of it. Another Burton body blocked an effort from Stansfield from the resulting corner.

READ MORE: Chris Davies reveals pre-game surprise that Birmingham City were beyond prepared for

READ MORE: Chris Davies gives Keshi Anderson and Lee Buchanan updates after Birmingham City win

Chris Davies’ team rarely needs a helping hand but referee Simon Mather’s award of a penalty in the 25th minute was a late, unexpected Christmas gift. Ciaran Gilligan clumsily challenged Keshi Anderson for an aerial ball and Mather deemed it worthy of a spot-kick. Stansfield tucked home another penalty to score for the fourth successive league game.

READ: Chris Davies perfectly sums up Marc Leonard's situation at Birmingham City

READ: Tom Wagner's bet is paying off as Chris Davies lands Birmingham City problem

Blues lost their rhythm after a break-in-play towards the end of the first half when a supporter in The Tilton was taken ill. Thanks in no small part to the urgent pleas of those around her, the fan was tended to swiftly by medics and transported safely out of the stadium.

Eleven minutes into the second half Blues had wrapped up their three points. Ethan Laird and Willum Willumsson opened Burton up down the right before the latter’s cross deflected in off the back of goalkeeper Crocombe.

Blues didn’t require a third goal to win their 15th League One match out of 20. Chants of ‘We’re gonna win the league’ could be heard inside St Andrew’s and on this evidence you wouldn’t bet against Blues.

Ryan Allsop 6.5

The goalkeeper played his part in Blues’ second goal with a crisp pass out to Laird to start the attack. Allsop will be even happier with another clean sheet, his 10th in just 18 games this season.

Ethan Laird 7

Laird needed a few shouts from Chris Davies to get going but he quickly understood the job asked of him and started to enjoy himself. The right-back played a lovely pass through to Willumsson in the build-up to Blues’ second goal.

Krystian Bielik 7

Restored to his natural position in the absence of Christoph Klarer, Bielik was effortlessly good. He was caught down the side once but fortunately for Blues it came to nothing.

Ben Davies 7

The solid defender was rarely troubled by Burton’s attack. Davies recovered superbly after one poor pass was intercepted in the first half to regain the ball and stop a Burton attack. Yet another clean sheet with Davies in the XI.

Alex Cochrane 6.5

A good return to action for Cochrane after three games out with a foot injury. He defended the left side well and whipped in a few dangerous crosses.

Tomoki Iwata 7.5

Iwata seemed intent on smashing one into the top corner but for once the Japanese midfielder left his shooting boots at home. He was constantly spinning in midfield, finding space to receive the ball to get Blues moving forward in another impressive outing.

Marc Leonard 7

The Scot was neat and tidy in possession and some of his set piece deliveries were bang on the money. On what was his first league start in four months, Leonard has done his chances of more League One starts no harm at all.

Keshi Anderson 6.5

Anderson always looks sharp at the moment and had some positive moments down Blues’ right without creating a clear-cut goalscoring chance. It was Anderson who was bundled over for the penalty so he can file that in his goal involvements this season.

Willum Willumsson 7

After a couple of quiet games Willumsson showed some of his class against Burton with the run and cross – although he won’t officially get an assist – for the second goal.

Jay Stansfield 8*

Stansfield is loved in these parts and it’s easy to see why. In addition to his 14 goals this season, Stansfield has worked as hard as anyone and was a thorn in the side of Burton’s defenders before Chris Davies gave him a breather.

Lyndon Dykes 6.5

Dykes is a very useful foil for those around him and linked the game intelligently. The only downside to Dykes’ performance was that he couldn’t end his wait for a league goal in Blues’ colours.

SUBS

Emil Hansson (for Anderson, 46) 6

Hansson combined well with his teammates down the right and played a small part in Blues’ second goal.

Paik Seung-ho (for Leonard, 68) 6

Paik was given a rare rest by Chris Davies and will no doubt be back in the XI for the remaining festive fixtures.

Alfie May (for Dykes, 68) 6

The striker buzzed around for the final quarter of the game in a bid to create something for himself or a teammate to no avail.

Luke Harris (for Stansfield, 80) N/A

Taylor Gardner-Hickman (for Willumsson, 89) N/A

Not used: Peacock-Farrell, Sanderson