Birmingham City player ratings as several struggle in Shrewsbury shock

Bottom-of-the-table Shrewsbury Town blotted Birmingham City’s League One copybook with a shock 3-2 victory at The Croud Meadow.

Aaron Pierre, John Marquis and Tom Bloxham gave new Salop manager Gareth Ainsworth a winning start and condemned big-spending Blues to three games without a victory in the league. Tomoki Iwata and Jay Stansfield gave Blues hope of another comeback but they were deservedly beaten.

In-form Willum Willumsson had the first chance of the game. The Iceland international found himself in space on the right side of the penalty area and fired into the side-netting. Stansfield was unmarked inside the six-yard box but Willumsson tried – and failed – to beat the goalkeeper at his near post.

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Blues dominated the ball without creating much and Shrewsbury punished their ponderous play in the 31st minute. Keshi Anderson conceded a free-kick for a high boot on Luca Hoole and although the home fans wanted a red card, the Blues winger escaped with a booking. Blues couldn’t escape without conceding though as Pierre volleyed home after the free-kick was headed back into the danger-zone.

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Anderson was substituted shortly after Blues fell behind. Lyndon Dykes was introduced at the winger’s expense.

Shrewsbury scored again seven minutes before half-time after a rapid breakaway. Alex Gilliead and Bloxham combined for Marquis to convert at the far post.

Blues managed to pull one back on the stroke of half-time through Iwata. The Japanese midfielder fired low into the corner after Ethan Laird’s cut-back fell invitingly to him.

Blues were fortunate not to fall further behind after the restart. Luke Harris gave the ball away carelessly in midfield and Bloxham exploited the space down the right to pick out Marquis inside the box. The Shrewsbury striker set himself and curled an effort onto the crossbar.

Shrewsbury’s third goal arrived 10 minutes into the second half through the combination of Bloxham and Marquis. This time Marquis pulled the ball back and Bloxham slid in ahead of Iwata to prod the ball past Ryan Allsop.

Chris Davies added Marc Leonard and Alfie May to the attacking equation and Blues eventually found a route back into the game with 15 minutes remaining. Leonard’s shot hit an arm inside the penalty area and the referee pointed to the spot. Stansfield blasted the ball down the middle to reduce the arrears.

Blues were even given 11 minutes of stoppage time to force a draw but they failed to create anything to trouble their hosts. Fourteen games in, this will go down as the shock of Blues’ season.

Ryan Allsop 6

Allsop couldn’t have done much about any of Shrewsbury’s three goals. He had a good go at saving the second but Marquis reacted quickest to pounce on the loose ball.

Ethan Laird 5

Laird was asked to take up central attacking positions when Blues had possession but it didn’t work. The right-back was caught upfield a few too many times and made way early in the second half.

Christoph Klarer 4

The usually reliable Austrian was given the runaround by Marquis. Klarer was found wanting on a couple of occasions and won’t remember his latest outing at The Croud Meadow fondly.

Krystian Bielik 5

Even Bielik caught the sluggish passing bug in the first half and one crossfield miscue left Davies in disbelief on the touchline. Bielik and Blues’ defence were caught out too often.

Alex Cochrane 5

Bloxham troubled Cochrane more than most right wingers have in League One this season. Shrewsbury found joy down Blues’ left where other teams haven’t.

Tomoki Iwata 5.5

Iwata isn’t infallible in the middle of midfield and failed to knit attacks together against Shrewsbury. He produced a tidy finish shortly before half-time but volleyed wide wildly in the second half.

Paik Seung-ho 5

Maybe the hours spent on a plane during the international window caught up with Blues’ main man. He wasn’t his usual self against Shrewsbury and two second half crosses, neither of which landed anywhere near their intended target, summed his afternoon up.

Willum Willumsson 6

Willumsson produced a poor finish from a good position in the opening exchanges and wasn’t his usual composed self. He was, however, far more effective than the other two players who started in the attacking trident behind Stansfield.

Luke Harris 4

Harris didn’t have an impact on the game going forward and his poor touch in midfield almost cost Blues a goal at the start of the second half. It was no surprise to see him sacrificed as Blues chased the game.

Keshi Anderson 4

Anderson’s early withdrawal probably had something to do with the fact he had just been cautioned, but his performance undoubtedly played a part too. Anderson conceded the free-kick which led to Shrewsbury’s opening goal and was sluggish in his play.

Jay Stansfield 6

Stansfield looked Blues’ most likely route to goal and tested Savin with a shot on the turn moments after he converted his penalty. He spent the final hour of the match on the left wing after the early introduction of Dykes.

SUBS

Lyndon Dykes (for Anderson, 34) 5

Dykes didn’t get close to a goal with his best attempt a harmless flick-on from a dangerous Yokoyama cross in stoppage time.

Marc Leonard (for Harris, 56) 6

Leonard’s shot won the penalty that gave Blues hope going into the final stages and he moved the ball well. Maybe it’s time to give him a game.

Alfie May (for Laird, 56) 6

May added bite and work-rate in a deeper role. A player with such predatory instincts needs to play closer to goal.

Ayumu Yokoyama (for Bielik, 88) N/A

Not used: Peacock-Farrell, Davies, Gardner-Hickman