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Birmingham City player ratings vs Sutton United as Willum Willumsson strikes again
Birmingham City showed more substance than style as Willum Willumsson's fifth goal of the season put them into the second round of the FA Cup.
The Iceland international's scuffed first half volley was the only goal of a feisty game in which Blues were professional rather than pretty - but did what was needed. To be fair to National League Sutton United they offered stern resistance but couldn't capitalise on their few big moments when they came.
As a result the Chris Davies bandwagon rolls on, Blues are top of the league and into the next round in both the FA Cup and the Bristol Street Motors Trophy.
Davies made seven changes to the team which battered Fulham – including a first start in two months for Luke Harris who lined up at No. 10.
READ MORE: Sutton United 0 Birmingham City 1 FT: Willum Willumsson strikes puts Blues through in FA Cup
READ MORE: Chris Davies explains Birmingham City plan after reuniting Alfie May and Jay Stansfield
Blues managed a difficult first half reasonably well. Sutton had just 19 per cent possession but defended their box and snarled around in midfield with good commitment and organisation.
To that end it took Blues a quarter of the game to have a shot on target and 34 minutes to break the deadlock – even then the hosts felt they should have gone in level at the break.
The first noteworthy moment came in the eighth minute when Ethan Laird was upended by Charlie Waller – a yard inside the penalty area but the referee awarded a free kick outside the box.
The deadlock was broken 11 minutes before the break as Keshi Anderson laid back for Paik Seung-ho to cross from the left. The ball dropped to Willumsson in the middle and whilst his volley wasn’t cleanly struck it was enough to elude Jack Sims.
Sutton had a super chance to immediately level as Jayden Harris ran clear and tried to curl his shot across Ryan Allsop. In the end it drifted wide of the post as well. The hosts then felt Edouino Vaz should have had a spot-kick after being caught by Ben Davies but the official remained unconvinced.
Blues resumed their command of territory and possession in the second half but created very little. Laird got in behind just before the hour and perfectly picked out Harris but his side-foot volley was parried by the goalkeeper.
Lukas Jutkiewicz came on for a rare appearance and won a corner with a low drive from the D which was deflected behind for a corner. Indeed the veteran striker produced a powerful cameo.
Sutton's last chance fell to Ashley Naseden after a cross from Dillon De Silva but his volley was into the ground and bounced over.
Here's how we rated them
Allsop 6.5
Didn't have too much to do in the first half but would have been relieved to see Harris' curler drift wide. Was even more unbothered in the second half.
Laird 7.5*
Clearly deserved an eighth minute penalty and picked up a heavy knock in a physical opening 45. Flew past Sivi to set up chance for Harris. A good display.
Klarer 7
Had a right battle with Will Davies but spent much of his time camped outside the Sutton box trying to find a pass to unpick the massed defence.
Davies 6.5
An anxious moment when Vaz hit the deck in the penalty box. Won most of his duels and tied up the scraps at the back.
Cochrane 6.5
First two minutes aside didn't have much defending to do at all. Kept a lid on things defensively in a composed performance.
Paik 6.5
Claimed an assist for the opening goal. Busy in the middle of the park but sometimes got caught on the ball on a sticky pitch
Iwata 6
Engaged in a physical rather than technical battle, which he mostly won. Slightly clunky with his passing but nothing too bad.
Harris 6
Made several runs in behind the Sutton backline but either wasn't found or couldn't put the right ball into the box. An OK return to the team but didn't have a particularly big impact. Probably should have scored from Laird's pull-back.
Willumsson 7
Not his most sweetly struck goal, nor his most dominant performance but did produce a couple of important moments but on the fringes of the game for long periods.
Anderson 6
Worked hard on the left without getting too much joy. got very little change out of his defender. Picked up a ridiculously harsh booking.
Stansfield 6.5
Constantly on the move, found space but snatched at his only first half chance. Pressed really well but the ball didn't drop for him in the box.
Substitutes
Yokoyama (for Anderson, 68) Had his man in trouble 7
May (for Harris, 68) Busy, almost set up Yokoyama 6
Sampsted (for Laird, 79) N/A
Jutkiewicz (for Stansfield, 79) N/A
Not used: Peacock-Farrell, Sanderson, Leonard, Dykes, Gardner-Hickman
Opposition
SUTTON (5-4-1): Sims, French, Kirk, Waller, Coley. Odelusi, Barbrook, Sivi (Rush 74), Harris J, Vaz (De Silva 60), Davies W (Nasedan 48). Not used: Arnold, Okoli, Muller, Boateng
Goals
Sutton:
Blues: Willumsson (34)
Referee: Ben Atkinson
Attendance: 4,804 (1,582, away)
