Chris Davies insists he never doubted Alfie May’s goalscoring abilities after Birmingham City’s number nine ended a two-month wait for a League One goal with a brace against Stockport County.

May netted both goals on the night as Blues beat the Hatters 2-0 at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park to close the gap to league leaders Wycombe Wanderers to just three points. In doing so May ended a run of seven league games without a goal since he scored the winner against Huddersfield Town on October 1.

The striker’s return to the scoresheet coincides with Davies’ decision to reinstate him as the focal point of Blues’ attack, with record signing Jay Stansfield now being asked to play off the left in their 4-2-3-1 shape.

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“I’ve never worried about Alfie scoring goals,” Davies commented. “He’s a natural goalscorer and always will be.

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“Particularly the second goal, where he’s nipped in and got his finish with a burst into the box, that was a good example of his instinct. Two good goals for him and like all goalscorers he will be happy and relieved he’s got a couple.

“It seemed to work well with Jay just off Alfie a little bit, making his runs from a bit deeper, and then Alfie being dangerous around the box. It was a good link up.”

Fifth-placed Stockport threatened after half-time but Blues held on to three precious points. Davies’ side have now defeated five of the other six teams inside League One’s top seven.

“I think they’re going to be up there,” the Blues manager said. “I’ve watched a lot of them in the last few days and they have some good players and some of them are a handful.

“For us it was a game of two halves. In the first half we had a lot of possession and a lot of control, they were quite passive, 5-4-1, following a template that a few other teams have used against us recently, but we played it really well knowing when to go to the outside, when to play through the middle, when to play in behind, when to play to feet. The choices and the fluidity was good and we got better as the half went on and got the two goals.

“Then it all changed at half-time. They’ve thrown the kitchen sink at us with three changes, put a big striker on and it was much more direct with man-to-man pressing.

“It looked like a different game. It was about how we could pass that press. When Lyndon (Dykes) came on we got hold of it that bit better because we were able to go over the press, secure the ball and play from there. We’ve had to show a bit of everything tonight but it was a big win.”