The 17th goal of Jay Stansfield’s season was another important one to put Birmingham City into the semi-finals of the Vertu Trophy.

Stansfield converted in the 83rd minute to clinch a 1-0 victory for Blues against League One rivals Stevenage after racing onto Marc Leonard’s perfect pass. Blues extended their unbeaten run to 18 games in the process.

Blues now eagerly await the semi-final draw for a competition they won the last time they entered in 1994/95. Here are our talking points from the win over Stevenage…

READ MORE: Birmingham City player ratings vs Stevenage as Stansfield puts Blues on the brink of Wembley

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They find a way (again)

Chris Davies wanted the job done in 90 minutes and introduced Tomoki Iwata, Keshi Anderson, Ethan Laird and Stansfield before the 70th minute. Stansfield was always going to net the decisive goal.

The most expensive player in League One history scored another winner. When Blues have won by the odd goal, Stansfield has often been the difference maker. Barnsley, Crawley, Rotherham and now Stevenage have been added to Stansfield's list of victims.

Blues have now won 28 of their 38 matches this season. What will that tally look like after 60 games?

And the rotation policy pays off

Davies has made eight changes in each of Blues’ three knockout games in the Vertu Trophy and he has been rewarded with three victories. Blues are desperate to emulate Barry Fry’s double winners and they have built a squad capable of doing so.

“I’m putting players in that haven’t played for a little while and they’ve got to get up to speed,” says Davies. “It’s just not possible to play at the same intensity when it looks like we’re going to play 60 games this season pretty much now. I always do it to give others an opportunity but to add legs and freshness.”

Will Davies rotate his goalkeepers again?

Ryan Allsop’s sterling form has made him Blues’ number one, leaving Bailey Peacock-Farrell to deputise in the cups. As Blues have progressed in this competition, some of us have wondered whether Davies will bring Allsop into the XI – and he still could with the two biggest games to come.

But Peacock-Farrell produced his best game for Blues against Stevenage to keep his second clean sheet of the season. He made a vital contribution in the second half to thwart Elliott List in a one-v-one with the scores level and distributed the ball well.

Davies commented: “Bailey was excellent. His distribution was good, they were leaving him on the ball a lot but his choices were good, calm and clear and then, in the goal as a goalkeeper it’s about having big moments and he did that.”

Peacock-Farrell might have done enough to convince Davies that he is the man to see Blues through the Vertu Trophy.

Dowell is a delight

In two starts Kieran Dowell has demonstrated poise, personality and the ability to paint pictures with his wand of a left foot. Dowell played in three positions against Stevenage and excelled in each of them.

A 27-year-old player in his prime, with more than 100 Championship appearances under his belt, should look good at this level. And Dowell does. You get the feeling he will start more games than he doesn’t.