Birmingham City player ratings after Wright, Iwata and Hansson rout Shrewsbury
Birmingham City defeated Shrewsbury Town 4-0 in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy on Tuesday night
Birmingham City reporter for BirminghamLive and the Birmingham Mail
Birmingham City hit the goal trail to batter Shrewsbury Town 4-0 at The Croud Meadow in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy.
Scott Wright bagged a brace, Tomoki Iwata scored and substitute Emil Hansson netted with his first touch to give Blues a commanding win.
Blues only needed eight minutes to take the lead in Shropshire. The ball ricocheted around Shrewsbury’s penalty area after Ayumu Yokoyama had forced a save from Toby Savin until Wright provided the decisive touch.
Taylor Gardner-Hickman almost doubled Blues’ lead inside 20 minutes. Alex Cochrane crossed to Blues' other full-back and his ferocious volley whistled past the post.
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RECAP: Shrewsbury 0-4 Blues - As it happened
Shrewsbury managed to threaten at the other end but it was all of Blues’ own making. Ryan Allsop flapped at a left-wing cross and Blues failed to clear their lines. A penalty box scramble ensued and only a goal-line clearance from Dion Sanderson – playing his first game in almost two months due to a foot injury – kept Blues ahead.
Sanderson played his part in Blues doubling their lead midway through the half. His defence-splitting pass freed Wright whose cut-back was dispatched superbly by Iwata.
Wright soon made it 3-0 after more scintillating football from Blues. Wright combined with Alfie May and Keshi Anderson before slotting past Savin.
Allsop was called into action at the beginning of the second half and produced a good save. Charles Sagoe Jr was played through on goal but Allsop stood up to the shot and bailed out his defence.
Blues bagged a fourth and it came via Hansson’s first touch. The Swede followed in at the far post after Brandon Khela’s shot struck the post.
A comfortable evening’s work puts Blues in a position to qualify from Southern Section Group A if they defeat Fulham under-21s in three weeks’ time.
Ryan Allsop 7
Allsop didn’t look convincing when he came for a cross in the first half and needed to be bailed out by Sanderson. Having said that, his distribution is giving those in front of him confidence. He made a very good save from Sagoe Jr after the break.
Taylor Gardner-Hickman 8
Gardner-Hickman continues to shine at right-back. He yo-yoed on the right wing and almost bagged his first Blues goal with a thunderous first half volley.
Dion Sanderson 8
A goal-line clearance, a defence-splitting pass to create a goal and an all-round commanding performance from the returning defender. Blues haven’t conceded a goal on his last two starts – albeit they came two months apart.
Ben Davies 7
Davies is looking more comfortable with each game. He defended well, looked good on the ball, and was first on the scene when Wright started a scrap.
Alex Cochrane 8
The Cochrane switch to Gardner-Hickman worked wonders in the first half. He was assured in everything he did.
Tomoki Iwata 8
Iwata was typically disruptive and destructive in midfield and contributed another goal with an excellent finish. He took a knock in the first half and Davies decided against taking a risk with him at half-time.
Marc Leonard 7
Leonard incurred the wrath of Davies in the first half for a loose pass that led to a Shrewsbury counter-attack but, other than that, he didn’t do much wrong. The Scot is a tidy footballer.
Scott Wright 9
Wright was the star of the show. Not only did he score two well-taken goals, Wright battled for possession and might have played his way into the starting line-up for the next League One match.
Keshi Anderson 8
Anderson was given the freedom of Shrewsbury in the number 10 role and made the hosts pay. His backheel assist for Wright’s second was brilliant.
Ayumu Yokoyama 7
The unpredictable winger had the beating of Shrews right-back Carl Winchester but his end product wasn’t always good. Yokoyama’s potential is undeniable.
Alfie May 7
May played his part in some delightful attacking play. The striker will be disappointed not to score, but he played a role for the team on a night where others took centre stage.
SUBS
Brandon Khela (for Iwata, 46) 7
Khela’s first pass went astray but he settled down and helped Leonard dictate play. The youngster looked at home in midfield after a number of outings at full-back.
Christoph Klarer (for Sanderson, 70) 6
Klarer was only introduced to give Sanderson a breather and wasn’t made to work hard by a Shrewsbury attack that was already spent.
Emil Hansson (for Yokoyama, 70) 7
Instant impact from Hansson to net his first Blues goal and he threatened throughout a lively cameo.
Lukas Jutkiewicz (for May, 77) 6
Jutkiewicz blasted a shot into Savin’s hands moments after coming on. He clearly heard fans chanting ‘If Jukey scores, we’re on the pitch’.
Josh Williams (for Cochrane, 83) N/A
Not used: Mayo, Betteka
Attendance: 4,847 (3,148)