Birmingham City boss Chris Davies doubles down on Alfie May and Jay Stansfield belief
Alfie May and Jay Stansfield started together again in Birmingham City's 1-1 draw with Northampton Town
Chris Davies remains convinced that Alfie May and Jay Stansfield can thrive in the same team despite their struggles to forge a partnership in Birmingham City’s attack.
May started the season with four goals in his first four League One games for Blues playing as the team’s centre-forward. However, the club-record signing of Stansfield has seen May shifted to a deeper position and the goals have dried up for the current League One golden boot holder.
While Stansfield has scored seven goals in 11 Blues outings this term, May has only netted twice in his last 13 appearances. May’s most productive game in recent weeks came against Lincoln when he recorded two assists in a 3-1 victory playing as the centre-forward in a team that didn’t include Stansfield.
May’s form has seen him taken out of the starting line-up occasionally and a route back to his favoured position seems off the table. The 31-year-old must dovetail better with Stansfield or he risks losing his place.
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Davies acknowledges that the partnership between May and Stansfield is a work-in-progress, but he maintains that they can work in the same system.
“They’re both really good goalscorers and I think they can play together,” he insisted after the 1-1 draw with Northampton. “They have linked up well in some games and in other games not as fluent.
“They can definitely play together. Alfie can drop off a little bit more and play as a 10. It depends on the opposition, if they are playing a back-line of five sometimes it helps having the two up there.”