Birmingham City return to St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park today gunning for another win against Bristol Rovers.
A 2-1 win over Exeter City in the Vertu Trophy on Tuesday made it five straight wins for promotion-chasing Blues. They are favourites to notch up a sixth against a Bristol Rovers side currently 18th in League One.
The Gas have lost their last two league games to Leyton Orient and Blackpool without scoring and have only won twice in their last eight.
Blues, in contrast, are one point off top spot with a game-in-hand and haven’t lost at St Andrew’s in League One. Chris Davies’ side have recorded six wins and two draws on home turf to date.
The game against Rovers kickstarts Blues’ festive fixtures with four games to come before the end of the year. In addition to Rovers, Burton Albion and Blackpool also visit St Andrew’s, with Blues heading to Crawley Town on Monday, December 23.
Alex Dicken is in position to bring you live coverage of Blues’ meeting with Bristol Rovers…
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Report and ratings
Birmingham City made it six wins on the bounce with a 2-0 victory over Bristol Rovers to move back into League One’s top two.
Lee Buchanan and Jay Stansfield (pen) scored in one of the most dominant halves of football Blues have played this season before the hosts cruised home after half-time. Blues remain unbeaten at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park in the league with seven wins and two draws from their nine matches.
Read the player ratings HERE
It's all over - Blues 2-0 Bristol Rovers
Blues seem to like scoring twice. That's seven games in a row they've done it now.
A top first half performance killed the game and Blues cruised in the second.
Three more Blues changes
Three Blues changes with Luke Harris, TGH and Lukas Jutkiewicz on for Stansfield, Bielik and May.
Chris Davies is trying to inject some life into this second half performance. Blues are cruising.
May goes close to a Blues third
Willum Willumsson is having fun out there today. Just picked out May with a pinpoint cross from the left. May's volley was cleared off the line.
Blues have just made their first change of the game with Ethan Laird coming on for Lee Buchanan. A deserved standing ovation for Buchanan.
First change for Rovers
Bristol Rovers have made their first substitution with the vastly experienced Chris Martin replacing Michael Forbes.
That will also lead to a change in formation. Rovers will now play a flat back four instead of a three.
Back underway
Jay Stansfield has kicked the second half off. It's now a question of how hungry Blues are for more goals because Bristol Rovers don't seem to be putting up much resistance.
Chris Davies could look to rest key players ahead of the busy festive period if Blues get another quickly.
HT: Blues 2-0 Bristol Rovers
That was one of the most dominant halves of football Blues have played this season. Buchanan and Stansfield with the goals but Blues could and should have scored more.
They have enjoyed 71 percent possession and had 13 shots in comparison to Bristol Rovers' two. Ryan Allsop has been a spectator at the other end.
Stansfield makes it 2-0
Blues have their second goal from the penalty spot via Jay Stansfield's right boot.
The striker buried his 12th goal of the season for Blues after Alfie May's shot had struck an arm inside the penalty area.
Stansfield's kneeslide celebration was less than perfect but his finishing isn't far off perfect at the moment.
Attack vs defence
Alfie May has just gone close to connecting with Keshi Anderson's cross from the right. The striker flicked the ball but couldn't quite get enough purchase on it to worry Rovers goalkeeper Josh Griffiths.
Rovers fans aren't enjoying their trip to St Andrew's and have started ironically chanting, 'How s*** must you be, it's only one-nil...'.
Blues are battering Bristol Rovers
We're 10 minutes in and Bristol Rovers have barely got out of their own half. Blues are pressing with a purpose and getting after the Gas at every opportunity.
They almost scored again from a corner just. Bielik flicked the ball on at the near post but it drifted just wide of goal with the goalkeeper rooted to the spot.
Lee Buchanan has scored!
And what a strike by Lee Buchanan!
The returning left-back has scored his first Blues goal with a lovely strike from the edge of the box after a corner was only half cleared. Great effort.
And we're off
Bristol Rovers get us underway at St Andrew's with Blues kicking towards the Gil Merrick in the first half.
Rovers go long straight from kick-off as Keep Right On echoes around the stadium...
Blues almost scored from their first attack. Anderson's delivery from the right just nicked off a defender and it prevented Stansfield from converting on the volley. His effort whistled over the bar.
A meeting with George Friend
Brian Dick had the pleasure of catching up with ex-Blues defender and current Bristol Rovers sporting director George Friend on the Keep Right On Podcast this week.
The 37-year-old stopped playing earlier this year to transition to a sporting director role and discussed that on the podcast, plus his Blues career and his fondness for Jay Stansfield.
Check it out on YouTube HERE or listen below...
Bristol Rovers team news
Bristol Rovers are playing with a back three and their squad is packed with experience. Scott Sinclair is named among their substitutes and, interestingly, Chris Davies actually coached him at Swansea right at the start of his career.
Bristol Rovers (3-4-3): Griffiths; Taylor, Wilson, Mola; Senior, Conteh, Lindsay, Forbes; McCormick, Forde, O’Donkor
Subs: Moore, Ward, Omochere, Martin, Hutchinson, Bilongo, Sinclair
Blues team news
Lee Buchanan has retained his place in Blues’ starting line-up after returning from injury at Exeter on Tuesday. The left-back starts his first league game in over seven months with Alex Cochrane out injured.
Willum Willumsson also returns to the XI at the expense of Luke Harris having missed the last two games due to illness.
In total, Chris Davies has made eight changes to his line-up from Tuesday with Ben Davies, Buchanan and Keshi Anderson the only players to keep their places.
(4-2-3-1): Allsop; Bielik, Klarer, Davies, Buchanan; Iwata, Paik; Anderson, Willumsson, Stansfield; May
Subs: Peacock-Farrell, Laird, Gardner-Hickman, Leonard, Harris, Yokoyama, Jutkiewicz
Team news on the way
We are 15 minutes or so away from learning the Blues team news for today's game. Chris Davies faces a couple of interesting dilemmas at left-back and in the number 10 position.
Lee Buchanan is the natural choice at left-back but Ethan Laird has filled in there recently. Luke Harris has started at number 10 in the past two games but Willum Willumsson is well enough to return after illness.
Chris Davies joining in Blue Nose Day
Blues manager Chris Davies will be hoping to avoid a night under the stars agonising over a defeat. Davies is due to sleep out at St Andrew's with supporters to raise funds for underprivileged children in Birmingham.
“It’s the least I can do. We’re going to get a present for 11,500 children that are in care. It’s not going to be pleasant sleeping out at night but if that can put a smile on a child’s face or make their Christmas better, then I’ll do that all day long.
“Hopefully we can raise as much money as we can. I’m sure it will be an enjoyable evening and an experience everyone can share together. It’s a great thing the football club is doing because that’s the power football clubs have. There are not many things that can generate that level of interest instantly and make that impact on people that need it.”
Hello from St Andrew's
Good afternoon from St Andrew’s for Blues’ ninth home league game of the season against Bristol Rovers. They haven’t lost in the previous eight.
Blues haven’t battered an opponent at St Andrew’s yet and haven’t won by more than two goals. Bristol Rovers manager Matt Taylor is under pressure having lost his previous two games without scoring and they are currently 18th.
Bristol Rovers (h) #BCFC chasing six straight wins and a return to the top of League One.
— Alex Dicken (@alexedicken) December 14, 2024
Rovers arrive in 18th position after back-to-back defeats without scoring. pic.twitter.com/h90R9hxVXt
