Stansfield’s stunner giving Schumacher the Blues again

STEVEN SCHUMACHER was floored by Jay Stansfield for the second time this season and said: “He’s doing my head in.”

It was a case of deja vu for the Potters’ chief who was on the end of a similarly lethal finish earlier this season when his Plymouth side fell victim to another super strike from the on-loan Fulham forward.

Stansfield set the ball rolling for Tony Mowbray who celebrated his first Championship victory at the second attempt after taking over from Wayne Rooney.

A superb Juninho Bacuna free-kick early in the second half increased Brum’s lead and they clung on for dear life towards the end. The Potters reduced the deficit when Jordan Thompson finished with 20 minutes to go.

“He’s doing my head in, him,” said Schumacher of 21-year-old Stansfield.

“But he’s a good player and he’s been the difference for them in a few games. We were aware of his threats. He wriggles away from you.”

It was Stansfield’s eighth goal of a campaign that has been stop-start with him now playing for his third manager in seven months.

Mowbray said he hoped the striker would stay put at St Andrew’s and see out his loan deal until the end of the campaign.

“I talk to him most days,” he said. “He’s really enjoying his football.” STOKE: Iversen 6; Hoever 5 (Gooch (70) 5), Mcnally 5 (Campbell (58) 5), Rose 6, Thompson 6; Cundle 6, Burger 7, Baker 6 (Wilmot (58) 6); Vidigal 5 (Leris (58) 6), Mmaee 5 (Lowe (82) 6), Junho 6 BIRMINGHAM: Ruddy 6; Drameh 6, Sanderson 6, Bielik 6, Buchanan 6; Sunjic 6 (Dozzell (71) 6), James 7; Miyoshi 7, Bacuna 7 (Long (74) 6), Dembele 6 (Roberts (66) 5); Stansfield 8 STAR MAN: Jay Stansfield – Set the tone for the Blues with a lethal finish and ran his socks off, looks a player. REF: Sam Barrott 6