Boss happy to see Jay finish job
GARY Rowett was delighted the golden chance to beat Preston fell to Jay Stansfield – even though Blues’ top scorer was in the midst of a goal drought.
Stansfield scored his 11th goal of the season and first in six matches to silence the critics at St Andrew’s.
“We passed the ball quite well and limited Preston to very few chances and we took the moment we had that was the obvious moment,” said Rowett. “We had two or three other chances as well.
“When Jay went through,when you haven’t scored for a while and you start to overthink things, yes, you want a one-v-one, but you don’t want ten seconds to think about it.
“I think there are a lot of strikers that would have overthought that situation, but I wouldn’t want anyone else in there because he is
such a good finisher. He is as good as any finisher at the club. I thought he showed great character and composure to finish it off.”
Blues were roared to victory by their second-largest crowd of the season. Every tackle, header and clearance was cheered like a goal in the final 20 minutes before they were finally able to celebrate.
For the interim manager, it evoked memories of his first dugout debut at St Andrew’s in 2014 when Blues defeated Watford 2-1 courtesy of a brace from Clayton Donaldson.
“It was every bit as good,” Rowett reflected. “In the moment that we’re in, where you could easily feel sorry for yourself and want to stay away as a fanbase, they have stepped up and I knew they would.
“Like I said before, yes, it’s a story for me coming back after all this time, but it’s about the players and the fans and winning games.”