Hot Jot at double to give Cott a big smile
BIRMINGHAM boss Steve Cotterill said his side got the luck they deserved as they punished Sheffield Wednesday’s mistakes.
David Davis opened the scoring and Jota netted twice before the break.
Sub Lucas Joao scored a consolation for Wednesday, who had Marco Matias and Daniel Pudil sent off.
Cotterill said: “Our first-half performance was really pleasing but there was just that little 15 minutes in the second half we were a little bit disappointed with.
“But we’ve got a big week ahead of us, with another game on Tuesday where other teams are going to have a break, so we didn’t need to break our necks.
“All in all, we’ve had some things go against us this season but maybe in the second half of the season, those things are going to be on our side.”
Davis capitalised on a defensive mix-up between Frederico Venancio and keeper Joe Wildsmith, prodding in from close range, before Jota’s long-range effort went straight through Wildsmith.
Matias then clashed with Cohen Bramall and got a straight red card and the Blues ruthlessly put the game to bed when Jota tapped in.
The Owls got one back, with Joao hammering the ball past David Stockdale from the left side of the box, but Pudil then received a second yellow card for a challenge on Maxime Colin.
Wednesday boss Jos Luhukay said: “It was a disappointing day for us.
“Whatever can go wrong did in the first half today.
“We went two goals behind after we made very big mistakes.
“After that, we also had the red card. I don’t know what the referee has seen.
“From my position it was just a hot moment between two players but the referee decided for the red card so for us, it was very hard.
“Then, before half-time, they get the third goal.
“It was mentally not so easy to come back in the game.
“At half-time we spoke and said that we must stay together – and we did that.”
AN EMOTIONAL farewell to the late Cyrille Regis before kick-off turned into disastrous defeat on the pitch for basement boys West Brom.
Alan Pardew’s troops were unable to take inspiration from the outpouring of heartfelt grief over the sudden death last month of a true Hawthorns legend.
Despite grabbing an early lead, the hosts finished up losing a five-goal relegation thriller that leaves them firmly rooted to the bottom of the Premier League.
Once fellow strugglers Southampton hauled themselves back into the contest, they were good value for a most rare and welcome three points.
You have to rewind back to November 26 to find the last occasion the south coast outfit secured a league victory.
But a three-goal burst either side of half-time, instigated by playmaker James Ward-Prowse, proved sufficient to get Mauricio Pellegrini’s side back to winning ways.
Pellegrini said: “This was really important – for the club, players, employers and fans.
“It shows the team we can now believe and have confidence. When you don’t get good results it’s normal to have doubts.
“We deserved to win. The reaction to losing a goal so early was excellent. Three points are very important, of course, but we must be humble because everything can change quickly.”
Ward-Prowse has not been a regular starter for much of a troubled campaign.
However, after making two and scoring one here, he has surely earned himself a sustained run.
The result catapults the Saints from 18th to 14th – but still only two points clear of the drop.
The Baggies remain four