Maupay heaps misery on Birmingham

THE pedigree is FrancoArgentine, the price a bargain £1.6million. Neal Maupay appears to have the credentials to put Versailles on the map for something else other than its palace. The Brentford attacker was asked to make an impact from the bench and followed manager Dean Smith’s instructions to the letter in a remarkable cameo. First he tempted Michael Morrison into committing a foul in the area with Ollie Watkins duly converting the penalty. Then he helped himself to his fifth goal of the season with a low drive to complete a night of misery for relegation-threatened Birmingham. Maupay is just 21 and a summer recruit from St Etienne. He arrived as Brentford shipped out three players for a combined £10million — to St Andrew’s. The Birmingham trio suffered a disappointing night with Maxime Colin leaving the pitch on a stretcher, Jota being subbed and Harlee Dean left on the bench. But Brentford made it eight matches unbeaten. ‘I didn’t think it was a vintage performance,’ Smith admitted. ‘I’m really pleased for Neal. He’s had a tough time starting games. I thought it was time to put him on and he’s won us the game. ‘He’s new to the country and gone unrewarded for a lot of quality and goalscoring from the bench. He gives us a different option, the ball sticks to feet and he uses his body well.’ Birmingham counterpart Steve Cotterill, who has four points from four matches, was convinced the penalty decision was incorrect. ‘Morrison’s got a toe to it,’ he said. ‘That penalty has rocked us, killed us stone dead. We know we are not a free scoring side but until then it was nip and tuck.’ Birmingham’s best chance came in the first half when Maikel Kieftenbeld whacked a post from 35 yards. It is the story of their season, so far.