Blues scent safety as Jay seals it
BIRMINGHAM City gave their survival a huge shot in the arm with a victory which put a massive dent in Coventry City’s playoff hopes.
An own-goal by Bobby Thomas in the 12th minute was followed by goals from Ivan Sunjic and Jay Stansfield’s 13th of the season.
It clinched Blues’ biggest victory since October – and only their second win in 11 – and they are out of the relegation zone after Bristol City denied Huddersfield a win.
Coventry’s third defeat in four left the FA Cup semi-finalists six points adrift of the top six with four games left ahead of their big date at Wembley against Manchester United next weekend.
Coventry manager Mark Robins admitted the defeat had effectively wrecked their play-off hopes.
He said: “We had to pick points up in three out of the four games we have lost and you can’t do that if you are realistically challenging, so it’s massively disappointing.
“We have given ourselves a mountain to climb – we could be 12 points adrift (of the top six) by the time we next play (in the league) and Norwich are too good.”
The Sky Blues threatened first with a firm, low angled drive from Milan van Ewijk that was deflected wide. Blues countered with a stabbed effort from Tyler Roberts then a shot from Koji Miyoshi that brushed the side-netting.
Blues got their noses in front when Keshi Anderson’s cross hit Thomas and deflected in at the near post. It came after Lee Buchanan’s throwin on the left was worked to Roberts, who turned the ball inside for Anderson to cross.
The closest Coventry came to scoring came in the 20th minute when Haji Wright hit the bar.
Goalkeeper John Ruddy came out of his box to head away a clearance but only as far as Wright, whose volleyed lob bounced before hitting the woodwork.
Sunjic doubled the hosts’ lead with a rasping low drive from just inside the box that caught goalkeeper Bradley Collins unawares. It came after Seung Ho Paik’s corner was headed away by Liam Kitching.
Growing in confidence, Blues were also leaving their mark on Coventry in more ways than one by being first to the ball. Coventry, following a triple substitution at halftime, began the second half looking much improved, creating two quick opportunities.
Kasey Palmer’s 25-yard drive was parried by Ruddy to his right, then Ben Sheaf fired a rising effort over from just inside the box.
There was now an edge to the match, and Stansfield and Van Ewijk were booked for shoving.
But Blues dashed any hopes of a Coventry comeback when Stansfield made it three.
The on-loan Fulham forward clipped the ball past Collins following a superb diagonal run behind the defence which took him beyond Liam Kitching and was spotted by Roberts on the left.