Match ends, Birmingham City 0, Wolverhampton Wanderers 2.
BirminghamBirmingham City0WolvesWolverhampton Wanderers2
Wolves ended their three-match losing run with a goal in each half as they beat Birmingham City in the West Midlands derby.
Dave Edwards capitalised on defensive confusion to fire his second goal in successive games from 12 yards.
Sheyi Ojo sealed victory when he curled in a low left-foot shot late on.
On the anniversary of his first year in charge, Gary Rowett's Blues were outplayed as they fell to a third home defeat in four games.
Wolves had lost their previous three games and began nine places behind Blues in the Championship table.
But, in contrast to their last visit to St Andrew's in April, when defeat contributed to them missing out on a play-off place, this time it was Wolves who caused an upset.
| Sheyi Ojo: super travelling sub? |
|---|
| Both Sheyi Ojo's league goals for Wolves have come in away wins, via the bench. He also scored as a second-half sub in the 3-0 win at Fulham. |
But the visitors owed a little to luck with the opening goal.
Blues' Jacques Maghoma tried to block Nathan Byrne's left-wing cross, but it deflected off his shoulder and when the ball bounced it span viciously over the head of Paul Robinson.
Former Wolves keeper Tomasz Kuszczak saved from Benik Afobe as he attempted to repair Robinson's error of judgement, but the ball fell for Edwards who calmly stroked home left-footed from 12 yards.
Blues did improve in the run-up to the break, but Wolves were worth their half-time lead.
And it was much the same story after the break as Wolves new loan signing Mike Williamson and skipper Danny Batth proved impenetrable to Blues' misfiring attack.
Wolves finally sealed the points six minutes from time when Ojo cut in from the right before sliding his left-foot shot just inside Kuszczak's right-hand post.
Birmingham manager Gary Rowett: "We did not show the quality we required. We needed to be more inventive and show more composure on the ball.
"Conceding a very poor goal against the run of play didn't help us. That was the disappointing thing for me.
"We have been very solid defensively and not given too much away but the two goals were poor from our point of view and very easy for Wolves to score.
"I have to say Wolves played well and I do not want to take any credit away from them."
Wolves head coach Kenny Jackett: "The three points are important to us. In our previous three games we have been too open and not competitive enough.
"We conceded nine goals in those three games but we restricted Birmingham to only one shot on target.
"We defended well as a team and showed commitment. We got the goals at the right time and hopefully we now have something to build on."
Line-ups
Birmingham
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 29Kuszczak
- 31Caddis
- 28Morrison
- 4Robinson
- 3Grounds
- 8Gleeson
- 19MaghomaSubstituted forToralat 67'minutes
- 26DavisSubstituted forBrock-Madsenat 79'minutes
- 6KieftenbeldSubstituted forCotterillat 58'minutes
- 7Gray
- 9Donaldson
Substitutes
- 1Legzdins
- 11Cotterill
- 17Solomon-Otabor
- 20Toral
- 22Shinnie
- 23Spector
- 44Brock-Madsen
Wolves
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 26E Martínez
- 18Iorfa
- 6Batth
- 5Williamson
- 3Golbourne
- 11McDonaldBooked at 58mins
- 16Coady
- 7HenrySubstituted forDohertyat 89'minutes
- 4Edwards
- 25ByrneSubstituted forOjoat 74'minutes
- 10AfobeSubstituted forHoltat 80'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Ikeme
- 2Doherty
- 19Price
- 20Ojo
- 24Graham
- 27Holt
- 29Le Fondre
- Referee:
- Peter Bankes
- Attendance:
- 18,946
Match Stats
Home TeamBirminghamAway TeamWolves
- Possession
- Home55%
- Away45%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away13
- Shots on Target
- Home1
- Away6
- Corners
- Home8
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Birmingham City 0, Wolverhampton Wanderers 2.
Post update
Michael Morrison (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Grant Holt (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Post update
Foul by Paul Caddis (Birmingham City).
Post update
Sheyi Ojo (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Matt Doherty replaces James Henry.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Jon-Miquel Toral (Birmingham City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jonathan Grounds.
Goal!
Goal! Birmingham City 0, Wolverhampton Wanderers 2. Sheyi Ojo (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from the right side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by James Henry following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Tomasz Kuszczak.
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Attempt saved. James Henry (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Attempt missed. David Cotterill (Birmingham City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left from a direct free kick.
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Clayton Donaldson (Birmingham City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Danny Batth (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Post update
Foul by Nicolai Brock-Madsen (Birmingham City).
Post update
Dominic Iorfa (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Grant Holt replaces Benik Afobe.
Post update
Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Paul Caddis.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Sheyi Ojo (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Scott Golbourne.
Substitution
Substitution, Birmingham City. Nicolai Brock-Madsen replaces David Davis because of an injury.
