Birmingham City dramatically ended a seven-game streak without a victory by edging past league leaders Coventry City in a pulsating 3-2 encounter at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park. A Marvin Ducksch brace and a first goal for the club from Lewis Koumas secured three crucial points in a match that saw Coventry's Bobby Thomas sent off late on.
Frenetic First Half Sets the Tone
The match exploded into life from the outset. New signing Kai Wagner, known for his creative prowess, needed just six minutes to make an impact. After being found by Paik Seung-ho, the left-back delivered a perfect first-time cross for Marvin Ducksch to volley home a superb opener.
Coventry's response was swift, with Josh Eccles levelling just two minutes later with a powerful 25-yard drive. Blues goalkeeper James Beadle then made two vital saves to deny Ellis Simms and Liam Kitching, keeping the scores level before Birmingham struck again.
Patrick Roberts was the architect, threading a superb pass for on-loan Liverpool attacker Lewis Koumas, who showed admirable composure to round Carl Rushworth and slot home his maiden Birmingham goal before the 20-minute mark.
Ducksch Seals Victory After Coventry Fightback
After the break, Coventry, led by captain Matt Grimes, began to control possession and found a deserved equaliser on the hour. Jack Rudoni fed Ellis Simms, who squeezed a shot through a defender's legs and past Beadle.
Parity lasted only three minutes, however, as Birmingham delivered a classic sucker-punch. Patrick Roberts was again the provider, playing a precise through-ball for Marvin Ducksch to lash a finish through Rushworth and restore the lead.
Head coach Chris Davies swiftly bolstered his defence, introducing Eiran Cashin, and Birmingham managed the game effectively in the closing stages. Coventry's hopes of a late rally were extinguished in stoppage time when defender Bobby Thomas was shown a straight red card for lashing out at Phil Neumann.
Player Ratings: Debut Delight and Striker Revival
James Beadle (6): Made important first-half saves but will be disappointed with the two long-range goals conceded.
Tomoki Iwata (7.5): Handled the dangerous Ephron Mason-Clark admirably in an unorthodox right-back role.
Phil Neumann (7.5): A commanding defensive display, winning key headers and putting his body on the line.
Jack Robinson (8): Continued his fine form with a series of robust challenges and crucial blocks.
Kai Wagner (8): A dream debut. Provided a pinpoint assist within six minutes and was a constant threat down the left flank.
Tommy Doyle (7.5): Worked tirelessly in midfield, positioning himself well throughout the 98-minute battle.
Paik Seung-ho (8): Much improved. His lovely pass started the move for the first goal and he defended bravely.
Patrick Roberts (8.5): The creative heartbeat. His two exquisite reverse passes for the second and third goals were moments of supreme quality.
Jay Stansfield (8.5) Relentless in his pressing and defensive work, excelling even after limited training.
Lewis Koumas (8): Scored a composed first goal for the club and worked tirelessly in his best performance in a Blues shirt.
Marvin Ducksch (9): The star man. Ended his goal drought in style with a technically brilliant volley and a powerful second, earning a standing ovation.
Substitutes: Eiran Cashin (7), Alfons Sampsted (6), Willum Willumsson (6), and Kyogo Furuhashi (6) all helped see out the vital victory. The attendance was 27,923.
The result provides a massive boost for Chris Davies's side, halting their poor run and inflicting a rare defeat on the Sky Blues in a Championship thriller.
