Birmingham City 1-3 Swansea City: Blues triumph sees Swans boost play-off hopes
- Published
Swansea City breathed life into their push for a return to the Premier League thanks to an impressive 3-1 win at Birmingham City.
Steve Cooper's team climbed to within one point and one place of neighbours Cardiff City, who currently occupy the Championship's final play-off place, with four regular-season games to play.
Birmingham's winless league run stretched to 10 matches despite Lukas Jutkiewicz heading in his 14th goal of the season to give Pep Clotet's side a fifth-minute lead.
Swansea needed only seven minutes to level, with on-loan Liverpool striker Rhian Brewster volleying in his eighth goal in 16 appearances for the Welsh club.
Academy product Ben Cabango claimed a first senior goal with a deflected effort to put Swansea ahead at the break before Jay Fulton's somewhat fortuitous strike from a Matt Grimes corner stretched their lead early in the second period.
Having beaten Sheffield Wednesday last time out, Swansea held on to claim back-to-back wins for the first time since December, while Birmingham's poor form leaves them only four points above the bottom three.
Jutkiewicz was recalled to the Blues side beaten in agonising fashion at Fulham last Saturday, and the hosts' top scorer caused problems early on.
Swansea's defensive record at set-pieces this season has been excellent, but Jutkiewicz met Jeremie Bela's fourth-minute corner with a header which forced Freddie Woodman into a diving save.
Seconds later, another corner brought the opening goal.
This time Bela rolled the ball short for Dan Crowley to cross, and Jutkiewicz met Jake Clarke-Salter's knockdown with a firm connection which gave Woodman no chance.
Swansea responded admirably, with Brewster heading their first chance of the evening wide before rifling home the equaliser.
A strong spell of possession ended with Conor Gallagher crossing towards Connor Roberts, who helped the ball down for Brewster to smash past Lee Camp from point-blank range.
Swansea had taken control of the contest, and might have gone in front when another progressive move ended with Grimes firing wide.
When the second goal did come, on the stroke of half-time, it was not pretty - but that will not stop Cabango treasuring the moment.
After Birmingham failed to clear a free-kick, Connor Roberts' cross-shot bounced into Cabango's path and the young centre-back's shot ricocheted off Marc Roberts and into the net.
Jude Bellingham was sent on at the break as Birmingham sought a response, and the highly regarded teenager missed a big chance to change the course of the contest when he shot wide with almost his first touch.
Swansea swiftly took advantage of the let-off, with Fulton meeting Grimes' clever corner with a miscued shot which floated beyond a disbelieving Camp and into the net.
Brewster might have got his second goal late on only for Camp to save his attempted lob, but the miss did not matter.
Swansea had already done enough to secure a first league double over Birmingham - and a win that pushes them right back into the contention for a top-six finish.
Birmingham City head coach Pep Clotet told 大象传媒 Radio WM:
"We made a very good start, similar to how we started against Fulham. But we were poor defending our box and allowed Swansea to score three goals from the three chances they had.
"We created six chances and only scored one goal. That was the difference between the two teams.
"Throughout this period, it is very difficult for all the sides playing at home. You see some strange results, But, away from home, we have always been stronger and that gives me confidence for Sunday (at Stoke).
"We need to focus on getting three points. Football changes after just a game. I'm sure we have it in our locker."
Swansea head coach Steve Cooper:
"It's three points - really important at this stage of the season. It's something every team is aiming for.
"It was a difficult start. Obviously you never want to concede but particularly from a set-play early on, it can really rock you. We weren't happy with that, but it was a brilliant reaction from the boys.
"I thought we played excellently in the first half in terms of our possession and our positioning. We looked a real threat.
"We moved Birmingham about, we were just waiting for the moment to create chances. I really liked us in the first half. Second half the message was pretty much to keep that going. I thought we did that."