Birmingham City Edge Closer To Championship Return

Matt Salisbury
Matt SalisburySenior Content & PR Manager
Football player in blue and white kit celebrating scoring a goal next to the net during a match, with opposing goalkeeper in yellow kit standing nearby. Spectators in the background and a red advertising board displaying the word 'Vertu' behind the goal. Keywords used cars, new cars not visually represented in the image.
Football player in blue and white kit celebrating scoring a goal next to the net during a match, with opposing goalkeeper in yellow kit standing nearby. Spectators in the background and a red advertising board displaying the word 'Vertu' behind the goal. Keywords used cars, new cars not visually represented in the image.

Birmingham City have moved closer to a return to the EFL Championship despite the fact that March included a rare defeat for the League One leaders.

The Vertu-backed side headed into the month with a nine point lead at the top of the table, and having booked a trip to Wembley for the final of the Vertu Trophy against Peterborough United.

March kicked off with a huge game at the top of the table against Wycombe Wanderers, who arrived at St Andrew's sitting second in the standings behind the Blues.

Taylor Gardner-Hickman followed up a goal in the previous game against Leyton Orient with the winner in what was ultimately a straight-forward 1-0 win - helped by the visitors having Xavier Simons sent off just before half-time.

The trip to Bolton Wanderers a few days later however saw Birmingham's 19 game unbeaten run come to an end, despite Emil Hansson's first goal for the club putting Birmingham in front on 23 minutes.

Bolton - who are pushing for the play-off places - equalised before the break through James McAtee and went on to net two more goals in the second half to consign Chris Davies and his men to just a third league defeat of the campaign.

Birmingham bounced back immediately however as Kieran Dowell's penalty earned three points against Lincoln City, and he was on the scoresheet again next time out against Stevenage.

Paik Seung-ho doubled the advantage after the break from just inside the box, with the visitors failing to make their own chances pay until injury time when Jake Young managed to claw one back.

Struggling Northampton Town then held City to a draw at Sixfields despite the visitors managing to dominate possession before a 4-1 home success over rock bottom Shrewsbury - with Alfie May netting twice - brought the curtain down on the month.

Although the lead at the top of the table remains nine points, Birmingham have played two games fewer than second-placed Wrexham, and also have a game in hand on Wycombe who are three points further back in third spot.

March Results:

        
Birmingham City 1 - 0 Wycombe Wanderers L1
Bolton Wanderers 3 - 1 Birmingham City L1
Birmingham City 1 - 0 Lincoln City L1
Birmingham City 2 - 1 Stevenage L1
Northampton Town 1 - 1 Birmingham City L1
Birmingham City 4 - 1 Shrewsbury Town L1

 

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