Birmingham boss Chris Davies ‘really pleased’ for two-goal hero Jay Stansfield

Feb 1, 2025 2 min read
Birmingham manager Chris Davies lauded Jay Stansfield after beating Rotherham (Cody Froggatt/PA)
Birmingham manager Chris Davies lauded Jay Stansfield after beating Rotherham (Cody Froggatt/PA)

Birmingham boss Chris Davies was full of praise for two-goal Jay Stansfield after the leaders came from behind to beat Rotherham 2-1 at home in League One.

Sam Nombe fired the visitors ahead just before the break but Stansfield levelled in the 54th minute and then tucked away a penalty nine minutes from time.

Davies said: “They say there are certain goals that are almost worth more in football and the goals he scored today were, like the Barnsley game, worth a lot.

“They’re big moments on a football pitch and he had them today so I’m really pleased for him.”

He added: “I thought it was a great comeback win. It was good to have this test and overcome it.

“In the first half I thought we were good, I thought we lacked a little bit of urgency, we could have played quicker.

“I wanted us to get the ball in quicker when it went out and play a little bit faster. But the process of what we were doing was clear. It was good.

“I said to players at half-time ‘it’s a case of now there’s an adverse moment and how we respond to it. It’s important to stay calm, don’t get tense’.

“When you’re at home, you’re 1-0 down, you have a real test of attitude and strength of character, and we came through it really well.”

Rotherham boss Steve Evans voiced concerns over the experience of referee Farai Hallam amidst the fierce home crowd.

He said: “It’s not a penalty, is it? Hacks [Hakeem Odoffin] has pulled out of the challenge. The boy [Taylor Gardner-Hickman] runs into the back of Hacks.

“Before I knew about the officials, all I requested was an experienced and strong referee that can handle St Andrew’s when they’re on for promotion. It’s a fervent atmosphere.

“In essence, I was expecting any challenge in the box to go to the spot.”

Evans added: “That was a really good performance. It was disciplined.

“This is a top Birmingham side, they’re [the players are] worth multi-millions and they’d run out of ideas.”

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