Adam Armstrong scored his eighth goal of the season as Southampton eased to a 3-1 Sky Bet Championship victory and condemned Wayne Rooney to a third straight defeat as Birmingham manager.
Forward Armstrong now has eight career goals against Blues, more than he has scored against any other side, as he settled the game with a fine finish.
He had set up Taylor Harwood-Bellis’ opener before Carlos Alcaraz tapped in – both players’ first goals of the season. Jay Stansfield pulled one back for the visitors but it could not help end Rooney’s winless run.
Southampton had monopolised the opening stages without creating anything clear-cut until Harwood-Bellis nodded in the ninth-minute opener.
Armstrongs Stuart and Adam worked a short-corner routine before the latter lifted for the Manchester City loanee to power in his third professional goal, and first since last September.
Blues rallied but Oliver Burke’s lashed effort into the side netting – their only shot of the first half – poked the hosts back into life.
Kamaldeen Sulemana and Stuart Armstrong linked up smartly on the left flank before the Ghanaian slid across the face of the goal for Alcaraz to push in.
Rooney had been booed after Wednesday’s 2-0 home defeat by Hull, and Saints supporters rubbed their advantage in with a round of “sacked in the morning” aimed at the Manchester United great.
But rather than rub further salt into the wound of Rooney’s poor start, Birmingham fans supported their boss with cries of “Rooney, Rooney” and “Wayne Rooney’s Blue Army”.
Their support should have been rewarded with a spot-kick but goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu got away with flattening Burke in the box.
Saints should have gone into the break with more than a two-goal advantage as Harwood-Bellis’ free header from a corner skipped wide and Adam Armstrong clipped a one-on-one over John Ruddy but wide of the goal.
After the break, Stuart Armstrong tamely ended a well-worked move and Adam Armstrong’s diving header flashed wide.
But the hosts floundered and Blues capitalised. Stansfield jumped off the bench, met Lukas Jutkiewicz’s knockdown, bullied his way past Kyle Walker-Peters and rifled into the top corner – all within 52 seconds of his 57th-minute introduction.
It was Stansfield’s fourth goal of the season and extended Southampton’s wait for a home clean sheet to 28 matches.
But Saints held onto the ball well and made sure of the result in the 86th minute when top-scorer Adam Armstrong pounced and swivelled onto Sam Edozie’s nod down.
Scott Hogan curled one onto the roof of the goal in additional time but it could not stop Saints moving to a sixth game unbeaten to cement their place in the play-off spots.
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. Thank you Chiesa What a game !! 🔥Liverpool 4-2 Bournemouth Liverpool, Isak & Newcastle Damn, look who’s second already Only the real ones will remember.. Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr have been drawn in the SAME group as Virat Kohli’s FC Goa in the AFC Champions League 2! What was your reaction when you watched that match? Please stay tuned o...
Barcelona eye late move for VlahovicBarcelona could emerge as a surprise destination for Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic before the transfer window shuts, according to Gazzetta Dello Sport. The Serie A giants are eager to part ways with the Serbian international, who has just one year left on his deal at the Allianz Stadium. Offloading the 25-year-old now would prevent Juve from losing him on a fr...
AFC Bournemouth v West Ham United FC: Premier League Summer SeriesAccording to Fabrizio Romano, several clubs are showing interest in the Mexico captain.FBL-CONCACAF-GOLDCUP-MEX-USAWHAT HAPPENED?Mexico national team captain Edson Álvarez is reportedly expected to depart West Ham before the current transfer window shuts, according to Fabrizio Romano. El Machín joined the Hammers from Ajax...
Chelsea FC v Nottingham Forest FC - Premier LeagueChelsea boss Enzo Maresca has reiterated his desire to sign a new defender to cover for the injured Levi Colwill.WHAT HAPPENED?After Colwill suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury that will rule him out for much of the season, head coach Maresca urged Chelsea to sign a new centre-back. Those "priority" calls may have fallen on deaf ears as t...
Sesko vs GyokeresThe strikers will be the headline acts in Sunday's blockbuster match at Old Trafford but they could easily have ended up at opposite destinationsCesc Fabregas throwing pizza at Sir Alex Ferguson. Gary Neville scissor-tackling Jose Antonio Reyes. Roy Keane telling Patrick Vieira "I'll see you out there". Peter Schmeichel taking on Ian Wright after having his leg stamped on. It was ...
FBL-ENG-PR-LIVERPOOL-BOURNEMOUTHArne Slot says he "would have loved" to have brought on Diogo Jota in a heartbreaking admission following Liverpool's dramatic 4-2 win over Bournemouth on Friday.WHAT HAPPENED?The Reds found themselves in search of a late winner after their two-goal lead was wiped out by a second-half double from Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo on the opening night of the 2025-2...
Arsenal v Newcastle: Pre-Season FriendlyJamie Carragher has made a surprising claim against Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, insisting the Spaniard "definitely stole" Martin Zubimendi away from Liverpool. The ex-Real Sociedad midfielder, who had been on the Reds’ radar for over a year, shocked many by snubbing Merseyside in favour of a blockbuster £51 million ($69m) switch to the Emirates thi...
Liverpool signing Leoni: I want to learn from Van DijkLiverpool signing Giovanni Leoni is eager to learn from captain Virgil van Dijk.The former Parma defender joined the Reds on Friday morning ahead of their opening Premier League win against Bournemouth that evening.On the prospect of working with Van Dijk, Leoni said: "For me, he is the best defender in the world and I want to meet him as soon ...
Chelsea tell Borussia Dortmund to get serious about ChukwuemekaBorussia Dortmund have failed with a new offer for Chelsea midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka.After a successful loan over the second-half of last season in Dortmund, Chukwuemeka has attracted a new proposal from the Germans.BBC Sport says BVB have made a loan-to-buy offer for the England U21 international this week.However Chelsea have rej...
Fans at Anfield lifted cards to create mosaics in tribute to Diogo Jota and Andre Silva. Michael Steele/Getty ImagesLiverpool launched the defense of their Premier League title with a dramatic 4-2 win against Bournemouth on a night when Anfield paid an emotional tribute to Diogo Jota. Goals from Federico Chiesa (88th minute) and Mohamed Salah (94th) sealed victory after Bournemouth's Antoine Semen...
- 1 Fabinho opens up on painful Liverpool exit and admits Jurgen Klopp opened door for Al-Ittihad move despite labelling Brazilian as one of the best midfielders in the world
- 2 TIPS - Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas VS Liga Deportiva Universitaria
- 3 Newcastle Back on Track! Magpies Agree Deal for AC Milan Defender Malick Thiaw
- 4 Agent of Real Madrid defender David Alaba responds to Saudi Pro League transfer speculation as Spanish giants ponder selling 33-year-old after injury woes
- 5 TIPS - Juventude VS Corinthians
- 6 Kim Kardashian lookalike sends fans wild in low-cut top
- 7 TIPS - Atletico San Luis VS Cruz Azul
- 8 TIPS - Cambuur Leeuwarden VS FC Oss
- 9 Alexander Isak goes on STRIKE! Forward Refuses to Play Newcastle Opener as Liverpool Linger
- 10 TIPS - Kashima Antlers VS Avispa Fukuoka