Head coach Chris Davies insisted Birmingham deserved their “huge” win at Leyton Orient.
Blues, favourites to return to the Championship at the first attempt, went in front through Keshi Anderson and after Ethan Galbraith levelled, Alfie May grabbed a winner, with all three goals coming in the opening 20 minutes.
“I thought it was a good performance again and we were the better team,” Davies said. “We had more of the ball and created the much better chances in the game.
“We got off to a wonderful start, got our goal and then had a little bit of a setback but that didn’t stop us, we continued to persist and got that second goal quickly.
“To win away at any level in any league is never easy so we had to stand up and be ready for the challenge and we dealt with everything extremely well.
“We restricted them to very few chances and I thought we defended very well and our goals came from our pressing.
“Our centre-backs stood up and won their duels and were strong and physical and the full-backs defended their areas well. Overall it was a solid defensive performance.
“Alfie May works extremely hard and was involved in both our goals. It’s three goals in three games for him but for me it’s what he does off the ball by working hard and setting the tone for the team.
“It’s a huge win for us.”
Defeat for Orient left them one place off the foot of the table and still searching for their first point of the campaign.
Boss Richie Wellens pulled no punches in apportioning blame for the defeat.
“There is no hiding from it, our goalkeeper (Zach Hemming) has cost us points,” he stated. “We could easily be sitting here with six or seven points, so he needs to look at himself in the mirror and get better but I thought our response was fantastic.
“I thought we were the better team. They have quality, obviously, but for me we were far better and the second goal was a bit of a killer for us, but we should have got something out of the game.
“I’m disappointed but proud at the same time. You only have to look at what they have and what we’ve got.
“The difference between us and them was that in the final third they were a bit sharper. They play and run, they play one touch and they’re very good at it. It’s those little moments where we weren’t as good as them.
“We need more from our subs. I’ve been disappointed with them so far.”
Interim boss Stephen Frail expects Motherwell to appoint a new manager next week and admits their first job will be to lift the players’ confidence after a 3-0 mauling at home to Ross County.A double from Ronan Hale and Connor Randall’s last-minute strike secured an impressive victory for the Staggies at Fir Park.Defeat sees the Steelmen drop into the bottom half of the Premiership tab...
Mark Hughes heaped praise on goalkeeper Gabe Breeze after Carlisle picked up a vital point in the League Two relegation battle with a goalless draw against in-form Colchester at Brunton Park.Breeze made two excellent saves from Lyle Taylor as the Cumbrians ended a four-game losing run and the former Man City boss was astounded by the 21-year-old’s performance.He said: “The game had som...
Chesterfield boss Paul Cook launched a scathing attack on his play-off hopefuls after they surrendered an early lead to lose 3-1 at Sky Bet League Two table-toppers Walsall.The Spireites enjoyed a rapid start when Jamie Grimes’ eighth-minute header put them ahead against a wobbling Walsall side, who were winless in five matches with the chasing pack closing in.However, Bim Pepple and Dylan D...
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has allayed fears of an injury scare to top scorer Erling Haaland ahead of next week’s Champions League trip to Real Madrid.Haaland went down clutching his leg in the latter stages of the champions’ 4-0 Premier League thrashing of Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday and was immediately substituted.Losing the Norwegian would be a major blow to ...
Rotherham manager Steve Evans described Thomas Parsons’ performance as “atrocious” after the referee awarded a stoppage-time penalty from which Reading snatched a 2-1 victory in League One.Reading had led 1-0 at half-time through top scorer Harvey Knibbs but Sam Nombe levelled for Rotherham from a spot-kick in the 57th minute.With the game heading for a draw, Parsons adjudged Mil...
Michael Flynn believes his team can make a charge towards the League Two play-offs places after watching them come from 2-0 down to beat Barrow 3-2 at home.Matty Taylor scored twice before fellow substitute Ashley Hay hit the winner as the Robins continued their perfect home record in 2025.Cheltenham climbed to 13th in the table and sit eight points off seventh-placed Crewe with two games in hand....
Birmingham manager Chris Davies praised Jay Stansfield’s work ethic after he lit up St Andrew’s with the only goal of a 1-0 win to sink play-off chasing Charlton.Stansfield’s 23rd-minute strike stretched City’s lead to nine points ahead of second-placed Wycombe, with Blues boasting a game in hand.Victory was City’s 30th in all competitions as they extended their unbea...
Andoni Iraola refused to get carried away after Bournemouth fans were left dreaming of a potential Champions League adventure following a first league double over south-coast rivals Southampton.Travelling Cherries fans chanted of playing in European football’s premier competition next season after their side soared to fifth spot in the Premier League table thanks to a deserved 3-1 success at...
Norwich head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup praised his side for fighting back to draw 1-1 at Hull after he demanded “I want to see my football team back”.The Norwich boss had some tough words for his team as they trailed 1-0 at half-time to the relegation-threatened side, including for Kellen Fisher – but the player then delivered the assist for Josh Sargent’s equaliser.The Un...
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says Jota has a chance of starting against Bayern Munich after scoring and impressing in a 3-0 victory over Dundee United.Jota earned the club’s man-of-the-match award after cutting in from the left and curling home from 18 yards to double the lead given to the hosts by another impressive finish from Callum McGregor.The Portuguese winger has now started two gam...
