Jay Stansfield Puts Birmingham City Top For Christmas
Jay Stansfield maintained his rich run of form in front of goal to ensure that Birmingham City will sit top of EFL League One going into Christmas.
Stansfield had scored six goals in six games for the Vertu-backed side, who headed for strugglers Crawley Town looking to overhaul Wycombe Wanderers at the top.
Poor weather conditions would play a part in how the game panned out as both teams struggled in driving rain, with Birmingham having the better chances in the first half as both Paik Seung-Ho and Stansfield had efforts saved by home ‘keeper Jojo Wollacott.
Crawley themselves struggled to make an impression in the first half and it was much the same after the break as Birmingham continued to create the better chances in front of goal.
Tomoki Iwata fired a shot just wide of the post from outside the box as the Blues chased the opener and the pressure on the home goal finally paid off with just eleven minutes left on the clock.
Keshi Anderson managed to break clear down the right hand side and his cross was perfect for Stansfield, who beat his man in the middle to nod a header beyond Wollacott and into the net.
Lydon Dykes missed a gilt-edged chance to add a second goal late on but Stansfield’s 13th of the season since his permanent move from Fulham in the summer was enough to put Birmingham two points clear going into the festive period with at least one game in hand on the pack behind.
Home games with Burton Albion and Blackpool round out the year before a trip to Stockport County on New Years Day.