Birmingham City ratings v Mansfield: two ‘triumphant’ players earn 9/10 as Blues demolish League One record

Birmingham City have shattered the League One points record with two games to spare following this afternoon’s thumping 4-0 victory over Mansfield Town at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park.

Goals from Keshi Anderson, Willum Willumsson, Kieran Dowell and Tomoki Iwata were enough to secure the 32nd league win of the season, raising the points tally to 105, two better than Wolverhampton Wanderers’ 103-point finish 11 years ago.

Blues certainly lived up to expectations on the day of their League One title lift after a truly remarkable pre-match build-up. A sold-out, 27,920-strong St Andrew’s crowd were already in their seats long before kick-off, partying away in the Birmingham sunshine ahead of one of the loudest renditions of ‘Keep Right On’ you’ll ever hear. Goosebumps were raised. Eardrums were pushed to their limits. It was a fiesta.

Blues started brightly with plenty of possession in the attacking third and a succession of corners. But Mansfield had the first two big chances of the encounter Jordan Bowery saw a powerful effort tipped over by Ryan Allsop after an Alex Cochrane slip before Adedeji Oshilaja headed merely inches wide from a Hiram Boateng corner.

Anderson got Birmingham back in the champions mood in the 24th minute, though, firing emphatically into the bottom left corner to break the deadlock. It was a scintillating team goal, finished off by one of the few Blues players still here from last season’s relegation. Jay Stansfield passed to Dowell, back to Stansfield, back to Dowell, over to Iwata, then to Anderson, a one-two with Willumsson, and a thumping strike into the net – all in the space of a few seconds. Pass, move, pass, move. Mansfield didn’t even know where to look.

Willumsson then got on the scoresheet himself, making it 2-0 in the 39th minute for his first goal since January 4. Ethan Laird had a header from a deep Alex Cochrane cross parried away and Stansfield laid the ball off for Willumsson to convert from close range. You could see the relief on the Icelander’s face as he ended his four-month goal drought.

Dowell made it 3-0 just after half time as he headed into the roof of the net from an inch-perfect Paik Seung-ho cross. Blues’ number 30 peeled away from his marker and powered the ball home. Dowell had been denied a 25-yard stunner by an acrobatic fingertip save from Stags goalkeeper Christy Pym just a few minutes earlier.

It began to get a little silly as Iwata put Birmingham four ahead, rounding off yet another superb team goal. Christoph Klarer zipped a pass forward and it was backheeled cheekily by Dowell, who nutmegged the defender to send Iwata clean through on goal. Blues’ Japan international made no mistake, slotting into the bottom left corner.

Then came the moment so many Bluenoses had been waiting for as Lukas Jutkiewicz entered the field for his final-ever home Birmingham appearance. The 36-year-old striker announced earlier in the week that he would be hanging up his boots at the end of the season, and the reception he received was one fit for a legend.

Jutkiewicz wasn’t able to get the goal he so desperately wanted but the adoration on display from the Birmingham supporters will have meant the world. All that was missing from a perfect afternoon was ‘the Juke’ getting on the scoresheet, and his teammates certainly tried their best to set him up for a golden chance. Beggars can’t be choosers though, right?

What a historic afternoon at St Andrew’s. Here’s how the players rated.

Player ratings

Ryan Allsop - Kept his 20th League One clean sheet of the season to clinch the Golden Glove; only Wigan’s Sam Tickle can match him and if goalkeepers tie, they both win the award. It’s a thoroughly deserved achievement. In terms of today, he made one terrific save early doors to deny Bowery but otherwise had very little to do. 7

Ethan Laird - Dealt with everything that was thrown at him defensively and was brilliant in the air as he so often leapt above his challenger. One example was a decent header from a tight angle saved just before Willumsson scored Blues’ second. 8

Christoph Klarer - Hardly fazed by a rather ineffective Mansfield forward line as he pocked Jordan Rhodes. Dominant as per usual, especially in the air. 8

Ben Davies - Cleared everything away that he needed to in another composed performance alongside Klarer. Booked in second-half stoppage time for a late challenge, mind. 7

Alex Cochrane - Nearly made an error leading to a goal as he slipped before Bowery’s early chance. Sured up after that, though, and whipped in several great crosses. 7

Paik Seung-ho (off 80’) - Notched the assist for Dowell’s header with a brilliant cross into the danger zone. Deserved the goal involvement as he dictated the play so well in the centre of the park. 8

Tomoki Iwata - Netted Birmingham’s fourth with a composed finish after hardly missing a beat in midfield, maintaining the best pass completion rate of any player who started the game. Outstanding yet again. 9

Kieran Dowell (off 68’) - Scored Blues’ third with a great header shortly after unleashing a piledriver that looked destined for the top corner but was tipped over. Then assisted Iwata’s goal with such a clever backheel. Occupied a fluid attacking midfield role and showed off a terrific passing range, also swinging in a host of dangerous corners. 9

Willum Willumsson (off 68’) - A much-improved and triumphant display from a man who has underperformed in many games since the turn of the year. Scored Birmingham’s second goal with some good anticipation. Assisted Anderson’s opener, too, showing great awareness to pass into just the right gap. Made himself a real nuisance with his physicality throughout. 9*

Keshi Anderson (off 68’) - Netted the opening goal with an emphatic hit from the edge of the area and was heavily involved in the build-up to it. Enjoyed acres of space down the left flank all afternoon long and worked his socks off to sprint to loose balls before taking on his man. 8

Jay Stansfield - Made some superb runs in behind and ran races around the Mansfield defenders as he popped up in expected spots between the lines. Registered an assist for Willumsson’s goal due to his subtle touch. 8

Lukas Jutkiewicz (on 68’) - Threw himself about to win several headers and caused problems for the centre-halves. Wasn’t able to get his dream goal but got a tremendous reception. 7

Luke Harris (on 68’) - Didn’t do a great deal in the attacking midfield role as the game had already been won by the time he entered the field. 6

Taylor Gardner-Hickman (on 68’) - Continued Laird’s fine work down the right, progressing forward to maintain the overload. 7

Alfie May (on 68’) - Similarly to Harris, May didn’t have any flash moments to add to the already impressive scoreline. 6

Marc Leonard (on 79’) - Came on for a late cameo but didn’t have long enough to properly make his mark. 6