Chris Davies hails connection between two ‘exceptional’ Birmingham City stars

Blues extended their League One winning streak to seven games on Tuesday night as they edged past Huddersfield at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park.

Alfie May’s 63rd-minute tap-in was the difference on the night as Birmingham beat the Terriers to claim another three points, soaring them five clear of second-placed Wrexham.

May’s goal proved pivotal as Blues weren’t as clinical as usual and missed several big chances throughout. And it wouldn’t have been possible without a defence-splitting pass from Alfons Sampsted and a selfless lay-off from Jay Stansfield, who could’ve tried to score himself.

Analysing the goal in the post-match press conference, Davies said: “It was a really good team move. Jay’s attracted the defender out and attacked the space without the ball, which is exceptional attacking play.

“Alfons has weighted the pass perfectly and then to have the presence of mind - and also the unselfishness - to square the ball for a teammate, it’s what the best strikers do. They see someone in a better position and they’ll square it.

“You can only score if you arrive in the finishing zone and that’s what Alfie did. They’re both great goalscorers, I don’t think missing a chance will stop them from getting in there. I thought they both played well and I was really pleased with the goal,” Davies admitted.

May was relieved to net the winner as he had a howler in the first half when he denied teammate Willum Willumsson a glorious solo goal. May uncharacteristically headed the ball over the crossbar from merely a yard out after Willumsson slalomed past three defenders and dinked over the goalkeeper.

Had May not made an intervention, Willumsson would’ve opened the scoring much earlier in the game and relieved the pressure on Blues. All will be forgotten now, though, as May went on to net his fifth goal of the season to secure Birmingham’s seventh successive League One victory.