Birmingham City marked their 150th anniversary match – and the buoyant mood around plans for a new 'Powerhouse' arena – with a ruthless 4-1 dismantling of Norwich City at St Andrew’s, handing new Canaries head coach Philippe Clement a chastening introduction to the Championship. Marvin Ducksch and Jay Stansfield both scored twice as Chris Davies’ side delivered a third successive four-goal home haul, with Mathias Kvistgaarden’s well-taken strike the visitors’ only reply.
Birmingham were two goals up inside 21 minutes thanks to a blistering start that Norwich never fully recovered from, and although the visitors briefly threatened a comeback at 2-1, Ducksch’s second goal on the stroke of half-time and Stansfield’s emphatic finish early in the second period ensured the points stayed in the Midlands. The result lifts Blues to ninth in the table, just a point outside the play-off places and with three wins in their last four games, while Norwich sink to second-from-bottom, five points from safety after a run of one win in 14 and eight defeats in their last 10 league matches.
Blues’ Relentless Start Leaves Canaries Reeling
Davies had spoken beforehand about the need for intensity following the international break, and his players responded immediately. Within the opening minute Demarai Gray drew a smart low save from Vladan Kovacevic, a chance that, in the Birmingham manager’s words, set the tone for a display built on aggression and relentless running. Norwich, arriving with just one win in 14 and shorn of confidence, were on the back foot almost from kick-off.