Cambridge United were outclassed by Sky Bet League One leaders Birmingham City at St Andrew’s, who comfortably secured a 4-0 victory on Tuesday evening…
Up against it from the get-go, a penalty mid-way through the first half from Jay Stansfield opened up the floodgates, with an own goal and Kieran Dowell strike securing a healthy lead, which was added to late on through substitute Luke Harris which sealed the damage.
Looking to further increase their points tally after claiming a draw at Lincoln City three days earlier, Garry Monk rotated his squad by naming four changes. Ben Stevenson was handed his first start for the Club, whilst the fresh legs of Liam Bennett, Paul Digby and Dan Barton were all chosen from the off. Danny Andrew picked up a knock in the warm-up and, as such, was replaced by Kell Watts.
Discipline was a necessity for the U’s, who would very much need to bide their time and make opportunities count against the league leaders. Dominating the early possession, the Blues forced the visitors to clear their lines and keep a tight shape.
The opening chance was conjured up in the 9th minute when Keshi Anderson capitalised on a misplaced pass high up the field, before feeding Stansfield inside the area, with the £15 million man pulling the trigger at the first attempt but an excellent block from Jubril Okedina forced a corner.
Made to drop deep, one-way traffic continued and a penalty was awarded on 21 when Ethan Laird embarked on a marauding run into the box from the right and was brought to ground after Barton and James Brophy put too much pressure on the full-back. Up stepped Stansfield, who went straight down the middle with venom to open the scoring.
With half an hour on the clock, Laird looked to provide again when he squared to Tomoki Iwata – the ambitious attempt from 20 yards took a wicked deflection towards the post but Nathan Bishop had it covered.
The advantage was doubled on the 38th minute when Dowell showed skill to pick out Anderson out wide, whose wicked cross into the six-yard box was diverted into his own net by Bennett, who was under pressure.
It was a mountain to climb a matter of seconds later when Chris Davies’ free-flowing side made it three when a blistering attack from Stansfield and Anderson helped create for Dowell, who drilled into the bottom corner.
With the gulf in class evident, Birmingham continued to pour forwards and almost added another to their tally on two occasions from livewire Dowell, who first clattered the bar with a header and then seconds before the break forced Bishop into a strong claim in a one-on-one position.
Following the break, the U’s switched to a back four in order to find more space to exploit as James Gibbons and Josh Stokes were brought on.
However, defence versus attack remained. A delivery from Stansfield was snatched at by Willum Willumsson from a matter of yards out, but Bishop was on hand to deny with a point-blank stop.
The Blues were handed their second penalty of the evening on the 56th minute when Stansfield looked to turn and get his shot away, but was dragged back to give Darren Drysdale no choice but to point to the spot. This time, United’s loan goalkeeper was a match as he stopped with his feet.
The shot stopper was called into action again during quickfire moments 20 minutes from time when Stansfield twisted and turned just outside of the area but couldn’t generate enough power and then Krystian Bielik’s speculative shot from distance required the 25-year-old to get low to smother.
After peppering with the goalmouth for a sustained period, the hosts were celebrating their fourth on 78 when, not too long after coming on, Harris touched a delicate ball down from 20 yards and hit a crisp half volley into the corner.
In response, a late influx from United saw Brandon Njoku almost catch out goalkeeper Ryan Allsopp with his press and Barton spraying many crosses into the mixer, which kept the hosts alert to preserve a clean sheet and consign Monk’s side to a heavy defeat against an outfit that oozed class.
Up next, the U’s return home for the first of back-to-back matches at the Cledara Abbey on Saturday (15th February) with Exeter City making the trek for the early kick-off.
Birmingham City: Allsop, Laird, Klarer (Hanley, 70’), Davies, Cochrane, Paik (Harris, 76’), Iwata (Bielik, 46’), Dowell, Willumsson (Dykes, 61’), Anderson (Wright, 61’), Stansfield
Subs Not Used: Peacock-Farrell, May
Goalscorers: Stansfield (22’), OG (38’), Dowell (39’), Harris (78’)
Bookings: Laird
Cambridge United: Bishop, Okedina, Morrison, Watts, Bennett (Gibbons, 46’), Digby, Stevenson (Cousins, 60’), Brophy (Hoddle, 80’), Barton, Kachunga (Njoku, 61’), Loft (Stokes, 46’)
Subs Not Used: Stevens
Goalscorers:
Bookings: Bishop, Gibbons, Njoku
Referee: Darren Drysdale
Attendance: 22,456