Alex Cochrane scored inside a minute as Birmingham buried Millwall with a first-half goal rush to earn a 3-0 Championship win at St. Andrew's. Cochrane, Max Bird and Jay Stansfield netted with left-footed finishes before half-time, easing the loss of seven-goal striker August Priske with a knee problem. The victory put City on their way to their sixth win in eight and extended their unbeaten Championship home start to seven games.
City made the visitors pay by doubling their lead in the 16th minute. Bird steered home a left-footed drive from 15 yards after sidestepping Derek Mazou-Sacko before taking on the goalkeeper to celebrate his first start. Blues continued to threaten, and Stansfield's curling shot was palmed away by the keeper before Solis' downward header bounced to the Millwall goalkeeper.
However, Millwall wasted opportunities to reduce the arrears when former City striker Lyndon Dykes flashed a rising drive over the bar, and Jake Cooper scooped a similar effort over from Lisbie's low cross. Blues made them pay with a fine breakaway goal in the 29th minute. Stansfield took Bird's pass and ran at the defence before cutting inside Cooper and sending a left-footed drive through the goalkeeper's legs into the bottom corner.
The home side held the upper hand following the restart, though Millwall showed first. Crocombe remained the busier of the two keepers, making crucial saves. Millwall's closest effort was a thunderous shot that shook the crossbar.
The result means City maintain their strong home form ahead of next fixtures.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing