Chris Davies deserves huge credit for the transformation at Birmingham City. Last season, the side dominated possession but struggled to turn that control into goals, especially on the road, and finished well outside the play-off places. This season, Davies has made them more progressive. They still want the ball, ranking 10th for possession, but they now play forward more and attack more directly.
August Priske leads the line, scoring goals and giving the team a clear focal point. Birmingham can play through opponents, over them or around them. Liam Millar, signed after Davies long wanted him, has been a standout and arguably ranks among the top three Championship players since his arrival. Opponents can no longer predict how Birmingham will play, unlike last season when teams could prepare for their set approach.
The change was a deliberate choice. Davies could not simply repeat Plan A and hope for better results, so he built a Plan B. The players appear to enjoy the new, more direct style, and it is paying dividends. Many observers now consider Birmingham the most exciting side to watch in the league and one of its most dangerous attacking teams.
Elsewhere, West Ham made a statement with a win at leaders Swansea, the biggest standalone game of the season so far and a major test for both clubs. Swansea were not far off the level of their opponents, but West Ham showed they have genuine title credentials. Preston, meanwhile, showed little sign of improvement under Graham Alexander and looked doomed on current form.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing