Birmingham City weren’t able to record a home victory against Stoke City
17:04, 24 Jan 2026Updated 17:24, 24 Jan 2026
Birmingham City’s Tomoki Iwata (centre) celebrates scoring(Image: )
An own goal from Phil Neumann saw Birmingham City drop points on home turf against Stoke City.
Neumann put through his own net in the second half at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park to cancel out Tomoki Iwata’s second goal of the season.
Blues missed the chance to move level on points with Stoke in the congested Championship and stay in mid-table.
Stoke started the better of the two teams and almost took the lead through Tomas Rigo. Miscommunication between James Beadle and Neumann allowed the ball to drop to Rigo and his shot hit the post.
Beadle was soon panicked again by Tatsuki Seko’s shot that drifted just wide of his right-hand post.
Blues mustered up a response through a Tommy Doyle free-kick that struck the stanchion of Stoke’s goal. Debutant Ibrahim Osman won the free-kick out wide on the left with a speedy run in behind Sorba Thomas before the pair tangled.
A lovely pass from Iwata put Jay Stansfield through on goal but Stoke’s stand-in goalkeeper Tommy Simkin won the battle of wits with his former England under-21 teammate.
Stansfield turned provider for Iwata to slot in a few minutes later but referee James Bell had already blown up for a foul by Marvin Ducksch in the build-up. Ducksch tugged back the Stoke midfielder Seko who went to track Stansfield’s run down the side before the striker latched onto Doyle’s rehearsed free-kick and found Iwata.
It was another set piece routine and the same combination that earned Blues the lead three minutes before half-time.
A corner from Doyle deliberately found Stansfield at the far post and he headed back across goal for Iwata to nod in a legitimate goal.
Iwata lifted aloft a shirt with ‘Arthur 6’ on the back to remember Bluenose Arthur Labinjo-Hughes.
Tomoki Iwata of Birmingham holds a shirt up in memory of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes after he scores their first goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Birmingham City and Stoke City at St Andrew’s at Knighthead Park(Image: )
Osman had the chance to double Blues’ lead on the stroke of half-time after being played through by Ducksch. The on-loan winger had the option to square it to Stansfield but he attempted to score himself and couldn’t beat Simkin.
Osman’s acceleration down the left saw him burst beyond Thomas and fire a ball across that dropped invitingly to Stansfield at the start of the second half. Stansfield’s effort was well blocked by Ashley Phillips.
Stoke didn’t create much in open play but they were always a threat on set pieces and their equaliser arrived from a corner in the 71st minute.
Thomas’s delivery evaded everyone at the near post and Neumann inadvertently diverted it past Beadle.
Stoke almost nicked it late on – again from a right-wing Thomas corner. Steven Nzonzi glanced the ball an inch or two over the crossbar after Blues lost the first contact at the near post again.
Substitute August Priske’s eyes lit up in stoppage time when he collected a ball on the edge of the box and saw the goal. Unfortunately for Priske, Simkin was right behind his shot and that was that, the spoils were shared.
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James Beadle 6
The goalkeeper showed his personality with a blast at Neumann after the defender ignored his call to claim a cross and put Blues in trouble.
Tomoki Iwata 7.5*
Iwata had the ball in the net twice – once legitimately – and galloped up and down the right wing relentlessly. He delivered some inviting crosses that weren’t finished off early in the second half.
Phil Neumann 6
Neumann made another good block early on, as he did in Blues’ previous two matches, but there is a feeling that he will always give opposition attackers a chance. The ball bounced in off Neumann for Stoke’s equaliser.
Birmingham City’s Phil Neumann takes a shot blocked by Stoke City’s Eric Junior Bocat(Image: )
Christoph Klarer 6.5
The Blues captain won more than his fair share of headers and coped well with makeshift Stoke striker Cisse, even when he was dragged into wide areas.
Kai Wagner 6.5
Stoke’s threat was always going to come down Wagner’s side with Thomas and Manhoef but the left-back didn’t get overrun. Wagner will benefit from Gray’s return.
Tommy Doyle 7
Doyle’s set pieces were absolutely vital. Three times in the first half they resulted in danger for Stoke’s defence and it was a Doyle corner that led to Iwata’s goal.
Paik Seung-ho 6.5
Started the game a tad nervously with poor passes and touches in midfield but improved and helped Blues gain control of the match towards the end of the half. Paik stayed on ahead of Doyle again when Solis came on.
Patrick Roberts 7
Fantastic footwork, as ever, from the diminutive wideman and the combinations with Iwata opened Stoke up a few times. Laid on a chance for Stansfield in the second half after one excellent run.
Marvin Ducksch 6
Not the level Ducksch has played to in the previous four matches but Davies left him on until the 82nd minute which shows you exactly what he thinks of him right now.
Ibrahim Osman 6
It was a mixed bag from Osman who hasn’t played much football since November due to injury. The winger ran his way into good positions but the end product was missing. Osman had a great chance to score in first half stoppage time.
Jay Stansfield 7
Cleverly set up Iwata’s goal but should have scored one of his own. You can’t fault his play outside of the box but Stansfield is clearly lacking a bit of confidence in front of goal.
Tomoki Iwata of Birmingham celebrates with Jay Stansfield after he scores their first goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Birmingham City and Stoke City at St Andrew’s at Knighthead Park(Image: )
SUBS
Jhon Solis (for Doyle, 57) 6.5
Landed on loose balls and tracked runners. Solis even showed a bit of skill to win a corner on the right wing.
August Priske (for Osman, 57) 6
Welcome to the Championship. Priske was thrown around and kicked a few times without being awarded a free-kick. He seems like a willing worker.
Kyogo Furuhashi (for Ducksch, 82) N/A
Scott Wright (for Roberts, 90’) N/A
Not used: Allsop, Osayi-Samuel, Mazwi, Willumsson, Fujimoto
Attendance: 27,904
How did you rate the Blues players? Let us know in the comments…