Birmingham City player ratings: Three 8s after Ethan Laird downs Exeter

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Ethan Laird’s first goal for Birmingham City sealed a 1-0 victory over Exeter City at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park.

Laird scored the only goal of the game in first half stoppage time to ensure Blues stayed top of League One and extended their unbeaten run to 14 games across all competitions. Exeter had defender Jack McMillan dismissed at the death for a second yellow card

The first half was packed with 20 fouls and four yellow cards, meaning there was little time for football to be played. Blues finally got going in first half stoppage time and took the lead with the first meaningful attack of the game.

Laird has been a match-winner since the turn of the year and opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time. Alfie May kept the attack alive after Scott Wright’s shot was beaten away by Joe Whitworth and Laird volleyed the left-wing cross into the corner.

Wright burst forward menacingly again at the start of the second period but he elected to shoot when a pass to May or the advancing Luke Harris might have been a better bet. The shot was blocked by the recovering defender.

The introduction of Ayumu Yokoyama just after the hour livened things up. Yokoyama killed a pass from Ben Davies with a superb first touch and jinked inside from the left before unleashing a shot that Whitworth was right behind.

There was some concern late on for Exeter left-back Vincent Harper after he went down in a heap inside his own penalty area. Harper suffered a blow to the head and left the field on a stretcher. The break-in-play lasted more than 10 minutes and ensured the game went well beyond 5pm.

Blues weren’t troubled by Exeter in the closing stages and saw out the game comfortably. The only action of note in stoppage time saw McMillan sent off for a second yellow card after the right-back upended Yokoyama.

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Ryan Allsop 6

Allsop didn’t have a save to make on his way to a 13th clean sheet in 22 matches for Blues. The goalkeeper was good with his feet, as ever.

Ethan Laird 8

Laird has stepped up his game in recent weeks to rack up the goal contributions. The right-back deserves credit for an excellent finish on his weaker left side.

Christoph Klarer 7.5

Good on the ball, solid in the air and defensively sound. Klarer blotted his copybook slightly with a needless booking for waving an imaginary yellow card in the referee’s direction.

Ben Davies 8*

It is hard to imagine a Blues line-up without Davies in it, such has been his defensive contribution over the past two months. The on-loan Rangers man stepped in to win back possession and play forward constantly against Exeter and dominated aerially.

Alex Cochrane 7

Whilst Cochrane’s passing wasn’t always on point, he was solid defensively and drifted into midfield to help Blues play through the thirds. Cochrane showed once again that he is a reliable team player.

Marc Leonard 7

The Scot is enjoying his best run in the team since August having started three consecutive games. Leonard moved the ball quickly and made four tackles to win the midfield battle.

Taylor Gardner-Hickman 8

Gardner-Hickman is effective wherever Davies puts him and filled the void of Paik Seung-ho in midfield with an all-action display. The 23-year-old was tidy in possession and competed ferociously with an aggressive Exeter midfield.

Scott Wright 6

Wright was involved in Laird’s goal as it was his shot that was saved in the build-up. The Scot looked rusty and slightly rash in his decision making when he worked his way into the final third.

Luke Harris 7

Harris showed some real moments of quality to pirouette away from his marker in midfield during the first half and nutmeg his man out wide midway through the second.

Jay Stansfield 6

Stansfield only lasted an hour on his return from injury but it was a boost for Blues to have him back in the XI ahead of fixtures with Wrexham and Huddersfield. The 22-year-old was never expected to be at his best against the club where it all began for him.

Alfie May 6.5

May was forced to play with his back to goal a lot of the time and wasn’t supplied with any chances. The striker worked his socks off for 83 minutes before Davies replaced him.

SUBS

Ayumu Yokoyama (for Stansfield, 62) 6

Yokoyama showed flashes of his quality and unpredictability in a lively cameo off the bench. He clearly played his way into Davies’ thinking at Swindon on Tuesday.

Lyndon Dykes (for Wright, 62) 6

Dykes appeared hungry to get on the scoresheet and attempted a couple of shots that were unsuccessful.

Krystian Bielik (for May, 84) N/A

Bielik made a rare appearance in midfield under Davies to help Blues seal another important three points.

Not used: Peacock-Farrell, Hanley, Sampsted, Jutkiewicz

Attendance: 25,930

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