Match report

Birmingham Defeats Bradford 2-1 in EFL Trophy

Birmingham
Birmingham
2–1
FT
Bradford
Bradford
Feb 18, 2025

Birmingham secured a crucial 2-1 victory over Bradford in the EFL Trophy. Goals from J. Stansfield and L. Dykes were enough to edge out Bradford, who found the equalizer through Bobby Pointon. Despite a tough battle, Birmingham's second-half resilience proved decisive.

Key Facts

  • • Birmingham: 2 goals (J. Stansfield, L. Dykes)
  • • Bradford: 1 goal (Bobby Pointon)
  • • Yellow cards: Bradford (B. Halliday, T. Wright, R. Smallwood)
  • • Substitutions: Birmingham made multiple changes, including L. Dykes and Grant Hanley
  • • Competition: EFL Trophy

Lineups

Birmingham

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Starting XI

  • 21 R. Allsop (G)
  • 19 T. Gardner-Hickman (D)
  • 4 C. Klarer (D)
  • 25 B. Davies (D)
  • 20 A. Cochrane (D)
  • 13 Paik Seung-Ho (M)
  • 24 T. Iwata (M)
  • 30 K. Dowell (M)
  • 18 W. Willumsson (M)
  • 11 S. Wright (M)
  • 28 J. Stansfield (F)

Substitutes

  • 9 A. May
  • 14 K. Anderson
  • 2 E. Laird
  • 17 L. Dykes
  • 31 G. Hanley
  • 45 B. Peacock-Farrell
  • 6 K. Bielik

Bradford

Formation: 3-4-2-1

Starting XI

  • 1 S. Walker (G)
  • 15 A. Baldwin (D)
  • 24 J. Shepherd (D)
  • 30 R. Crichlow-Noble (D)
  • 2 B. Halliday (M)
  • 16 A. Pattison (M)
  • 6 R. Smallwood (M)
  • 17 T. Wright (M)
  • 10 A. Sarcevic (F)
  • 23 B. Pointon (F)
  • 7 J. Walker (F)

Substitutes

  • 29 H. Ibbitson
  • 22 C. Johnson
  • 25 J. Hilton
  • 12 C. Oduor
  • 5 N. Byrne
  • 20 P. Huntington
  • 27 J. Benn

Timeline

  1. Bradford
    5' Bradford Card · Yellow Card
    B. Halliday

    Foul

  2. Birmingham
    34' Birmingham Card · Yellow Card
    A. Cochrane

    Foul

  3. Bradford
    45'+2 Bradford Card · Yellow Card
    T. Wright

    Foul

  4. Birmingham
    45'+3 Birmingham Goal · Normal Goal
    J. Stansfield · Assist: K. Dowell
  5. Bradford
    52' Bradford Goal · Normal Goal
    Bobby Pointon · Assist: A. Sarcevic
  6. Birmingham
    59' Birmingham subst · Substitution 1
    Off: J. Stansfield · On: A. May
  7. Birmingham
    60' Birmingham subst · Substitution 2
    Off: S. Wright · On: Keshi Anderson
  8. Birmingham
    60' Birmingham subst · Substitution 3
    Off: T. Gardner-Hickman · On: E. Laird
  9. Birmingham
    80' Birmingham subst · Substitution 4
    Off: K. Dowell · On: L. Dykes
  10. Birmingham
    88' Birmingham Goal · Normal Goal
    L. Dykes · Assist: Tomoki Iwata
  11. Bradford
    90'+2 Bradford subst · Substitution 2
    Off: B. Halliday · On: Callum Johnson
  12. Birmingham
    90'+3 Birmingham subst · Substitution 5
    Off: W. T. Willumsson · On: Grant Hanley
  13. Bradford
    90'+6 Bradford Card · Yellow Card
    R. Smallwood

    Foul

  14. Bradford
    90'+9 Bradford subst · Substitution 1
    Off: J. Walker · On: H. Ibbitson

Match Stats

Stat Birmingham Bradford
Fouls 9 7
Pass Accuracy 84% 66%
Offsides 2 9
Red Cards — —
Total Shots 10 3
Corners 5 2
Total Passes 680 320
Yellow Cards 1 3
Blocked Shots 1 1
Shots on Target 4 2
xG — —
Shots off Target 5 0
Possession 68% 32%
Goals Prevented — —
Accurate Passes 573 210
Shots Inside Box 8 3
Saves 1 2
Shots Outside Box 2 0

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ J. Stansfield's early goal (45+2) put Birmingham ahead, setting the tone for the match.
  • ▸ L. Dykes' late goal (88) sealed the victory for Birmingham, overcoming Bradford's equalizer by Bobby Pointon (52)