Match report

Birmingham Defeats Watford 2-1 in Championship Clash

Birmingham
Birmingham
2–1
FT
Watford
Watford
Dec 1, 2025

Birmingham held off a late charge from Watford to secure a vital 2-1 win at St Andrew's Stadium in the ongoing Championship season. The Blues, led by Paik Seung-Ho and D. Gray, put in a strong first-half performance before holding on despite a flurry of substitutions from the visitors.

Key Facts

  • • Birmingham's Paik Seung-Ho scored at 31 minutes.
  • • D. Gray added Birmingham's second goal, assisted by J. Stansfield, at 43 minutes.
  • • Watford managed a consolation goal through O. Maamma at 60 minutes.
  • • Hector Kyprianou and T. Doyle both received yellow cards in the early stages of the match.

Lineups

Birmingham

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Starting XI

  • 25 J. Beadle (G)
  • 26 B. Osayi-Samuel (D)
  • 5 P. Neumann (D)
  • 4 C. Klarer (D)
  • 20 A. Cochrane (D)
  • 7 T. Doyle (M)
  • 8 Paik Seung-Ho (M)
  • 16 P. Roberts (M)
  • 28 J. Stansfield (M)
  • 10 D. Gray (M)
  • 33 M. Ducksch (F)

Substitutes

  • 21 R. Allsop
  • 23 A. Sampsted
  • 41 E. Cashin
  • 6 J. Robinson
  • 12 M. Leonard
  • 14 K. Anderson
  • 30 L. Koumas
  • 17 L. Dykes
  • 9 K. Furuhashi

Watford

Formation: 4-4-2

Starting XI

  • 12 N. Baxter (G)
  • 2 J. Ngakia (D)
  • 4 K. Keben (D)
  • 6 M. Pollock (D)
  • 16 M. Bola (D)
  • 7 T. Ince (M)
  • 10 I. Louza (M)
  • 5 H. Kyprianou (M)
  • 42 O. Maamma (M)
  • 20 M. Doumbia (F)
  • 9 L. Kjerrumgaard (F)

Substitutes

  • 41 A. Marriott
  • 3 M. Alleyne
  • 8 G. Chakvetadze
  • 17 M. Sissoko
  • 18 V. Semedo
  • 22 J. Morris
  • 23 N. Mendy
  • 25 J. Abankwah
  • 39 E. Kayembe

Timeline

  1. Watford
    20' Watford Card · Yellow Card
    Hector Kyprianou

    Foul

  2. Birmingham
    24' Birmingham Card · Yellow Card
    T. Doyle

    Foul

  3. Birmingham
    31' Birmingham Goal · Normal Goal
    Paik Seung-Ho
  4. Birmingham
    43' Birmingham Goal · Normal Goal
    D. Gray · Assist: J. Stansfield
  5. Watford
    59' Watford subst · Substitution 1
    Off: T. Ince · On: G. Chakvetadze
  6. Watford
    60' Watford subst · Substitution 2
    Off: L. Kjerrumgaard · On: V. Semedo
  7. Watford
    60' Watford subst · Substitution 3
    Off: Hector Kyprianou · On: E. Kayembe
  8. Watford
    61' Watford Goal · Normal Goal
    O. Maamma · Assist: M. Bola
  9. Birmingham
    69' Birmingham subst · Substitution 1
    Off: D. Gray · On: Keshi Anderson
  10. Birmingham
    73' Birmingham subst · Substitution 2
    Off: Bright Osayi-Samuel · On: A. Sampsted
  11. Birmingham
    73' Birmingham subst · Substitution 3
    Off: M. Ducksch · On: L. Dykes
  12. Watford
    76' Watford Card · Yellow Card
    I. Louza

    Off the ball foul

  13. Birmingham
    78' Birmingham Card · Yellow Card
    J. Stansfield

    Foul

  14. Birmingham
    80' Birmingham Card · Yellow Card
    P. Roberts

    Time wasting

  15. Watford
    85' Watford subst · Substitution 4
    Off: O. Maamma · On: M. Sissoko
  16. Birmingham
    90'+2 Birmingham subst · Substitution 4
    Off: J. Stansfield · On: M. Leonard
  17. Birmingham
    90'+2 Birmingham subst · Substitution 5
    Off: P. Roberts · On: L. Koumas

Match Stats

Stat Birmingham Watford
Fouls 11 10
Pass Accuracy 77% 79%
Offsides — —
Red Cards — —
Total Shots 13 12
Corners 6 6
Total Passes 418 422
Yellow Cards 3 2
Blocked Shots 3 3
Shots on Target 5 4
xG 1.26 1.03
Shots off Target 5 5
Possession 49% 51%
Goals Prevented 0 0
Accurate Passes 321 335
Shots Inside Box 8 8
Saves 3 3
Shots Outside Box 5 4

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ Birmingham's early two-goal lead set the tone, with Paik Seung-Ho scoring at 31 minutes followed by D. Gray at 43.
  • ▸ Watford fought back after a triple substitution at halftime but couldn't overturn the deficit despite O. Maamma reducing the gap at 60.