St Andrew’s was a cauldron of drama on December 29, 2025, as Birmingham City and Southampton played out a fiercely contested 1-1 draw that left both sides searching for momentum heading into the new year. The Sky Bet Championship encounter had everything: controversial refereeing, a flurry of missed chances, and substitute heroics—with tempers flaring on and off the pitch.
The match pitted two ambitious but out-of-form teams against each other. Birmingham, languishing in 15th place and winless since December 1, were desperate to arrest their slide, while Southampton, only a point and two places better off, arrived at St Andrew’s without a win in their last four outings. Both sides have endured rollercoaster years, with the Blues having started 2025 flying high in League One and Saints still licking their wounds after a bruising Premier League relegation.
Southampton manager Tonda Eckert sprang an early surprise by leaving Léo Scienza out of the starting eleven, giving Jay Robinson a rare start on the right and shifting Finn Azaz to the left of the attack. Meanwhile, there were returns for Tom Fellows and captain Jack Stephens, but Saints were still without Shea Charles and Mads Roerslev. Striker Ross Stewart had rejoined training but was not fit enough for selection, while Elias Jelert was added to the travelling squad—a decision that would prove pivotal.
The first half was a cagey affair, with both teams probing but failing to land a decisive blow. Birmingham looked the more threatening, carving out the better chances. Jay Stansfield pressed relentlessly from the left, and Japan international Kyogo Furuhashi, making his first start since September, was lively but wasteful, spurning a golden opportunity when he lifted over after being played in on goal. Southampton’s Adam Armstrong, whose scoring record against Birmingham is the stuff of nightmares for Blues fans—11 goals in 11 previous meetings—led the line with intent but couldn’t convert two half-chances.
The closest either side came to breaking the deadlock before the interval was Paik Seung-ho’s wicked free-kick, which left Saints keeper Gavin Bazunu rooted as it rattled the crossbar. Southampton, for their part, nearly snatched a lead from a set piece, with Taylor Harwood-Bellis forcing Birmingham’s James Beadle into a smart save.
After a goalless first half, the contest burst into life just three minutes after the restart. A sloppy pass from Harwood-Bellis put Caspar Jander under pressure, leading to a foul and a dangerous free-kick for Birmingham. Saints failed to clear their lines, and after a bout of head tennis, Phil Neumann rose highest to loop a header over Bazunu and in off the underside of the bar. The home crowd erupted, sensing a long-awaited victory might be on the cards.
Birmingham nearly doubled their lead as Stansfield’s fierce drive from 20 yards forced Bazunu into a fingertip save, the ball clattering off the post. The Saints looked rattled, with their backline—already among the league’s most porous—struggling to contain City’s renewed attacking impetus.
But as has been the case too often this season, Birmingham failed to put the game to bed. Saints boss Eckert turned to his bench, and the substitutions paid immediate dividends. In the 71st minute, Cameron Bragg smartly slid the ball inside the full-back for Elias Jelert, whose low cross was deftly turned in at the near post by Cameron Archer. The goal, Archer’s third of the season and first since August, was not without controversy. Moments before the equaliser, referee Matthew Donohue had inadvertently blocked Birmingham captain Tomoki Iwata as he tried to reach a loose ball, but play was allowed to continue, much to the fury of the home side.
What followed was a scene of chaos. Birmingham boss Chris Davies was booked for his vehement protests and, after delaying the restart when Southampton were awarded a free-kick, was shown a red card. The St Andrew’s faithful made their displeasure clear, chants of “You’re not fit to referee” echoing around the stands. “We’re all very, very upset by it, it’s a very contentious issue. I’m not quite sure why the referee didn’t stop the game. He’s human and everyone makes mistakes. Ultimately it has cost us two points,” Birmingham assistant manager Ben Petty said to BBC Radio WM after the match.
Despite their frustration, Birmingham could have few complaints about Southampton’s response. The Saints, buoyed by the impact of their substitutes, pressed hard for a winner in the closing stages. Armstrong’s movement between the lines and sharp finishing had been highlighted before the match as a potential game-changer, but it was Archer who stole the headlines. “We’ve been talking about for weeks that we need impact from the bench and we had that today. I’m very happy with the players who came on,” said Eckert to BBC Radio Solent. “I think it’s a good point if we get three against Millwall.”
Statistically, the game was as tight as the scoreline suggests. Both teams managed two tame efforts on target in the first half, with Birmingham edging the shot count and possession narrowly split. Saints’ Bazunu, despite flapping at Neumann’s opener, redeemed himself with a crucial save to deny Stansfield. Player ratings reflected the evenness of the contest, with most Saints players scoring between 5 and 7 out of 10, and Jelert’s 7.5/10 standing out for his game-changing contribution.
The result means Birmingham’s winless run extends to six matches, leaving them 15th and seven points outside the play-off places. Southampton, also winless in four, remain just above City in the table. Both clubs will look to snap their respective skids on New Year’s Day, with Birmingham visiting Watford and Southampton hosting Millwall.
For Birmingham, the sense of injustice will linger, but their inability to convert dominance into goals remains a concern. For Southampton, the resilience shown after falling behind and the impact of their substitutes offer hope heading into a crucial run of fixtures. As the dust settles on a dramatic night at St Andrew’s, both teams know they’ll need to find another gear if they’re to climb the Championship table in 2026.
