On a crisp September evening at the bet365 Stadium, Stoke City edged past Birmingham City with a narrow 1-0 victory that underscored the razor-thin margins of the EFL Championship. Defender Bosun Lawal, in just his 15th appearance for the Potters, rose to the occasion—literally and figuratively—by heading home the game’s only goal in the first half. That moment of brilliance, combined with dogged defending, secured Stoke’s fourth win in five league outings and left Birmingham City ruing a sluggish start and a growing winless streak.
The match’s pivotal moment came in the 21st minute. Stoke, who had started brightly and with intent, won a corner on the right. Sorba Thomas, whose delivery has been a hallmark of Stoke’s attacking play this season, swung in a teasing ball. Lawal, timing his leap perfectly at the far post, sent a looping header back across goal and into the side netting. Birmingham’s goalkeeper Ryan Allsop scrambled, but could only watch as the ball nestled in—a first Stoke goal for Lawal, and a deserved lead for the home side.
That goal was the product of a high-octane opening spell from Stoke. The Potters pressed with energy and purpose, with Divin Mubama—on loan from Manchester City—forcing Allsop into a sharp save early on. Lawal himself had already tested the Birmingham keeper with another header from a Thomas corner before finding the breakthrough. The home crowd, buoyed by the team’s start, created a raucous atmosphere that Potters boss Mark Robins later described as “incredible.” According to Robins, “I thought we were really good – it was brilliant, inside the stadium it was really noisy. I thought we started off really well, high intensity, and I thought we carried that through, particularly in the first half, I thought we were outstanding.”
Stoke might have doubled their advantage before the break. In the 26th minute, keeper Viktor Johansson launched a long punt forward that found Thomas in stride. The winger, already with two goals this season, broke clear and unleashed a powerful shot that rattled the near post, drawing gasps from the stands. Birmingham, for their part, struggled to muster any attacking threat in the first half, with Jay Stansfield’s blocked effort their only real sight of goal.
The second half, however, saw a marked shift in momentum. Birmingham, perhaps stung by manager Chris Davies’ halftime words, emerged with greater urgency. They dominated possession—finishing the match with 58 percent of the ball—and spent long spells camped in Stoke’s half. Yet, for all their territorial advantage, clear-cut chances remained elusive. Jay Stansfield, lively throughout, saw a goal-bound shot blocked by Lawal, while Demarai Gray miscued a late volley. Stoke’s defense, marshaled by captain Ben Wilmot and the imposing Lawal, stood firm, repelling wave after wave of Birmingham attacks.
Davies, reflecting on his team’s performance, was candid about the reasons for defeat. “I think we started the game too slowly, that was the reason for the defeat because we were too slow to win duels, second balls, really impose ourselves in what was clearly going to be a challenging start and that culminated in them scoring a goal from a set piece which was very disappointing,” he told the press. “It’s been a bit of a familiar story in the last two games. We’ve had the lion’s share of the games, possession, a certain level of dominance, arriving in the final third a lot, but not then creating big chances from that.”
Indeed, Birmingham’s toothlessness in attack has become a worrying trend. The Blues have now lost three consecutive matches in all competitions without scoring—a run that includes a Carabao Cup exit to Port Vale. Statistically, they’ve forced the opposing goalkeeper into action just once in their past three fixtures, a fact not lost on Davies: “That was the frustrating part but ultimately the slow start has cost us.”
Stoke, meanwhile, were content to soak up pressure and see out the win. Mark Robins admitted his side could have been more ruthless, particularly on the counter. “We could have had another goal, maybe two, we've been a bit unfortunate but we have to be more ruthless there to take the game away from them – (but) really pleasing with the clean sheet and the noise inside the stadium was incredible.” The Potters’ ability to defend deep and protect their lead, especially in the face of late Birmingham pressure and a flurry of substitutions, was a testament to their growing resilience under Robins’ stewardship.
The match also marked the debut of Slovakia international Tomás Rigo for Stoke, who impressed before making way for Bae Junho in the second half. For Birmingham, there were returns to the starting lineup for Patrick Roberts and leading scorer Jay Stansfield, both of whom had been fitness doubts in the lead-up to the match. Despite these positive notes, the visitors’ inability to break down a resolute Stoke defense left them empty-handed once again.
This result carried broader implications for both clubs. Stoke’s victory kept them second in the Championship standings, a remarkable turnaround for a side that narrowly avoided relegation just a season ago. The appointment of Robins in early 2025 has injected new life into the Potters, with a clear tactical identity and a renewed sense of belief. The bet365 Stadium, once a source of anxiety for home fans, has become a fortress once more.
Birmingham, on the other hand, find themselves at a crossroads. Their return to the Championship after a dominant League One campaign was supposed to herald a new era, buoyed by investment and the attacking prowess of Stansfield and Gray. Instead, back-to-back league defeats and a lack of goals have raised questions about their ability to adapt to the division’s rigors. Davies, for his part, remains philosophical: “It's not a surprise to me how tough the Championship [is] but we have to make sure we don't lose too much heart from it and learn.”
As the final whistle blew, the sense of relief among the Stoke faithful was palpable. They had witnessed a performance full of grit and determination, capped by a memorable first goal for Lawal. For Birmingham, the search for answers—and goals—goes on. The Championship’s relentless schedule offers little respite, but both teams will know that fortunes can change quickly in this most unpredictable of leagues.
With the season still in its early stages, this hard-fought contest at the bet365 Stadium served as a timely reminder: in the Championship, every moment counts, and sometimes, all it takes is one towering header to make the difference.
