Birmingham 0-2 Fulham

Fulham secured their place in the third round of the Carabao Cup after Jay Stansfield’s stunning first senior goal and Antonee Robinson’s late strike downed Birmingham at St. Andrew’s.

Marco Silva made full use of his entire squad and made wholesale changes from the win over Hull. The notable changes being a first-team debut for young midfielder Adrion Pajaziti and Jay Stansfield led the line up front.

Fulham’s early possession was penetrative and purposeful. The young duo at the base of midfield in Pajaziti and Tyrese Francois looked composed.

Birmingham looked timid up until the quarter of an hour mark. Former Fulham man Jordan Graham whipped in a lovely cross for the outstretched Riley McGree. Marek Rodák was relieved to see the ball clear the top of the bar.

With both teams making numerous changes, both sides were lacking the final sharp pass. That all changed when Stansfield drove at the heart of the Birmingham defence and slammed a precise drive into the top corner. A brilliant way for the 18-year-old to grab his first senior goal.

Ivan Sunjic was one of the only Blues players to keep his place from their previous league game and he had Rodák scrambling just before the break. The Slovakian looked confident the ball would clear his post on the dive.

The boys asserted control of the game leading up to the interval and stamped their identity on it. Bobby De Cordova-Reid let a lofted pass run across his body and skewed over the bar in what was a good chance before the break.

A solid spell of possession incurred from the lads as we hit the hour mark. Alfie Mawson and Michael Hector were stepping out of defence to good effect. De Cordova-Reid then received a Neeskens Kebano cut-back which flew off the outside of his boot and wide.

Whilst Fulham looked the likelier, Neil Etheridge hadn’t been tested to his maximum. He had to be on 70 minutes as Kebano weaved at his man and drove for the corner. The former Fulham stopper reacted well to push over the bar.

Ivan Cavaleiro was introduced on the left side in the place of the tricky Kebano to add a boost of pace. Stansfield was feeling the effects of his hard work and needed to be replaced by Antonee Robinson who slotted in at left-back.

De Cordova-Reid found a late burst of energy into 90 minutes as he darted in-field and struck the base of the post. Antonee Robinson then did what De Cordova-Reid couldn’t. He found the same corner in emphatic style in stoppage time to secure the win.

Fulham march on into the next round.