Birmingham 3-0 Bristol City: Blues make it three wins in a row

Riley McGree made it a birthday to remember as his goal paved the way for Birmingham's 3-0 win against Bristol City at St Andrew's.

The Australia international midfielder, who turned 23, scored his second goal in three games to make it three wins in a row for Blues for the first time since February 2020.

Blues controlled the game from start to finish and deservedly took the lead in the 14th minute.

Midfielder Gary Gardner wasted a clear chance when he headed across goal from close range from Jordan Graham's fine cross to the far post.

Seconds later, Blues led when McGree's left-footed drive from 20 yards took a wicked deflection off the unfortunate Tomas Kalas to completely wrongfoot goalkeeper Daniel Bentley.

Blues remained on top and Scott Hogan nodded wide from Troy Deeney's cross.

• Championship fixtures | table | highlights
• Get Sky Sports

Nothing had been seen of the Bristol City attack but they threatened on the half hour.

Nahki Wells burst into the box but the ball ran loose and former Aston Villa forward Andreas Weimann sliced horribly wide.

Blues broke again and Jeremie Bela advanced from wing-back to cut inside George Tanner before curling a 22-yard effort just wide of the far post.

Lee Bowyer's side continued their domination into the second half.

Hogan dragged a volley from an acute angle just wide after Deeney's flick put him in the clear.

Then McGree turned provider when he crossed for Gardner, who headed wide at the far post.

Bristol City produced a rare threat when right-back Tanner powered a rising drive narrowly over the bar.

But Blues scored a second goal that their play deserved with a move of remarkable simplicity in the 68th minute.

Goalkeeper Matija Sarkic kicked long and Deeney won the flick-on to leave Hogan to coolly slot past Bentley.

Gardner made it 3-0 with a powerful header from Graham's cross with 77 minutes gone after the scorer started the move himself by winning the ball then spraying it wide.

Blues were in total control and Bela floated a free-kick fractionally wide as they toyed with Nigel Pearson's side.

What the managers said...

Birmingham's Lee Bowyer: "Riley has taken his opportunity. With me, if you work hard and care about the club and the team you're playing for, you'll always have a chance of playing. When you get the opportunity - a start or off the bench - I want you to grab it. Riley's been superb. He hasn't played much but now that we need him, he's stepped up and performed for the team, which every player should do.

"We are going to need some help in January. Riley's going back, Chong's out injured for a while, so we are losing players left, right and centre. Unfortunately he had to have an operation today, and he will be out for 16 weeks. He was standing on the side of the pitch and made a five-yard pass, there was no one near him, and he damaged his groin area. It's a massive loss."

Bristol City's Nigel Pearson: "We were too soft, we're an easy touch when teams ask questions of us - the players need to man up.We weren't good enough in both boxes. We have players who've not performed when the heat starts to rise.

"We didn't deal with the threat from Troy Deeney and Scott Hogan. The third goal is, wow, not good enough, I'm very annoyed about that. We conceded poor goals."

Win £250,000 on Wednesday!

The Champions League returns, with the £250,000 Super 6 jackpot up for grabs. Play for free, entries by 7:45.