Birm’ham 2 – 0 W Brom

Hannibal Mejbri stole the show with his goal and helped Birmingham win 2-0 against West Brom – to earn the Blues their first home win in 2023.

The on-loan Manchester United midfielder took just 10 minutes to put his side in front in sensational fashion, curling a free-kick wide from 35 yards, deceiving West Brom goalkeeper David Button as he pretended to find a cross.

Mejbri then curled in a great corner for Krystian Bielik to head home, with the Blues midfielder beating Button to the ball.

Victory for the Blues moves them within six points of the play-off places heading into Saturday’s action – with John Eustace’s side now 10 points above the relegation zone.

Meanwhile, West Brom – who celebrated manager Carlos Corberan’s new contract in midweek following speculation over a move to Leeds – missed the chance to move into fifth place.

Birmingham fans marched from the city center to St Andrew’s in protest against owners Birmingham Sports Holdings continued, but at least they were given an early target to quell their anger.

The hosts were bright and, when Lukas Jutkiewicz cleverly bought a Conor Townsend free-kick 30 yards down the right after 10 minutes, Hannibal took charge.

Button expected him to swing into a crowded area, but the 20-year-old embarrassed the goalkeeper by curling around a one-man wall to find the bottom corner.

Initially, the Blues terrorized Albion, but were unable to get going early on, although Button had to deny Tahith Chong’s ferocious strike.

The Baggies struggled to match Birmingham’s intensity and, while Daryl Dike briefly gave the hosts cause for concern when powering down John Ruddy’s clearance, they were second best.

Marc Albrighton’s shot bent but never troubled Ruddy and there was no zip from the side that had won 11 of their previous 16 games.

Corberan looked restless on the bench and the mood would only darken seven minutes after the break.

Albion concede a low corner and Hannibal’s cross is missed by Button flapping for Bielik to nod in.

Ruddy turned John Swift’s drive behind as the Baggies tried to respond but there was no way back.

Managers:

Birmingham City manager John Eustace spoke to Sky Sports:

“I’m very proud of the group of players. Today was very difficult with the protests. It just shows the character of the group, it’s a special group. We were favorites for relegation at the beginning of the season, we went in. A lot of loan players and we have young and old players, who most importantly want to fight and score each other and you can see tonight.

“Last week, we said it was wrong at half time in Swansea. We did it right in the second half. Today, we got it right and set the pieces to win the game. Hannibal works every day, goes out on set and we thank you done.

“It’s a great fan, all season so far. I’ve said since day one that the relationship between the players and the fans is the most important thing for me. We’ve had difficult times but they’ve given 100 percent and I’m grateful for that and also the players.

“We just take each day as it comes. I know it’s a cliché but in the Championship we can’t be too high with the highs and too low with the lows. We’ve only had five straight defeats and then two. [wins] in a row. We’ve got another home game against Cardiff, we’ll see where that takes us.

“Hannibal has come in, a 19-year-old boy on his first loan. He had a really good start, then he went down a bit, he’s back and he’s been doing really well lately.”

West Brom manager Carlos Corberan spoke to Sky Sports:

“I think those two goals had a big impact in the middle of the game. They started the game aggressively and surprised us with the first goal.

“The intensity in the second ball, they played more aggressively. They were better than us.

“[After] half-time we try to play more intensity in defense and more calmness in attack to find more conditions for progress. The game was interrupted in the first half and at the beginning of the second half. They are one level higher than us.

“I think [the first goal] there is a strange goal. In football, you can’t be surprised by the action. We waited for the cross and he finished. It’s a good connection.

“The important thing is that if we win one game it’s not luck. If we lose a game it’s not luck. We didn’t do well from an individual and collective point of view. Take responsibility and hope to play better next time.”

Player of the match: Hannibal Mejbri

Birmingham midfielder Hannibal Mejbri spoke to Sky Sports Football:

“It was a great match, a great derby. I had a chance to score and I was very happy. The atmosphere was great, I just had to enjoy the moment.

“There is no message [to shoot for the free-kick], the only message in my head. I saw the goalkeeper was very tall, so I acted like I was going to cross, so I shot.

“We are a big family, if someone needs help, we are always there, if there is a problem, we stick together.

“I’m sure [Erik ten Hag] have Sky, but I just have to focus until the end of the season and we’ll see what happens in the summer.

What’s next?

Both teams are back in Championship action midweek, with Birmingham having another home game, this time against Cardiff.

West Brom, meanwhile, host Blackburn Rovers in a huge game in the play-off race.

Both games can be watched on Sky Sports Football Red Button.