Millwall Vs Birmingham: Azeez volley and two set-piece assists send Lions to third
Femi Azeez scored a stunning volley and set up two more goals as Millwall beat 10-man Birmingham City 3-0, a result that ended the Blues' eight-match unbeaten run. The result, from a match billed as millwall vs birmingham, moved Millwall up to third in the Championship.
Azeez opens with a thunderous volley
Azeez chest-controlled Tristan Crama's cushioned header and then struck a sweet volley that flashed into the far corner, beating Birmingham goalkeeper James Beadle despite the keeper getting a hand to it. The volley was Azeez's eighth goal of the season.
How the second goal fell before half-time
Azeez then whipped in a 30-yard free kick that looked destined for the bottom corner until Beadle pushed the effort onto the post. The ball rebounded at speed to Tristan Crama, who kept his side-footed finish on target to double Millwall's lead before half-time.
Millwall Vs Birmingham: set-piece chaos and a third from Cooper
Early in the second half another floated Azeez free kick caused havoc in the Birmingham area. The ball struck the back of Jhon Solis as he ducked under it, allowing Crama to reach the ball and deliver a cut-back that centre-back Jake Cooper turned in for the third goal.
Ten men and a late red
Four minutes after Cooper's finish, Jhon Solis was shown a second yellow card for a late challenge on Casper De Norre, reducing Birmingham to 10 men. The sending-off compounded a poor afternoon for the visitors, who had arrived at The Den confident after winning their last three away games in the Championship.
Moments that nearly changed the game
Birmingham had a rare bright spell when Anthony Patterson had to dive full length to turn Jay Stansfield's shot round the post. Josh Coburn headed over the bar earlier, and both he and Camiel Neghli were close to getting a finishing touch to a teasing Azeez cross as Millwall pressed hard for the opening goal.
There was also an incident in the first half when Macaulay Langstaff appeared to be hauled down by Tomoki Iwata as he tried to reach a long throw in the Birmingham area, but referee Dean Whitestone remained unmoved as Millwall players screamed for a penalty.
Late chances and reflections from the dugout
Birmingham survived late scares as Camiel Neghli and Macaulay Langstaff both went close to reducing the deficit. Millwall's response was a clear reaction to losing at home to Portsmouth at the weekend, and Azeez's set-piece deliveries were decisive in securing the victory.
"I felt after the last game at home that we were looking a bit too far ahead of ourselves, not just internally but externally as well. I understand it from the fans' perspective, because that's what you want, to get excited for your team but we need to keep our feet on the ground and keep focussed. On our day we are a match for anyone at this level. There is certainly no ceiling on expectations for us, we're capable of anything if we continue to win games but what I will say is that we have one of the hardest run-ins with Ipswich away, Middlesbrough away, Hull away, Preston away, some really tough games coming up. Femi's goal was brilliant right enough, but we had terrific performances all over the pitch. The midfield two were excellent, [Jake] Cooper was bri"
The match featured several named players in pivotal moments: Femi Azeez (goal and two assists), Tristan Crama (goal and assist involvement), Jake Cooper (scored), James Beadle (key saves that led to rebounds), Anthony Patterson (vital save), Jhon Solis (sent off), Jay Stansfield, Josh Coburn, Camiel Neghli, Macaulay Langstaff, Tomoki Iwata, Dean Whitestone and Casper De Norre.
Millwall will carry the momentum from this win into a demanding run of fixtures that the manager highlighted — Ipswich away, Middlesbrough away, Hull away and Preston away — while Birmingham will regroup after their eight-match unbeaten run was halted at The Den.
