Wikipedia

2020–21 Birmingham City F.C. season

The 2020–21 season is Birmingham City Football Club's 118th season in the English football league system and 10th consecutive season in the second-tier Championship.[5] As with all English Football League clubs, the first team competed in the EFL Cup, in which they lost to Cambridge United in the first round, and in the FA Cup, in which they lost to Manchester City in the third round. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, all of Birmingham's home matches were played behind closed doors.

Birmingham City F.C.
2020–21 season
OwnerBirmingham Sports Holdings[1]
Head coach
StadiumSt Andrew's
EFL Championship18th[4]
FA CupThird round (eliminated by Manchester City)
EFL CupFirst round (eliminated by Cambridge United)
Top goalscorerLeague: Lukas Jutkiewicz (8)
All: Lukas Jutkiewicz (8)
Highest home attendance0

Aitor Karanka was appointed head coach on 31 July 2020, and was replaced by Lee Bowyer on 16 March 2021, with the team 21st in the table with ten matches left. With five wins and two draws from the next eight, Birmingham avoided relegation with two matches to spare, and eventually finished 18th.

The season covers the period from July 2020 to 30 June 2021.

Background and pre-season

edit
Main article: 2019–20 Birmingham City F.C. season

With nine matches of the 2019–20 season still to play and Birmingham lying 16th in the table, football was interrupted for three months because of the COVID-19 pandemic. On 8 June – 12 days before the Championship resumed behind closed doors – the club confirmed that head coach Pep Clotet would leave at the end of the season to "explore other coaching opportunities";[6][7] after a series of poor results, he left by mutual consent on 8 July.[8] Steve Spooner and Craig Gardner acted as caretakers for the last four matches. Birmingham accrued just three points after the resumption, extending a winless run to 14 league matches, and finished 20th, avoiding relegation on the final day thanks to favourable results elsewhere and a 12-point deduction because of Wigan Athletic's entering administration. On 31 July, former Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest manager Aitor Karanka was appointed as head coach on a three-year contract.[2]

Of the senior players, goalkeeper David Stockdale, defenders Jonathan Grounds and Cheick Keita, and wingers Jacques Maghoma and Kerim Mrabti were released at the end of their contracts;[9] Lee Camp extended his contract to cover the last nine games of the season, and then left;[10] and midfielder Craig Gardner retired to concentrate on coaching.[11] Forward Álvaro Giménez' loan at Cádiz was converted to a permanent move after that club were promoted.[12] Jude Bellingham, who became Birmingham's youngest first-team debutant at the age of 16 years 38 days[13] and youngest goalscorer 25 days later,[14] set more records, for transfer fee received by the club and as the world's most expensive 17-year-old, when he joined Borussia Dortmund for a fee reported as an initial £25 million.[13]

Karanka's first signing was defender George Friend, who rejected a contract extension at Middlesbrough in favour of rejoining his former manager.[15] He was followed by midfielder Jon Toral, who was Birmingham's Player of the Season when on loan from Arsenal in 2015–16,[16] wingers Iván Sánchez, fresh from helping Elche gain promotion to the Spanish top flight,[17] and West Bromwich Albion's Jonathan Leko, the first signing for whom a fee – reported as £1 million – was paid,[18] goalkeepers Andrés Prieto[19] and Neil Etheridge,[20] and another former Middlesbrough player, midfielder Adam Clayton.[21] After a loan spell in 2019–20 during which he scored seven goals in eight league games before lockdown but none after, Scott Hogan arrived from Aston Villa on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee,[22] and Mikel San José, a Spanish international midfielder or defender released after eleven years with Athletic Bilbao, signed for two years.[23]

In June 2020, the club announced a four-year partnership with Nike as supplier of kits, which carry the logo of the club's principal sponsor, Irish bookmaker BoyleSports.[24] The home kit consists of a blue shirt with white collar, sleeves and trim, white shorts and blue socks.[25]

Birmingham played four pre-season friendlies: at home to Charlton Athletic, Leicester City and Walsall, and away to Tottenham Hotspur.[26]

Pre-season friendly match details
Date Opponents Venue Result Score
F–A 		Scorers Refs
22 August 2020 Charlton Athletic H D 1–1 Boyd-Munce 45' [27]
26 August 2020 Leicester City H L 0–2 [28]
29 August 2020 Tottenham Hotspur A L 0–1 [29]
1 September 2020 Walsall H W 3–0 Medina 44', Miller 56', Bailey 87' [30]

EFL Championship

edit
Main article: 2020–21 EFL Championship

September–October

edit

After 16 winless matches in all competitions, Birmingham City's Championship campaign began at home to Brentford on 12 September.[31] Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, no fans were present.[32] The team lined up in new head coach Aitor Karanka's preferred 4–2–3–1 formation.[33][34] In goal, making his Football League debut, was the 19-year-old Zach Jeacock, selected in place of the injured Andrés Prieto and ahead of the newly arrived Neil Etheridge. Captain Harlee Dean partnered George Friend in central defence, with Maxime Colin and Kristian Pedersen at full back. Ivan Šunjić and newcomer Adam Clayton occupied central midfield, with Jérémie Bela wide left and Iván Sánchez, making his first appearance in English football, wide right. Jon Toral played behind last season's Player of the Season and top scorer Lukas Jutkiewicz, who had been injured throughout pre-season.[35][36] Although the visitors hit the woodwork twice and might well have been awarded a penalty when Pedersen appeared to pull down Pontus Jansson, Birmingham's organisation and apparent team spirit were much improved from the 2019–20 version, and the only goal came after 37 minutes when Sánchez whipped in a corner and Bela, unmarked in the six-yard box, glanced a header past the goalkeeper at his near post.[31][34] Etheridge made his debut in a solid defensive performance in a goalless draw at Swansea City,[37] marred by Swansea coach Alan Tate "raising his arm to the neck area of Toral before shoving him to the ground" at half-time, for which the Football Association gave him a four-match touchline ban and a fine.[38] At home to Rotherham United, Birmingham switched to a 4–4–2 formation to accommodate the debut of Scott Hogan. Neither side were effective in attack, and after 87 minutes, Bela's clumsy tackle gave away a penalty from which the visitors scored. Minutes later, Toral won a penalty, and Bela showed what Karanka called "personality" to fulfil his role as designated taker and secure the draw.[39]

Without Jutkiewicz, who had tested positive for coronavirus, Birmingham failed to score in the three matches after the international break. Their first league defeat of the season came against Sheffield Wednesday via a penalty awarded for what the victim, Callum Paterson, described as "a bit of a nudge in the back" by Clayton.[40] Their second came three days later away to promotion favourites Norwich City: their well-organised defensive shape held out until the last five minutes when Clayton was sent off and Norwich took advantage.[41] A more attacking formation, with Jonathan Leko partnering Hogan up front, achieved a goalless draw at Queens Park Rangers.[42] Gary Gardner's header from Bela's free kick opened the scoring at home to Huddersfield Town, who equalised late on; even later, Leko's shot hit the bar and Jutkiewicz, who had come on after an hour, tapped in the rebound to secure Birmingham's second win of the season via their first goal from open play.[43] They won again at Preston North End, via Riley McGree's first goal for Birmingham, two minutes into his first start, and another Gardner header, to end October in mid-table.[44]

November–December

edit

Birmingham went winless through November. At home to Wycombe Wanderers, who had gained their first ever point at Championship level the previous week,[45] Marc Roberts scored his first goal for 2+1⁄2 years while several team-mates failed to take their chances. Wycombe took advantage of their hosts' ineffective second-half performance, first to equalise and then to force a winner via Pedersen's own goal.[46] Karanka said afterwards that Wycombe "showed more determination than us to win the game. But they controlled the second half – we couldn't keep the ball or pass the ball and we didn't create anything."[47] The 3–1 loss to a superior AFC Bournemouth team brought an improvement in attitude[48] and a first goal of the season for Hogan, who said he was feeling fitter and sharper, noting that he'd "always been able to [score] quite consistently in the past when [he'd] played regularly."[49] Despite the new regulations that allowed five changes from a nine-man bench, Hogan was one of eight unused substitutes in the goalless draw with Coventry City, the first league meeting between the clubs since Coventry began their groundshare at St Andrew's.[50] Etheridge's goalkeeping earned Birmingham a draw away to Luton Town, although Šunjić's stoppage-time shot would have secured all three points but for a fine save from his compatriot Simon Sluga,[51] and the month ended with a dull goalless draw with Millwall that left Birmingham 17th in the table.[52]

December opened with a well-worked goal from Hogan at home to Barnsley, but what BBC Sport dubbed a "contentious penalty", when Pedersen was judged to have tripped Callum Brittain, and a late deflected shot extended Birmingham's winless run to six games.[53] The defensive nature of the visit to Bristol City was enlivened by the arrival of Alen Halilović for a 20-minute debut, and Dean's header from a corner gave Birmingham all three points.[54] Uncharacteristically, Karanka made only one (enforced) team change for the next match.[55] In front of 2,000 socially distanced fans at the Madejski Stadium, Jon Toral demonstrated what the Birmingham Mail called "an inexplicable difference to the form he had showed so far this season" to score twice in the first half. After Reading made the score 1–2, Dean received a second yellow card for a foul in the penalty area and was sent off. Etheridge saved the kick, and Birmingham held on for a second consecutive win.[55] Toral remained unused in a defensive setup at home to Watford, it was Pedersen's turn to be sent off for conceding a penalty, and Troy Deeney converted for his fifth goal against Birmingham.[56]

Jake Clarke-Salter's error led to Cardiff City's opening goal, Roberts equalised, and Sánchez "slalomed through three defenders and picked out the far corner with an absolute piledriver" to give Birmingham the lead and join the now seven-way tie for top scorer with two goals.[57] The goal was voted Birmingham's Goal of the Season.[58] Etheridge saved a penalty, awarded for Clarke-Salter's hand-ball, but Cardiff scored twice late on.[57] Colin gave Birmingham an early lead at home to Middlesbrough before the mistakes set in: two half-time substitutions and three more after an hour made little impact and the match ended as a 4–1 loss.[59] A goalless draw at Nottingham Forest[60] was followed by a 4–0 loss at home to Derby County summed up by Karanka as "like going to the cinema and watching the same film. One mistake, one goal. Two mistakes, two goals. Three mistakes, three goals. ... I expected ups and downs this season, but not these same individual mistakes every single game."[61]

January–March

edit

Birmingham went into 2021 18th in the table, seven points above the relegation places.[62] A 2–0 loss to Blackburn Rovers – their eighth home defeat of the season, the most in the top four divisions[63] – was followed by George Friend's man-of-the-match performance on his return to Middlesbrough, where a well-worked goal by Hogan gave Birmingham their first win in seven.[64] Two more winless home games, a loss to Preston North End[65] and a draw with Coventry City, left Birmingham 20th in the table, four points above Rotherham United who had two games in hand, and Karanka still talking about mistakes, goals and Groundhog Day.[66]

Goalless at rock-bottom Wycombe Wanderers, with Hogan, new signing Sam Cosgrove, and three other attacking players on the bench, Karanka made no changes until Roberts was sent off in the 88th minute. He claimed that "even one second lack of concentration can be dangerous. We were going to be fighting to the last second and one mistake of concentration could have been difficult for us."[67] Birmingham had the better of the first half away to AFC Bournemouth: Hogan opened the scoring with the aid of a goalkeeping error, and after Sánchez had a shot cleared off the line, Pedersen's angled volley was disallowed for offside. In a game of two poor defences, the hosts regained the lead, Hogan equalised, but his side could not hold on. The defeat placed them in the relegation zone,[68] and earned the head coach the 100% confidence of his superiors.[69] After his team lost 1–0 at home to Luton Town and dropped to 23rd, he said if they kept playing like that they would not stay up.[70]

The positive intent shown by selecting two strikers at Millwall was blunted two minutes into the game when Mikel San José underhit a backpass and Jed Wallace beat Etheridge to the ball and scored; the match ended 2–0.[71] Fellow relegation candidates Sheffield Wednesday had a man sent off just after half-time, and Hogan scored some 15 minutes later; it remained the only goal of the game thanks to Etheridge's "stunning" late save.[72] Birmingham produced what Karanka claimed to be "the best 45 minutes we have played this season" to hold table-topping Norwich City to 1–1, thanks in part to Etheridge's penalty save, but luck went against them in the second half, when a deflection made it easy for Teemu Pukki to score his second, and they conceded again on the break deep into stoppage time.[73] At Queens Park Rangers, Birmingham missed several chances and conceded against the run of play. After an hour, Karanka made a triple change: in the last ten minutes, Pedersen headed an equaliser from substitute Roberts' long throw, and it was another substitute, Alen Halilović, whose curling 20 yd (18 m) shot secured Birmingham's first home win since October.[42]

The next three games brought one point, via Marc Roberts' equaliser away to Huddersfield Town,[74] but no change to the negativity surrounding the club.[75] A change of formation, introducing Jutkiewicz, a striker whose game relied on crosses into the box, while omitting the wingers who might supply them, failed to produce a shot on target against Barnsley,[76] preceded a capitulation to Bristol City. Karanka was asked if he would resign; he replied "No chance".[75]

The Daily Mirror's Neil Moxley reported that, when captain Harlee Dean was asked whether the manager still had the backing of the players, the silence had become awkward.[77] The following day, 14 March, rumours began to emerge that Karanka had been sacked, not by the unpopular chief executive but by a senior director.[78] On the 15th, Lee Bowyer, who had been a member of Birmingham's 2011 League Cup-winning side, resigned his post as manager of Charlton Athletic.[79] The next day, 16 March, a brief statement on the club website confirmed that Karanka had "stepped down as head coach."[80] Shortly afterwards, Bowyer was announced as his replacement. The board "highlight[ed] his man-management skills and motivational qualities", while Bowyer said he was "absolutely delighted and it's great to be back", and stressed his priority was to lift the whole club.[81]

The last ten matches

edit

Both Bowyer and Dean stressed the value of clear, simple instructions and of encouragement.[82][83] In the first match, at home to Reading, Bowyer recalled Jutkiewicz, played him alongside Hogan and with wingers to supply the crosses – a system preferred by both forwards – and four minutes into the match, he headed home from Bela's cross to score his 50th goal for Birmingham and first in 24 games.[84][85] Reading equalised before Dean's header from a corner won the match; his goal celebration, a shrug of the shoulders, seemed to mock Karanka's mannerism.[77][86] Although Birmingham lost 3–0 away to second-placed Watford, the manager's appreciation of the need for formation changes and the team's ability to implement them illustrated the increased focus on shape work under Bowyer.[83] The same applied to the next match, at home to Swansea City, in which the half-time replacement of the enthusiastic but yellow-carded Steve Seddon by Friend strengthened the defence and Hogan's last-minute penalty, after Jutkiewicz had missed an earlier one, won the game.[83] They followed up with a goalless draw away to Brentford, in which the highlights were Etheridge's goalkeeping and the performance of McGree out of position at wing-back.[83]

With Stoke City's defence expecting yet another long throw, Roberts threw short, Colin passed it back to him, and his "first-time curling cross was headed home powerfully by Jutkiewicz" for his 50th league goal for Birmingham. His 51st completed a 2–0 win.[87] Six points behind Birmingham but still with two games in hand, Rotherham United held out until Dean's 88th-minute header went in off a defender.[88] Away to another relegation candidate, Nottingham Forest, Birmingham led through Roberts' fourth goal of the season until six minutes into stoppage time, when the referee awarded a penalty for what he saw as a foul by Jutkiewicz. After the match, Bowyer was critical of the quality of officiating at Championship level, and correctly predicted he would receive an apology for the mistake from the head of refereeing.[60][89] Another two Jutkiewicz goals helped Birmingham come from behind to beat Derby County 2–1 and secure their Championship status with two matches of the season remaining.[90]

Bowyer used the last two fixtures to look at fringe players, in appreciation of their contribution as part of the squad and to see how the younger players coped with starting a competitive fixture. Both were heavy defeats. The matches saw first-team debuts for Ryan Stirk[91] and Keke Simmonds,[92] first starts for Sam Cosgrove and Amari Miller,[91] first appearances of the season for Nico Gordon and Connal Trueman,[93][94] a chance to bid farewell to the long-serving Josh Dacres-Cogley,[95] and Jutkiewicz's eighth goal of the season, which was enough to make him the team's top scorer.[96]

League table (part)

edit
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
16 Coventry City 46 14 13 19 49 61 −12 55
17 Nottingham Forest 46 12 16 18 37 45 −8 52
18 Birmingham City 46 13 13 20 37 61 −24 52
19 Bristol City 46 15 6 25 46 68 −22 51
20 Huddersfield Town 46 12 13 21 50 71 −21 49
Source: 11v11table />
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results; 5) Wins; 6) Away goals; 7) Penalty points (sec 9.5); 8) 12-point sending off offences[97]

Results summary

edit
Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
46 13 13 20 37 61  −24 52 6 4 13 18 37  −19 7 9 7 19 24  −5

Source: [4]

Match results

edit
EFL Championship match details
Date League
position[4] 		Opponents Venue Result Score
F–A 		Scorers Attendance Refs
12 September 2020 5th Brentford H W 1–0 Bela 37' 0 [34]
19 September 2020 5th Swansea City A D 0–0 0 [37]
26 September 2020 7th Rotherham United H D 1–1 Bela 90' pen. 0 [39]
4 October 2020 8th Stoke City A D 1–1 Dean 65' 0 [98]
17 October 2020 15th Sheffield Wednesday H L 0–1 0 [99]
20 October 2020 15th Norwich City A L 0–1 0 [41]
24 October 2020 17th Queens Park Rangers A D 0–0 0 [42]
28 October 2020 15th Huddersfield Town H W 2–1 Gardner 27', Jutkiewicz 90' 0 [43]
31 October 2020 11th Preston North End A W 2–1 McGree 2', Gardner 85' 0 [44]
4 November 2020 14th Wycombe Wanderers H L 1–2 Roberts 40' 0 [47]
7 November 2020 17th AFC Bournemouth H L 1–3 Hogan 55' 0 [48]
20 November 2020 14th Coventry City A D 0–0 0 [50]
24 November 2020 17th Luton Town A D 1–1 Jutkiewicz 23' pen. 0 [51]
28 November 2020 17th Millwall H D 0–0 0 [52]
1 December 2020 16th Barnsley H L 1–2 Hogan 56' 0 [53]
5 December 2020 16th Bristol City A W 1–0 Dean 80' 0 [54]
9 December 2020 15th Reading A W 2–1 Toral (2) 29', 37' 2,000 [100]
12 December 2020 16th Watford H L 0–1 0 [56]
16 December 2020 17th Cardiff City A L 2–3 Roberts 31', Sánchez 57' 0 [57]
19 December 2020 17th Middlesbrough H L 1–4 Colin 15' 0 [59]
26 December 2020 17th Nottingham Forest A D 0–0 0 [60]
29 December 2020 18th Derby County H L 0–4 0 [61]
2 January 2021 18th Blackburn Rovers H L 0–2 0 [63]
16 January 2021 18th Middlesbrough A W 1–0 Hogan 26' 0 [64]
20 January 2021 19th Preston North End H L 0–1 0 [65]
30 January 2021 20th Coventry City H D 1–1 Bela 18' pen 0 [66]
2 February 2021 21st Wycombe Wanderers A D 0–0 0 [101]
6 February 2021 22nd AFC Bournemouth A L 2–3 Hogan (2) 27', 68' 0 [68]
13 February 2021 23rd Luton Town H L 0–1 0 [70]
17 February 2021 23rd Millwall A L 0–2 0 [102]
20 February 2021 21st Sheffield Wednesday A W 1–0 Hogan 63' 0 [103]
23 February 2021 21st Norwich City H L 1–3 Sánchez 38' 0 [73]
27 February 2021 21st Queens Park Rangers H W 2–1 Pedersen 82', Halilović 85' 0 [104]
2 March 2021 21st Huddersfield Town A D 1–1 Roberts 67' 0 [74]
6 March 2021 21st Barnsley A L 0–1 0 [105]
13 March 2021 21st Bristol City H L 0–3 0 [106]
17 March 2021 21st Reading H W 2–1 Jutkiewicz 4', Dean 71' 0 [107]>
20 March 2021 21st Watford A L 0–3 0 [108]
2 April 2021 20th Swansea City H W 1–0 Hogan 90+1' pen. 0 [109]
6 April 2021 21st Brentford A D 0–0 0 [110]
10 April 2021 18th Stoke City H W 2–0 Jutkiewicz 42', 53' 0 [87]
18 April 2021 18th Rotherham United A W 1–0 Dean 88' 0 [88]
21 April 2021 19th Nottingham Forest H D 1–1 Roberts 49' 0 [111]
24 April 2021 16th Derby County A W 2–1 Jutkiewicz 62', 84' 0 [90]
1 May 2021 18th Cardiff City H L 0–4 0 [112]
8 May 2021 18th Blackburn Rovers A L 2–5 Pedersen 22', Jutkiewicz 50' 0 [113]

FA Cup

edit
Main article: 2020–21 FA Cup

As with all teams in the top two divisions, Birmingham entered the competition in the third round, in which they were drawn to play away to Premier League club Manchester City.[114][115]

FA Cup match details
Round Date Opponents Venue Result Score
F–A		 Scorers Attendance Refs
Third round 10 January 2021 Manchester City A L 0–3 0 [116]

EFL Cup

edit
Main article: 2020–21 EFL Cup

Birmingham were drawn to play at home to League Two club Cambridge United in the first round.[117] They went into the match with an 18-year-old debutant, Adan George, as lone striker in the absence of the injured Lukas Jutkiewicz. They conceded after 18 minutes when debutant goalkeeper Andrés Prieto misjudged a set-piece, and came closest to an equaliser shortly afterwards when Jérémie Bela hit the crossbar with a shot from distance.[118][119] The team remained winless since February, and Karanka said that he and his staff needed to change what he perceived as a "losing mentality" after the previous season had ended with such a poor run of results.[120]

EFL Cup match details
Round Date Opponents Venue Result Score
F–A		 Scorers Attendance Refs
First round 5 September 2020 Cambridge United H L 0–1 0 [118]

Transfers

edit
For those players released or contract ended before the start of this season please see 2019–20 Birmingham City F.C. season.

In

edit
Date Player Club † Fee Refs
15 August 2020 George Friend (Middlesbrough) Contract expired [15]
25 August 2020 Jon Toral (Hull City) Contract expired [16]
27 August 2020 Iván Sánchez (Elche) Contract expired [17]
28 August 2020 Jonathan Leko West Bromwich Albion Undisclosed [18]
28 August 2020 Andrés Prieto (RCD Espanyol) Contract expired [19]
1 September 2020 Adam Clayton (Middlesbrough) Contract expired [21]
11 September 2020 Neil Etheridge Cardiff City Undisclosed [20]
16 September 2020 Scott Hogan Aston Villa Undisclosed [22]
17 September 2020 Oriol Soldevila * (Barcelona) Contract expired [121]
21 September 2020 Mikel San José (Athletic Bilbao) Contract expired [23]
23 November 2020 Alen Halilović (AC Milan) Contract expired [122]
26 January 2021 Leonardo Dos Reis * (Barcelona) Contract expired [123]
31 January 2021 Sam Cosgrove Aberdeen Undisclosed [124]
1 February 2021 Keke Simmonds Manchester City Undisclosed [125]
† Brackets round a club's name indicate the player's contract with that club had expired before he joined Birmingham.
* Signed primarily for the development squad

Loaned in

edit
Date Player Club Return Refs
5 October 2020 Riley McGree Charlotte FC 1 January 2022 [126]
16 October 2020 Jake Clarke-Salter Chelsea End of season [127]
21 January 2021 Rekeem Harper West Bromwich Albion End of season [128]
1 February 2021 Yan Valery Southampton End of season [125]

Out

edit
Date Player Club † Fee Refs
22 July 2020 Álvaro Giménez Cádiz Undisclosed [12]
23 July 2020 Jude Bellingham Borussia Dortmund Undisclosed[a] [13]
3 August 2020 Lee Camp (Coventry City) Contract expired [10][129]
20 August 2020 Wes Harding Rotherham United Undisclosed [130]
14 January 2021 David Davis (Shrewsbury Town) Mutual consent [131]
25 January 2021 Maikel Kieftenbeld Millwall Undisclosed [132]
31 January 2021 Josh McEachran (Milton Keynes Dons) Mutual consent [124][133]
28 May 2021 Mikel San José (Amorebieta) Mutual consent [134][135]
28 June 2021 Amari Miller Leeds United Undisclosed [136]
30 June 2021 Geraldo Bajrami (Kidderminster Harriers) Released [137][138]
30 June 2021 Ryan Burke (Mansfield Town) Released [137][139]
30 June 2021 Jack Concannon (Tamworth) Released [137][140]
30 June 2021 Dan Crowley (Cheltenham Town) Released [137][141]
30 June 2021 Josh Dacres-Cogley (Tranmere Rovers) Released [142]
30 June 2021 Miguel Fernández (Huesca B) Released [137][143]
30 June 2021 Iván Guzmán (AD Ceuta FC) Released [137][144]
30 June 2021 Alen Halilović (Reading) Contract expired [145]
30 June 2021 Remeao Hutton (Barrow) Released [146]
30 June 2021 Agus Medina (Ponferradina) Released [137][147]
30 June 2021 Joe Redmond (Drogheda United) Released [137][148]
30 June 2021 Jayden Reid (Portsmouth) Released [137][149]
30 June 2021 Bernard Sun (Türk Gücü Friedberg) Released [137][150]
30 June 2021 Jon Toral (OFI) Released [137][151]
† Brackets round a club's name denote the player joined that club after his Birmingham City contract expired.
  1. ^ The fee was officially undisclosed, but was understood by Sky Sports to be "a guaranteed £25m up front, with fees worth 'several millions more' potentially added on depending on appearances, achievements and milestones."[13]

Loaned out

edit
Date Player Club Return Refs
4 August 2020 Connal Trueman AFC Wimbledon Recalled 8 January 2021 [152]
26 August 2020 Remeao Hutton Stevenage End of season [153]
27 August 2020 Fran Villalba Almería End of season [154]
1 September 2020 Iván Guzmán UE Cornellà 30 June 2021 [155]
22 September 2020 Ryan Burke Yeovil Town 17 January 2021 [156]
25 September 2020 Steve Seddon AFC Wimbledon Recalled 31 December 2020 [157]
2 October 2020 Agus Medina UE Cornellà 30 June 2021 [158]
5 October 2020 Charlie Lakin Ross County 30 June 2021 [159]
16 October 2020 Jayden Reid Barrow 3 January 2021 [160]
16 October 2020 Odin Bailey Forest Green Rovers 31 May 2021 [161]
16 October 2020 Adan George Walsall 3 January 2021 [162]
8 January 2021 Mitchell Roberts Harrogate Town End of season [163]
18 January 2021 Dan Crowley Hull City End of season [164]
19 January 2021 Jayden Reid Walsall Recalled 27 March 2021 [165][166]
1 February 2021 Josh Andrews Harrogate Town End of season [167]
1 February 2021 Miguel Fernández CD Guijuelo End of season [125]
1 March 2021 Connal Trueman Swindon Town 7 March 2021 [168]
16 April 2021 Tate Campbell Bromley End of season [169]

Appearances and goals

edit
Sources: [170][171][172]
Numbers in parentheses denote appearances made as a substitute.
Players marked † left the club during the playing season.
Players with names in italics and marked * were on loan from another club for the whole of their season with Birmingham.
Players listed with no appearances have been in the matchday squad but only as unused substitutes.
Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward
Players' appearances and goals by competition
No. Pos. Nat. Name League FA Cup EFL Cup Total Discipline
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals    
1 GK   ESP Andrés Prieto 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 0
2 DF   FRA Maxime Colin 39 (3) 1 1 0 1 0 41 (3) 1 5 0
3 DF   DEN Kristian Pedersen 35 2 0 0 1 0 36 2 6 1
4 DF   ENG Marc Roberts 29 (7) 4 0 (1) 0 0 0 29 (8) 4 2 1
5 DF   ENG George Friend 21 (5) 0 1 0 1 0 23 (5) 0 4 0
6 MF   NED Maikel Kieftenbeld † 8 (2) 0 1 0 1 0 10 (2) 0 1 0
6 DF   FRA Yan Valery * 2 (5) 0 0 0 0 0 2 (5) 0 0 0
7 MF   IRL Dan Crowley 1 (2) 0 0 0 1 0 2 (2) 0 0 0
8 MF   ENG Adam Clayton 10 (4) 0 0 (1) 0 0 (1) 0 10 (6) 0 4 1
9 FW   IRL Scott Hogan 28 (6) 7 1 0 0 0 29 (6) 7 2 0
10 FW   ENG Lukas Jutkiewicz 25 (17) 8 0 (1) 0 0 0 25 (18) 8 2 0
11 FW   FRA Jérémie Bela 26 (9) 3 0 (1) 0 1 0 27 (10) 3 2 0
12 DF   ENG Harlee Dean 42 (1) 4 0 0 1 0 43 (1) 4 7 1
14 MF   ENG Jonathan Leko 15 (19) 0 1 0 0 0 16 (19) 0 5 0
15 DF   ENG Jake Clarke-Salter * 9 (1) 0 1 0 0 0 10 (1) 0 3 0
16 FW   ENG Sam Cosgrove 2 (10) 0 0 0 0 0 2 (10) 0 0 0
17 MF   ESP Iván Sánchez 31 (9) 2 1 0 0 0 32 (9) 2 2 0
18 MF   AUS Riley McGree * 8 (7) 2 0 0 0 0 8 (7) 2 0 0
19 MF   ESP Mikel San José 19 (8) 0 1 0 0 0 20 (8) 0 4 0
20 MF   ENG Gary Gardner 25 (12) 2 0 0 0 0 25 (12) 2 4 0
21 MF   ESP Agus Medina 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
23 MF   ESP Jon Toral 10 (6) 2 1 0 0 (1) 0 11 (7) 2 3 0
24 MF   ENG Rekeem Harper * 11 (7) 0 0 0 0 0 11 (7) 0 2 0
25 DF   ENG Josh Dacres-Cogley 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0
26 MF   ENG David Davis † 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
27 GK   ENG Connal Trueman 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
30 GK   PHI Neil Etheridge 43 0 0 0 0 0 43 0 2 0
31 MF   ENG Charlie Lakin 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0
34 MF   CRO Ivan Šunjić 38 (5) 0 1 0 1 0 40 (5) 0 10 0
35 MF   CRO Alen Halilović 9 (8) 1 0 0 0 0 9 (8) 1 0 0
37 MF   ENG Odin Bailey 0 0 0 0 0 (1) 0 0 (1) 0 0 0
38 GK   ENG Zach Jeacock 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0
40 FW   ENG Adan George 0 (1) 0 0 0 1 0 1 (1) 0 0 0
41 MF   ENG Amari Miller 2 (3) 0 0 0 0 0 2 (3) 0 0 0
42 DF   ENG Steve Seddon 6 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 6 (1) 0 1 0
44 MF   NIR Caolan Boyd-Munce 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
47 MF   WAL Ryan Stirk 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0
50 DF   ENG Nico Gordon 1 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 1 (1) 0 0 0
53 MF   ENG Tate Campbell 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
54 FW   ENG Keyendrah Simmonds 0 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1) 0 0 0
Players not included in matchday squads
No. Pos. Nat. Name
16 MF   ENG Josh McEachran †
28 FW   ESP Miguel Fernández
39 GK   ENG Aaron Clayton
43 DF   ALB Geraldo Bajrami
45 DF   IRL Ryan Burke
46 DF   IRL Joe Redmond
48 MF   ENG Jack Concannon
49 FW   ENG Jayden Reid
51 MF   ENG Kyle Hurst
52 GK   ENG Elias Rouse

References

edit
  1. ^ "Birmingham City PLC Shareholder Breakdown" (PDF). Birmingham City F.C. 23 April 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 September 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  2. ^ a b Ostlere, Lawrence (31 July 2020). "Birmingham City appoint Aitor Karanka as manager on three-year contract". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
    "Birmingham make Aitor Karanka their sixth manager in less than four years". The Guardian. PA Media. 31 July 2020. Archived from the original on 31 July 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Bowyer replaces Karanka as Blues boss". BBC Sport. 16 March 2021. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "Birmingham City league performance history: League Championship table at close of 2020–21 season". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024. Select content required via dropdown menus.
  5. ^ "Birmingham City". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  6. ^ "Championship season set to restart on 20 June as coronavirus lockdown eases". BBC Sport. 31 May 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  7. ^ "Pep Clotet: Birmingham City head coach to leave role at end of season". BBC Sport. 8 June 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  8. ^ "Pep Clotet: Birmingham City boss leaves club immediately". BBC Sport. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  9. ^ Chapman, Joseph (10 June 2020). "Confirmed: Birmingham City announce departure of another first team player". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  10. ^ a b "Camp departs with gratitude". Birmingham City F.C. 18 August 2020. Archived from the original on 9 August 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  11. ^ "Craig Gardner's playing contract to come to an end". Birmingham City F.C. 29 May 2020. Archived from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  12. ^ a b "Alejo, Choco, Malbasic, Pombo y Álvaro continuarán de amarillo" [Alejo, Choco, Malbasic, Pombo and Álvaro will stay in yellow] (in Spanish). Cádiz CF. 22 July 2020. Archived from the original on 22 July 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  13. ^ a b c d "Jude Bellingham signs for Borussia Dortmund from Birmingham". Sky Sports. 20 July 2020. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
    "Jude Bellingham to join Borussia Dortmund". Birmingham City F.C. 20 July 2020. Archived from the original on 11 February 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  14. ^ "Birmingham City 2–1 Stoke City". BBC Sport. 31 August 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  15. ^ a b "George Friend: Birmingham City sign Middlesbrough defender on free transfer". BBC Sport. 15 August 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  16. ^ a b Dick, Brian (25 August 2020). "Confirmed: Birmingham City favourite makes shock St Andrew's return". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  17. ^ a b "Ivan Sanchez: Birmingham City sign winger from Elche". BBC Sport. 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  18. ^ a b Dick, Brian (28 August 2020). "Birmingham City beat Sheffield Wednesday to West Brom winger deal". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  19. ^ a b "Jonathan Leko: Birmingham City sign West Brom forward and Andres Prieto". BBC Sport. 28 August 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  20. ^ a b Phillips, Rob (11 September 2020). "Neil Etheridge: Birmingham City sign Cardiff City goalkeeper". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  21. ^ a b "Adam Clayton: Birmingham City sign former Middlesbrough midfielder". BBC Sport. 1 September 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  22. ^ a b "Scott Hogan: Birmingham City sign Aston Villa forward for undisclosed fee". BBC Sport. 16 September 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  23. ^ a b "Mikel San Jose: Birmingham City sign former Athletic Bilbao defender". BBC Sport. 21 September 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  24. ^ "Blues partner with Nike". Birmingham City F.C. 25 June 2020. Archived from the original on 2 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
    "Blues agree principal partnership with BoyleSports". Birmingham City F.C. 3 June 2019. Archived from the original on 4 June 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  25. ^ "Our new home kit is revealed". Birmingham City F.C. 15 August 2020. Archived from the original on 16 August 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  26. ^ "Blues to play friendly against the Foxes". Birmingham City F.C. 21 August 2020. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  27. ^ "Report: Blues 1 Charlton Athletic 1". Birmingham City F.C. 22 August 2020. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  28. ^ "Friendly report: Blues 0 Leicester City 2". Birmingham City F.C. 26 August 2020. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  29. ^ "Report: Tottenham Hotspur 1 Blues 0". Birmingham City F.C. 29 August 2020. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  30. ^ "Odin Bailey impresses in comfortable win". Birmingham Mail. 1 September 2020. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  31. ^ a b Dick, Brian (13 September 2020). "Pats and slaps – The startling change in Aitor Karanka's Birmingham City". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  32. ^ Aloia, Andrew (11 September 2020). "EFL 2020–21: New season begins after 38-day summer break". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  33. ^ "Aitor Karanka – Did you know?". Birmingham City F.C. 1 August 2020. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  34. ^ a b c Long, Dan (12 September 2020). "Birmingham 1–0 Brentford: Jeremie Bela seals opening-day win for Aitor Karanka's Blues". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 18 September 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  35. ^ Dick, Brian (12 September 2020). "Aitor Karanka makes shock goalkeeper selection as Birmingham City take on Brentford". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  36. ^ "It's a double for Juke". Birmingham City F.C. 29 July 2020. Archived from the original on 11 February 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  37. ^ a b Pritchard, Dafydd (19 September 2020). "Swansea City 0–0 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  38. ^ Abbandonato, Paul (30 September 2020). "Swansea City's Alan Tate banned and fined £920 for 'violent conduct' after neck grab on Birmingham City's Jon Toral". WalesOnline. Archived from the original on 2 October 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  39. ^ a b "Birmingham 1–1 Rotherham: Two late penalties as Blues earn point at St Andrew's". Sky Sports. 26 September 2020. Archived from the original on 3 October 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  40. ^ Dick, Brian (19 October 2020). "'Soft' – Sheffield Wednesday man admits what angry Birmingham City players knew all along". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  41. ^ a b "Norwich City 1–0 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  42. ^ a b c "Queens Park Rangers 0–0 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 24 October 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  43. ^ a b "Birmingham City 2–1 Huddersfield Town". Sky Sports. 28 October 2020. Archived from the original on 4 November 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  44. ^ a b "Preston North End 1–2 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 31 October 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  45. ^ Richings, James (28 October 2020). "Wycombe secure first Championship point at the expense of Watford". Bucks Free Press. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  46. ^ Dick, Brian (4 November 2020). "'Disaster' – Player ratings as Birmingham City fade against Wycombe Wanderers". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  47. ^ a b "Birmingham 1–2 Wycombe: Wanderers earn late comeback win at St Andrew's". Sky Sports. 5 November 2020. Archived from the original on 27 April 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  48. ^ a b "Birmingham 1–3 Bournemouth: David Brooks scores twice in comfortable Cherries win". Sky Sports. 7 November 2020. Archived from the original on 21 November 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  49. ^ Dick, Brian (9 November 2020). "'The gaffer knew' – Scott Hogan opens up after ending his Birmingham City goal drought". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  50. ^ a b Gholam, Simeon (20 November 2020). "Coventry 0–0 Birmingham: Battle between tenants and landlords at St Andrew's ends goalless". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 20 November 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  51. ^ a b "Luton Town 1–1 Birmingham: Matty Pearson earns point for Hatters". Sky Sports. 24 November 2020. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  52. ^ a b "Birmingham City 0–0 Millwall". BBC Sport. 28 November 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  53. ^ a b "Birmingham City 1–2 Barnsley". BBC Sport. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  54. ^ a b "Bristol City 0–1 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 5 December 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  55. ^ a b Dick, Brian (9 December 2020). "Birmingham City player ratings vs Reading: Toral comes to life as Dean sees red". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  56. ^ a b Dick, Brian (12 December 2020). "Birmingham City player ratings vs Watford: Roberts solid as Pedersen undoes hard work". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  57. ^ a b c Dick, Brian (16 December 2020). "Cardiff City vs Birmingham City ratings: Stunning Sanchez sparkles but JCS finds it hard". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  58. ^ "2020/21 Player Awards". Birmingham City F.C. 13 May 2021. Archived from the original on 15 May 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  59. ^ a b Dick, Brian (19 December 2020). "Birmingham City vs Middlesbrough player ratings: Dean stands tall amid St Andrew's wreckage". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  60. ^ a b c "Nottingham Forest 0–0 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 26 December 2020. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  61. ^ a b "Birmingham City 0–4 Derby County: Wayne Rooney's side romp to victory". Sky Sports. 29 December 2020. Archived from the original on 21 February 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  62. ^ "League Championship table after close of play on 31 December 2020". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  63. ^ a b "Birmingham 0–2 Blackburn: Adam Armstrong and Bradley Dack fire Rovers to victory". Sky Sports. 2 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  64. ^ a b Gholam, Simeon (16 January 2021). "Middlesbrough 0–1 Birmingham City: Scott Hogan fires Blues winner at the Riverside". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  65. ^ a b "Birmingham 0–1 Preston: Scott Sinclair strikes proves enough for North End". Sky Sports. 20 January 2021. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  66. ^ a b "Birmingham City 1–1 Coventry City". BBC Sport. 30 January 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  67. ^ Dick, Brian (2 February 2021). "'Step away? Me?' – Aitor Karanka comes out fighting after Birmingham City draw". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  68. ^ a b "Bournemouth 3–2 Birmingham: Jack Wilshere scores and Philip Billing hits winner as Cherries edge thriller". Sky Sports. 6 February 2021. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  69. ^ "Aitor Karanka: Birmingham City boss has '100%' boardroom backing, says CEO". BBC Sport. 12 February 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  70. ^ a b "Birmingham City 0–1 Luton Town". BBC Sport. 13 February 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  71. ^ Cusack, Richard (18 February 2021). "Pundit criticises 'simple' Birmingham City error in Millwall defeat". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  72. ^ Hercock, Richard (22 February 2021). "Sheffield Wednesday paying the price for failure to invest in firepower". Yorkshire Post. Archived from the original on 22 February 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  73. ^ a b "Birmingham City 1–3 Norwich City". BBC Sport. 23 February 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  74. ^ a b "Huddersfield Town 1–1 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 2 March 2021. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  75. ^ a b Dick, Brian (13 March 2021). "'#Dongout' – Angry Birmingham City fans tour city with video message calling on owners to 'do the right thing'". Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  76. ^ Dick, Brian (7 March 2021). "'Knife edge' – The struggles of Birmingham City, Aitor Karanka and Lukas Jutkiewicz". Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  77. ^ a b Moxley, Neil (15 March 2021). "Inside Aitor Karanka's Birmingham exit from player unrest to bizarre last supper". Daily Mirror. London. Archived from the original on 18 March 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  78. ^ Percy, John (14 March 2021). "Aitor Karanka set to depart Birmingham City with club mired in Championship relegation battle". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 14 March 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  79. ^ Cawley, Richard (15 March 2021). "Lee Bowyer resigns as Charlton Athletic manager – with Birmingham role up for grabs". London News Online. Archived from the original on 15 March 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021..
  80. ^ "Club Statement: Aitor Karanka". Birmingham City F.C. 16 March 2021. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  81. ^ "Lee Bowyer appointed Head Coach". Birmingham City F.C. 16 March 2021. Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  82. ^ Dick, Brian (3 April 2021). "'Not the brightest of people' – Lee Bowyer reveals the secret of his Birmingham City turnaround". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  83. ^ a b c d Dick, Brian (9 May 2021). "Birmingham City's players tell the inside story of Lee Bowyer's Blues miracle". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  84. ^ Dick, Brian (18 March 2021). "Birmingham City hero 'in the doghouse' despite Blues landmark". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  85. ^ Dick, Brian (18 March 2021). "'Been a while' – Scott Hogan's pointed message as Lee Bowyer lifts Aitor Karanka gloom". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  86. ^ Dick, Brian; Wilson, Amie (17 March 2021). "Birmingham City defender aims dig at Aitor Karanka after goal vs Reading". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  87. ^ a b "Birmingham City 2–0 Stoke City". BBC Sport. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  88. ^ a b Long, Dan (18 April 2021). "Rotherham 0–1 Birmingham: Harlee Dean strikes late to boost Blues' survival hopes". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 22 April 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  89. ^ Dick, Brian (23 April 2021). "'He apologised' – Birmingham City boss Lee Bowyer provides update after Nottingham Forest storm". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  90. ^ a b "Derby County 1–2 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 24 April 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  91. ^ a b Dick, Brian (1 May 2021). "Birmingham City player ratings vs Cardiff: Stirk shines but Blues hammered by Liverpool loan star". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  92. ^ Dick, Brian (25 May 2021). "'Snake hips' - The Man City product who could save Birmingham City millions". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  93. ^ "Games played by Nico Gordon in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  94. ^ "Games played by Connal Trueman in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  95. ^ Ireland, Shane (14 May 2021). "Birmingham City player announces departure ahead of summer transfer window". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  96. ^ "2020/21 Player Awards". Birmingham City F.C. 13 May 2021. Archived from the original on 15 May 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  97. ^ "EFL Regulations Section 3 – The League; subsection 9 – Method of Determining League Positions". English Football League. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  98. ^ "Stoke City 1–1 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 4 October 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  99. ^ "Birmingham City 0–1 Sheffield Wednesday". BBC Sport. 17 October 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  100. ^ "Reading 1–2 Birmingham: Jon Toral scores twice as 10-man Blues hold on". Sky Sports. 9 December 2020. Archived from the original on 9 December 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  101. ^ "Wycombe Wanderers 0–0 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 2 February 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  102. ^ "Millwall 2–0 Birmingham: Lions see off relegation-threatened Blues". Sky Sports. 17 February 2021. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  103. ^ "Sheffield Wednesday 0–1 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 20 February 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  104. ^ "Birmingham 2-1 QPR: Aitor Karanka's Blues strike two late goals to stun Rangers". Sky Sports. 27 February 2021. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  105. ^ "Barnsley 1–0 Birmingham: Daryl Dike nets as Tykes make it seven wins in a row". Sky Sports. 6 March 2021. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  106. ^ "Birmingham City 0–3 Bristol City". BBC Sport. 13 March 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  107. ^ "Birmingham 2-1 Reading: Lee Bowyer earns debut win with Blues". Sky Sports. 17 March 2021. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  108. ^ "Watford 3–0 Birmingham: Hornets tighten grip on second after comfortable win". Sky Sports. 20 March 2021. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  109. ^ Long, Dan (2 April 2021). "Birmingham 1–0 Swansea: Scott Hogan nets late penalty to boost Blues' survival hopes". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 3 April 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  110. ^ "Brentford 0–0 Birmingham: Bees held again as automatic-promotion hopes slip away". Sky Sports. 6 April 2021. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  111. ^ "Birmingham 1-1 Nottingham Forest: Last-gasp Lewis Grabban penalty denies Blues". Sky Sports. 21 April 2021. Archived from the original on 24 April 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  112. ^ Pritchard, Dafydd (1 May 2021). "Birmingham City 0-4 Cardiff City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  113. ^ "Blackburn Rovers 5-2 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 8 May 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  114. ^ "When is FA Cup first round draw, what are the dates, how much prize money?". BBC Sport. 26 October 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  115. ^ "FA Cup third-round draw: Non-League Marine draw Tottenham, Arsenal face Newcastle". Sky Sports. 1 December 2020. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  116. ^ "Man City 3–0 Birmingham City: Bernardo Silva scores twice in routine win". Sky Sports. Press Association. 10 January 2021. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  117. ^ "Carabao Cup: Norwich City face Luton Town as Wayne Rooney's Derby host Barrow". BBC Sport. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  118. ^ a b "Birmingham City 0–1 Cambridge United". BBC Sport. 5 September 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  119. ^ "Juke and Gardner to miss Carabao Cup tie". Birmingham City F.C. 3 September 2020. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  120. ^ Dick, Brian (5 September 2020). "Birmingham City boss Aitor Karanka makes worrying 'hangover' admission". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  121. ^ Dick, Brian (17 September 2020). "Confirmed: Birmingham City sign Barcelona midfielder". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  122. ^ "Alen Halilovic: Birmingham City sign Croatia international midfielder as free agent". BBC Sport. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  123. ^ "Leonardo Dos Reis signs". Birmingham City F.C. 26 January 2021. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  124. ^ a b "Sam Cosgrove: Birmingham City complete deal for Aberdeen striker". BBC Sport. 31 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  125. ^ a b c "Keyendrah Simmonds and Yan Valery: Birmingham City sign duo". BBC Sport. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  126. ^ "McGree joins Blues". Birmingham City F.C. 5 October 2020. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
    "Riley McGree returns". Birmingham City F.C. 19 May 2021. Archived from the original on 20 May 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  127. ^ "Clarke-Salter back at Blues". Birmingham City F.C. 16 October 2020. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  128. ^ "Rekeem Harper: West Brom midfielder joins Birmingham City on loan". BBC Sport. 21 January 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  129. ^ "Lee Camp: Coventry sign ex-Derby, Forest and Birmingham keeper as free agent". BBC Sport. 27 November 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  130. ^ "Wes Harding: Rotherham United sign Birmingham City defender". BBC Sport. 20 August 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  131. ^ "David Davis departs". Birmingham City F.C. 14 January 2021. Archived from the original on 15 January 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
    "David Davis: Shrewsbury Town sign former Birmingham City midfielder". BBC Sport. 15 January 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  132. ^ "Maikel Kieftenbeld: Millwall sign midfielder from Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 25 January 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  133. ^ "MK Dons move for McEachran". Milton Keynes Dons. 1 March 2021. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  134. ^ "Mikel San José departs". Birmingham City F.C. 28 May 2021. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  135. ^ "Mikel San José, nuevo jugador de la Sociedad Deportiva Amorebieta" [Mikel San José, new player of Sociedad Deportiva Amorebieta] (in Spanish). SD Amorebieta. 8 July 2021. Archived from the original on 11 July 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  136. ^ "Leeds United sign Amari Miller". Leeds United F.C. 28 June 2021. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  137. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Retained and released list". Birmingham City F.C. 17 May 2021. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  138. ^ Paddock, Matty (19 August 2021). "Geraldo Bajrami signs". Kidderminster Harriers F.C. Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  139. ^ "Stags sign young full-back". Mansfield Town F.C. 2 July 2021. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  140. ^ "Jack Concannon is a Lamb!". Tamworth F.C. 9 August 2021. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  141. ^ "Robins announce arrival of Crowley". Cheltenham Town F.C. 2 October 2021. Archived from the original on 2 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  142. ^ "Josh Cogley: Tranmere Rovers sign Birmingham City full-back". BBC Sport. 23 June 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  143. ^ "Jornada de fichajes en los equipos aragoneses de Segunda División RFEF" [Day of signings for the Aragonese Segunda División RFEF clubs]. CAR TV (in Spanish). 23 July 2021. Archived from the original on 25 July 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  144. ^ Sánchez, Juan Carlos (27 July 2021). "El interior zurdo Iván Guzmán, nuevo refuerzo para la AD Ceuta FC" [Left midfielder Iván Guzmán, new recruit for AD Ceuta FC]. El Faro de Ceuta (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  145. ^ Low, Jonathan (27 August 2021). "Reading FC complete signing of ex Barcelona, AC Milan and Birmingham midfielder Alen Halilovic". BerkshireLive. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  146. ^ "Remeao Hutton joins the Bluebirds". Barrow A.F.C. 16 June 2021. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  147. ^ Estébanez, Álex (3 July 2021). "Agus Medina se une al proyecto del centenario berciano" [Agus Medina joins the Bercian centenary project]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  148. ^ "Drogheda sign former Birmingham defender Joe Redmond". RTÉ. 11 August 2021. Archived from the original on 14 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  149. ^ Cross, Jordan (20 July 2021). "Portsmouth land former Manchester United and Swansea City prospect after Birmingham City exit as squad takes shape". The News. Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  150. ^ "Ein paar Alternativen für Türk Gücü Friedberg" [A few alternatives for Türk Gücü Friedberg]. Wetterauer Zeitung (in German). 10 September 2021. Archived from the original on 20 September 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  151. ^ Στα “ασπρόμαυρα” ο Jon Toral! [Jon Toral in "black and white"!] (in Greek). OFI F.C. 16 July 2021. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  152. ^ "Connal Trueman: AFC Wimbledon sign Birmingham City goalkeeper on a season's loan". BBC Sport. 4 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
    "Connal returns to Birmingham". AFC Wimbledon. 8 January 2021. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  153. ^ "Remeao Hutton: Birmingham City loan defender to Stevenage for the season". BBC Sport. 26 August 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  154. ^ "Fran Villalba sees Almeria stay extended". Birmingham City F.C. 27 August 2020. Archived from the original on 28 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  155. ^ "Guzman returns to Cornella". Birmingham City F.C. 7 September 2020. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  156. ^ "Ryan Burke makes Yeovil loan move". Birmingham City F.C. 22 September 2020. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  157. ^ "Steve Seddon: AFC Wimbledon re-sign Birmingham City left-back on season-long loan". BBC Sport. 24 September 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
    "Steve Seddon recalled". Birmingham City F.C. 31 December 2020. Archived from the original on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  158. ^ "Medina returns to Cornella". Birmingham City F.C. 2 October 2020. Archived from the original on 3 November 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  159. ^ "Ross County take Charlie Lakin on loan from Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  160. ^ "Reid joins Barrow on loan". Birmingham City F.C. 16 October 2020. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  161. ^ "Bailey rejoins Forest Green Rovers". Birmingham City F.C. 16 October 2020. Archived from the original on 31 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
    "Odin Bailey signs contract extension". Birmingham City F.C. 5 January 2021. Archived from the original on 8 January 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  162. ^ "Adan George departs on loan". Birmingham City F.C. 16 October 2020. Archived from the original on 17 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  163. ^ "Connor Hall: Harrogate defender signs new deal as Mitchell Roberts arrives". BBC Sport. 8 January 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  164. ^ "Dan Crowley: Hull City sign Birmingham City midfielder on loan". BBC Sport. 18 January 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  165. ^ "Jayden Reid: Walsall sign Birmingham City striker for rest of season". BBC Sport. 19 January 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  166. ^ "Club Statement: Jayden Reid". Walsall F.C. 26 March 2021. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  167. ^ "Josh Andrews: Harrogate Town sign Birmingham City striker". BBC Sport. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  168. ^ "Connal Trueman signs on emergency loan". Swindon Town F.C. 1 March 2021. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  169. ^ "Tate Campbell joins Bromley FC on loan". Birmingham City F.C. 16 April 2021. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  170. ^ "Men's squad numbers revealed". Birmingham City F.C. 4 September 2020. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  171. ^ "Birmingham squad details 2020/21". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  172. ^ Sources for representative nationality: "Birmingham City: Players from A–Z". worldfootball.net. HeimSpiel Medien. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
    "English Football League Championship: 2020/2021: Birmingham City". FootballSquads. Archived from the original on 8 November 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2020–21_Birmingham_City_F.C._season&oldid=1251273521"