Birmingham City 0-2 Sheffield Wednesday

Written by: Oliver Osborn

Birmingham City’s poor run of form continues after a 2-0 home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.

Second-half goals from Stevie May and Jeremy Helan sealed the victory for the Owls, who maintain their solid start to the campaign.

But it’s now five games without a win for Lee Clark’s side and again they failed to match their first-half performance after the interval.

Blues had the better chances in the opening 45 and could have been ahead inside five minutes.

Wes Thomas set up a great chance for strike partner Clayton Donaldson on the edge of the box, but his shot flew well over the bar.

The game continued to be very open with both teams looking for the first goal.

Wednesday responded with a chance of their own and Atdhe Nuhiu was inches away from finding the bottom corner with a side foot volley from ten yards out.

Paul Caddis almost caught the away side off guard on the half mark with a surprise effort on goal and the Scot’s volleyed cannoned back into play off the post.

More chances came Blues way through Thomas and Donaldson, but the strikers still couldn’t find the net.

David Cotterill’s crosses were causing a threat from the right and just before half-time Thomas couldn’t find the target with a close range free header.

Blues hoped the five or six good chances they’d squandered wouldn’t come back to haunt them, but unfortunately they did.

Stuart Gray’s side started to cause problems with Chris Maguire and Jacques Maghoma’s pace and May’s movement around the area.

After moving to Sheffield from St. Johnstone during the transfer window, May picked up his second goal of the season just after an hour.

The 21-year-old cut inside on to his right foot and fired home a well driven effort low into Darren Randolph’s net.

As much as Blues tried, they couldn’t find an equaliser.

Their best chance fell to Paul Robinson in a goal mouth scramble, but the skipper hit his effort too well and was well blocked on the line.

A second soon followed for Wednesday and guaranteed three points through French substitute Jeremy Helan.

The winger pounced on Maguire’s low cross and took advantage of poor marking for the home side to score his first goal since February.

The final whistle sounded and boos rung around St. Andrews.

Anther game where points have been thrown away by a poor second-half performance.

Next up for Blues is a trip to Norwich City, while Wednesday play Reading at home.

Sheffield Wednesday manager Stuart Gray:

“In the second half we just dominated the game as we became more creative.

“I am delighted because when we come up against such a team we now know we can compete.

“It is now six clean sheets and this is a good place to come and get three points.”

Birmingham boss Lee Clark:

“We were the dominant team in the first half and then the second half things changed too dramatically for us.

“Goals change games but we have to be more clinical. I am not going to change my tune about the strikers but they have to take responsibility and provide the gilt-edge on our performances.”

Starting line up: Randolph; Eardley (Spector 16′), Edgar, Robinson, Grounds; Cotterill, Caddis, Davis (Gleeson 79′), Shea (Gray 54′); Thomas, Donaldson

Subs not used: Doyle, Reilly, Shinnie, Duffy

Man of the match: Stevie May