2016–17 Birmingham City F.C. season

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Birmingham City F.C.
2016–17 season
Owner
  • Birmingham International Holdings in receivership
  • (to 17 October 2016)
  • Trillion Trophy Asia[1]
  • (from 17 October 2016)
Manager
  • Gary Rowett (to 14 December 2016)
  • Gianfranco Zola (14 December 2016 – 17 April 2017)
  • Harry Redknapp (from 18 April 2017)
StadiumSt Andrew's
EFL Championship19th
FA Cup
EFL Cup
Top goalscorerLeague: Lukas Jutkiewicz (11)
All: Lukas Jutkiewicz (12)
Highest home attendance29,656[2] (vs Aston Villa, 30 October 2016)
Lowest home attendance7,202[2] (vs Oxford United, EFL Cup 1st round, 9 August 2016)
Average home league attendance18,717[2]
Away colours

The 2016–17 season is Birmingham City Football Club's 114th season in the English football league system and sixth consecutive season in the second-tier Championship.[3] It covers the period from 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017.

With the team lying just outside the play-off positions, and two days after three new directors had joined the board, manager Gary Rowett and his backroom staff were sacked on 14 December 2016. Later that day, former West Ham United and Watford manager Gianfranco Zola was announced as Rowett's successor.[4][5] After four months, during which the team won just twice and dropped to 20th place, three points outside the relegation zone with three matches remaining, Zola resigned, to be replaced by Harry Redknapp, initially to the end of the season.[6] Needing to win their final match if Blackburn Rovers and Nottingham Forest both won their final fixture – which they did – Birmingham won 1–0 away to Bristol City to avoid relegation and finish in 19th place.[7] As with all Football League clubs, the first team also competed in the FA Cup and EFL Cup. They were eliminated in the third round of the former by Newcastle United after a replay and in the first round of the latter by Oxford United.

Thirty-two players made at least one appearance in first-team competition, of whom four were loan signings; there were fourteen different goalscorers. Defenders Jonathan Grounds and Ryan Shotton appeared in 45 of the club's 49 fixtures over the season, and Lukas Jutkiewicz was top scorer with 12 goals, of which 11 were scored in league competition. Player of the season David Davis received 13 yellow cards and was sent off once, a record which placed him at the top of the Championship ill-discipline table.[8] The average league attendance, of 18,717, was some 6% up on 2015–16.[2]

Background and pre-season[]

Under the management of Gary Rowett, Birmingham City spent most of the 2015–16 Football League Championship season in or around the play-off positions, but they won just once in the last 12 matches of the campaign, and finished in the lowest position they had occupied all season: tenth. With 16 wins and 15 draws, their finishing position and record was identical to that of 2014–15, albeit with 15 fewer goals conceded.[9]

First-team players released at the end of the 2015–16 season included Mark Duffy, Neal Eardley, David Edgar, Lee Novak, Wes Thomas.[10] and the youth product Mitch Hancox, who had been with the club for fourteen years.[11] Free-transfer signings for 2016–17 included previous loanee Robert Tesche from Nottingham Forest and young Liverpool defender Daniel Cleary.[12][13] Undisclosed fees were paid for Dundee's attacking player Greg Stewart,[14] young forward Che Adams from Sheffield United,[15] and Derby County defender Ryan Shotton, who had been on loan at Birmingham in 2015–16.[16] The terms of Huddersfield Town striker James Vaughan's loan agreement required its conversion to a permanent contract, but he had not established himself as a first-team player and was allowed to leave.[17] Birmingham made two loan signings, both for the first half of the season: Burnley striker Lukas Jutkiewicz and Bournemouth left back Rhoys Wiggins.[18][19] Attacking midfielder Andrew Shinnie and striker Nicolai Brock-Madsen left on season-long loans,[20][21] and young midfielders Koby Arthur and Charlee Adams and striker Alex Jones went out on loan until January.[22][23][24]

The home kit is all blue, apart from white trim on the sleeves and three white stripes down the sides and round the sock tops. The away kit is all red, apart from white trim at the neck and under the sleeve and three white stripes on the shoulders, shorts and sock tops.[25] The kits, supplied by Adidas in the first season of a four-year deal, carry the logo of online bookmaker 888sport, the club's principal sponsor.[26][27]

After a training camp in Spain,[28] Birmingham City's pre-season programme continued with friendly matches away to Midlands teams Solihull Moors, Forest Green Rovers, Shrewsbury Town, Walsall, Port Vale and Kidderminster Harriers, and Scottish Cup-holders Hibernian. Their only home friendly was against Dutch Eredivisie club Roda JC.

Pre-season match details
Date Opponents Venue Result Score
F–A		 Scorers Attendance Refs
12 July 2016 Solihull Moors A W 3–1 Donaldson 17', 34', Fabbrini 28' [29]
16 July 2016 Forest Green Rovers A W 3–0 Morrison 11', Storer 81', Fabbrini 89' 1,382 [30]
19 July 2016 Shrewsbury Town A L 0–1 1,020 [31]
19 July 2016 Walsall A D 1–1 Caddis 80' 3,301 [32]
24 July 2016 Hibernian A L 0–1 5,904 [33]
27 July 2016 Port Vale A W 2–0 Storer 73', Caddis 84' pen. 1,603 [34]
30 July 2016 Roda JC H D 0–0 4,218 [35]
2 August 2016 Kidderminster Harriers A W 4–0 Storer 3', 67', Shinnie 9', Vaughan 33' 1,137 [36]

EFL Championship[]

Main article: 2016–17 EFL Championship

August–September[]

Birmingham's opening fixture, on a sunny afternoon at home to Cardiff City, was preceded by a minute's applause in memory of former player Alex Govan, who died during the close season.[37] With all senior players available for selection,[38] the team lined up with Tomasz Kuszczak in goal, Jonathan Spector and Jonathan Grounds at full back, Michael Morrison (captain) and Ryan Shotton at centre back, David Davis alongside Stephen Gleeson in defensive midfield, Jacques Maghoma and David Cotterill as wide midfielders, and Diego Fabbrini in support of lone striker Clayton Donaldson. The Press Association reported "no discernible improvement" in home form that had "cost them dearly last season", as Kuszczak made several saves to keep Cardiff at bay.[39] Young substitutes Reece Brown and the 18-year-old Jack Storer, who made his Birmingham debut, combined to create a chance that Storer should have taken – manager Gary Rowett claimed it was the first he had missed since the start of pre-season – and the match finished goalless.[39][40] After a midweek exit from the EFL Cup, Birmingham faced Leeds United at Elland Road with Maikel Kieftenbeld replacing Fabbrini in a more defensive lineup. Kuszczak's error, allowing Hadi Sacko's weak shot to creep underneath him, equalised Maghoma's early goal, but after Leeds' defence failed to clear Grounds' cross, Morrison gave Birmingham a 2–1 win, their first in eight Championship matches.[41] When Donaldson's 44th-minute penalty away to Wigan Athletic was saved, Davis was first to the rebound to give his side a lead – although television replays supported the home team's accusation of encroachment – but Craig Davies equalised in the last minute.[42]

Che Adams scored 24 minutes into his debut, at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers, but three second-half goals gave the visitors the points. Just 7 minutes after coming on as a substitute, Storer was sent off for headbutting an opponent;[43] while leaving the field, he kicked the advertising hoardings, suffering a foot injury that kept him out for longer than the three-match ban.[44] Davis received his fourth yellow card in as many matches.[45] August ended at home to Norwich City. Rowett strengthened the midfield by bringing in Kieftenbeld and Robert Tesche – making his first league start since signing permanently[46] – in place of Cotterill and the injured Gleeson, and moving Davis to the right. The latter headed the first goal from Maghoma's cross, and after the break Donaldson won and this time converted a penalty for his first goal of the season before taking advantage of a defensive error to complete a 3–0 win.[47]

September began with a 1–0 win at Fulham that left Birmingham fourth in the table. Donaldson missed a first-half penalty awarded for a foul on Adams, then ignored Rowett's instructions that Maghoma should take any further penalty and scored the one awarded for another foul on Adams after 49 minutes.[48] After Kuszczak was injured while warming up before the match away to Reading, Adam Legzdins kept a clean sheet as Birmingham played out what the PA Sport reporter dubbed a "gritty" goalless draw.[49] They relied on the "overworked" Legzdins to keep Sheffield Wednesday at bay until Gary Hooper scored for the visitors after 76 minutes, but the off-form Donaldson won and converted a penalty before substitute Jutkiewicz looped a header over the goalkeeper in stoppage time[50] – his first goal since he put Bolton Wanderers 2–0 up in the final match of the 2013–14 season, in which Birmingham were seconds away from relegation to League One[51] – to complete an unlikely victory.[52] Two draws – away to Queens Park Rangers, a "combative" match likened by Rowett to a UFC bout,[53] and at home to Preston North End, in which Birmingham twice came from behind[54] – took them into October still unbeaten away from home and still in the play-off positions.[55]

October–December[]

After Legzdins's "flying save" from Marvin Emnes stopped Birmingham falling behind to Blackburn Rovers, they finally took a chance when substitute Fabbrini fed Cotterill whose cross was "rammed ... into the roof of the net" by Gleeson.[56] Away to Nottingham Forest, Legzdins kept his place in goal despite Kuszczak's return to fitness, and an injury to Spector prompted Rowett to break the Morrison–Shotton defensive pairing, moving the latter to right back and bringing Robinson into the centre. The Birmingham Mail commented that "their defensive reshuffle [had] spread instability throughout the side" as the seven-match unbeaten run came to an end in a 3–1 defeat.[57] In the first match following the club's takeover by Trillion Trophy Asia, they beat a defensively poor Rotherham United 4–2,[58] but away to newly promoted Burton Albion, the hosts showed "more energy and drive" and, according to Rowett, "thoroughly deserved" to win the first competitive meeting between the clubs.[59] Kuszczak returned to the side for the Second City derby against Aston Villa, who had recently appointed former Birmingham captain and manager Steve Bruce as their manager. Despite Birmingham's domination of possession, it was Villa who took a first-half lead; Birmingham's shooting was wasteful, with Donaldson particularly profligate. Davis equalised after 71 minutes with a driven shot from the edge of the penalty area. After a strong performance on his first start, loanee left back Rhoys Wiggins' season was ended by a knee injury sustained in an accidental collision in stoppage time.[60][61]

Birmingham recovered from a weak first half and 1–0 down after an hour to draw away to third-placed Huddersfield Town when Grounds kept the ball in play to set up a chance for Jutkiewicz to score with a well-placed header.[62][63] A win over Bristol City courtesy of Adams' late goal put Birmingham back into the play-off positions. Spector's stoppage-time dismissal[64] meant a Football League debut for the 20-year-old Josh Dacres-Cogley away to Brentford, where the visitors rode their luck. Donaldson's penalty, Shotton's back-post touch, a fine performance from Kuszczak and a late disallowed goal ensured a 2–1 win, which took them into December fourth in the table.[65][66]

A poor performance compounded by Davis's dismissal for a second booking brought a 3–0 defeat at home to Barnsley.[67] In the next match, Birmingham visited Newcastle United – the team who began the season as the hottest favourites ever for the Championship title.[68] Rowett did not replace the suspended Davis with a similarly combative player, preferring to include more creative players,[69] two of whom were substituted at half time with the score 2–0. Newcastle's superiority continued through the second half, Dwight Gayle completed a hat-trick, and the match ended 4–0; Birmingham's teenage debutant Corey O'Keeffe missed a good chance to mark his first appearance with a goal.[69] Rowett was disappointed with his team, saying that "we didn't play enough balls or play with enough quality when we did win the ball. We were too passive at times."[70] In front of the season's lowest league attendance, of 15,212, Birmingham beat Ipswich Town by two goals to one. Donaldson scored the first, from the penalty spot, but was stretchered off soon afterwards, and Morrison doubled the lead, but Ipswich pulled one back after 69 minutes and had a late equaliser disallowed.[71]

Change of management[]

The win against Ipswich left Birmingham in seventh position, three points off third place, and outside the play-off positions only on goal difference.[71] The following morning, two days after three new directors had joined the board, Rowett and his backroom staff were sacked.[72]

Later that day, the former West Ham United and Watford manager Gianfranco Zola was appointed on a two-and-a-half-year contract. His staff included Pierluigi Casiraghi and Gabriele Cioffi as first-team coaches and Kevin Hitchcock as goalkeeping coach. The club's chief executive, Panos Pavlakis, said, "His pedigree, philosophy and ambition fits with what we would like to achieve as we move in a new direction. Gianfranco has a wealth of top-level experience as both manager and player and we are extremely excited about his appointment."[5] Zola confirmed that he had been approached about the post "some time ago".[73] The Birmingham Mail reported that the players were "fuming" when Rowett told them he had been sacked;[74] Zola began his tenure with a meeting with five senior players – Jutkiewicz, Morrison, Robinson, Shotton and Spector.[73] He outlined his intention to make the team play more attacking, adventurous football, although he accepted it would be a gradual process: "I would be crazy to change a team that is doing so well and to try to implement so many things straight away."[75]

December–January[]

The only change in the starting eleven for Zola's first match, at home to top-of-the-table Brighton & Hove Albion, saw Stewart replace the injured Donaldson. Kieftenbeld hit the post inside the first minute, Jutkiewicz gave Birmingham the lead early in the second half with an arcing header from Davis's cross, and the same player was denied by a "smart save". Zola brought on Dacres-Cogley for Stewart, to strengthen the right side of defence and counteract Brighton's increasingly influential substitute, Solly March, and then replaced Gleeson, who had looked comfortable in the sitting midfielder role, with Tesche. March promptly beat Tesche and crossed for Anthony Knockaert to equalise. In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Robinson – on for Spector – fouled March to concede a free kick that led to a corner, from which Glenn Murray was left unmarked to head home the winner.[76] According to Derby County manager Steve McClaren, "Birmingham were waiting to be beaten"; they were beaten, but only via what Zola described as a soft penalty.[77] December ended with Birmingham's first point since the change of management. Away to Barnsley, they came back from 2–0 down to draw the match, with goals from Jutkiewicz (penalty) and Maghoma, to finish the year in eleventh position.[78]

In January, Birmingham collected two points from five Championship matches in which they scored just twice. Jutkiewicz gave his side a lead at home to Brentford, but in the second half, the visitors capitalised on mistakes to score three times as well as miss a penalty.[79] In a match of few chances, Nottingham Forest broke their five-match losing streak in a match of few chances in which Birmingham's highlight was the return on loan of midfielder Craig Gardner, who had left the club after their relegation from the Premier League in 2011.[80] Early in the visit to 23rd-placed Blackburn Rovers, Cotterill was fouled for a penalty converted by Jutkiewicz. Danny Graham equalised with the last kick of the first half. Kuszczak had earlier suffered a blow to the head and was substituted at half time with blurred vision. Although the second half was open, the score remained 1–1, and Birmingham gave a late debut to new signing, Turkish international winger Kerim Frei.[81] Zola gave a first start to Frei and a debut to former Middlesbrough right-back Emilio Nsue away to Norwich City, but although he thought the team had been more creative, they lost 2–0.[82]

Without Cotterill for the visit of Reading on transfer deadline day – he had joined divisional rivals Bristol City on loan, having been given 24 hours notice to find another club because he did not fit into the shape that Zola wanted his team to take up[83] – and with Dacres-Cogley and Robinson replacing Nsue and Morrison on fitness grounds, Birmingham lost Shotton to injury at half time. Morrison came on, and helped his team produce what the Birmingham Mail reported as a determined performance that deserved at least a draw. The visitors scored the only goal after 71 minutes, extending the winless run under Zola's management to eight Championship matches.[84]

February–April[]

Birmingham won their first match under Zola's management on 4 February at home to Fulham. With both Morrison and Shotton unavailable through injury, Robinson and Grounds played at centre-back, with Nsue and Keita at full-back and Jerome Sinclair making his debut alongside Jutkiewicz. After heading against the crossbar in the first half, Jutkewicz scored the only goal of the match – his tenth of the season – a few minutes after Fulham's Ryan Fredericks was sent off for a foul on Gardner.[85][86] Normal service was resumed with a 3–0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday, in which Birmingham hit the woodwork three times.[87] Without Davis, who began a two-match suspension for ten yellow cards, Birmingham recalled Adams to the starting eleven for the visit to Preston North End and gave Krystian Bielik his debut alongside Grounds at centre-back. Gardner captained the team, and was sent off for a bad foul, just after Preston had taken a 2–1 lead. Zola said he was "fed up" of talking about luck: "The reason we keep losing games like this is not because we are unlucky, at the moment we are very poor, simple as that."[88]

With Shotton fit again, Birmingham played a 3–5–2 formation for the visit of Queens Park Rangers; with Jutkiewicz injured, Adams and Sinclair played up front. Five minutes after Nsue "missed a sitter", QPR took the lead. After half an hour, left wing-back Keita went off with concussion; at half-time, winger Frei came on for defender Dacres-Cogley, and Jack Storer made a late appearance in a deeper, midfield role. By the time of Nsue's stoppage-time goal, QPR had four.[89] Davis and Gardner returned at Wolverhampton Wanderers, with Adams as lone striker. Kieftenbeld's sharp reaction to Wolves' goalkeeper dropping the ball at his feet gave Birmingham a lead, which was doubled by Davis with a curled shot from the edge of the penalty area. After Robinson was sent off for striking an opponent – the dismissal was rescinded on appeal – Wolves reduced the deficit but Birmingham held on for a win that left them in 13th position.[90][91]

Fourth-placed Leeds United's manager Garry Monk claimed to have not enjoyed the first hour of his team's visit to Birmingham, but Chris Wood scored twice to contribute to a 3–1 defeat for his former employers. Zola claimed that despite the mistakes, it was his team's best performance of the season.[92] Four days later, they gave what BBC Sport's reporter dubbed "as poor a first-half display as they have produced all season" at home to 23rd-placed Wigan Athletic. Another former Birmingham loanee, Dan Burn, scored the only goal of the match.[93] Away to Cardiff City, Jutkiewicz scored an 89th-minute equaliser when the ball rebounded off his shin after his header was saved; despite the point, Birmingham dropped to 17th place, six points above the relegation zone.[94] The last fixture in March saw the return of Donaldson after three months out with injury. The goalless draw took Newcastle United top of the table and left Birmingham 18th and a point closer to relegation.[95]

Away to Ipswich Town, Grounds gave Birmingham a lead just after half-time, but Gavin Ward's shot – described by Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy as "a wonder-strike, or a lucky cross" – beat Kuszczak to share the points.[96] After Glenn Murray's 20th goal of the season gave Brighton & Hove Albion a 2nd-minute lead, Birmingham had the better of the first half, but they conceded again just after half-time and the match finished 3–1. The consolation goal, after 85 minutes, came when Frei ran through Brighton's defence and slid the ball through to Maghoma in the penalty area; he backheeled it to Adams whose fierce shot was deflected past the goalkeeper.[97][98] The next fixture saw the return to Gary Rowett to St Andrew's, as manager of Derby County. Again, Birmingham conceded early; a shot rebounded off the post onto Kuszczak's back and into the goal.[99] Jutkiewicz appeared to have equalised but the attempt was disallowed: neither manager saw a foul.[100] After 69 minutes, Adams did equalise, and it seemed as though Birmingham would hold on for the draw when, in stoppage time, Derby's goalkeeper hit a quick goal kick down the middle to Tom Ince who lobbed the advancing Kuszczak.[99]

Birmingham began the Easter weekend away to Rotherham United, whose relegation was already confirmed and who had lost their previous ten matches,[101] without Donaldson, who had injured a knee in training.[102] Zola said before the match that they needed to win,[103] but the performance did not reflect that need. After 73 minutes, Frei's first goal for Birmingham, a swerving 25-yard free kick, gave his team the lead, but that lead lasted only 12 minutes, and Rotherham missed a clear chance to win the match in stoppage time when Jerry Yates "embarrassingly blazed over".[101] At the end of the match, the Birmingham crowd called for Zola to go – he said that he had no intention of leaving, and as long as the fans turned on him but supported the players, there was no problem – and during the post-match warm-down, arguments broke out among the players and Emilio Nsue had to be restrained by teammates.[104] At home to Burton Albion on Easter Monday, Birmingham lost 2–0.[105]

Second change of management[]

Zola resigned after the match. He said: "I sacked myself. I decided to give in my resignation. I am sorry because I came to Birmingham with huge expectations. Unfortunately the results have not been good and I take full responsibility. It is not that I like quitting, but Birmingham deserves better. If I feel I cannot help the players, why stay? If I cannot help the team, it is better I leave and let someone else do that."[106] The team had won just twice in 24 attempts under his management,[106] and had fallen from three points off third place when he took control[71] to three points outside the relegation zone with three matches remaining. According to BBC WM's Richard Wilford, "The Easter performances against Rotherham and Burton were limp, listless and damning. Birmingham's flirtation with relegation is very real indeed."[106]

Sixteen hours later, the club announced the appointment of the 70-year-old Harry Redknapp,[6] who was Premier League Manager of the Year in 2009–10 with Tottenham Hotspur.[107] He would work unpaid until the end of the season, and would receive a bonus if the team avoided relegation.[6] Any interest in staying in post for 2017–18 would depend on their staying up.[108] He brought in experienced manager Steve Cotterill and coach Paul Groves as first-team coaches, and retained Kevin Hitchcock as goalkeeping coach.[109]

The last three matches[]

Redknapp contacted Gary Rowett to discuss the players ahead of his first match in charge,[110] the derby visit to Aston Villa, which was preceded by a minute's applause in honour of Villa and England defender Ugo Ehiogu, who died two days before at the age of 44. A poor but even match in front of a 40,000 crowd was changed after an hour by the introduction of Gabriel Agbonlahor, who scored what proved to be the winning goal – his fifth against Birmingham. While bemoaning the fact that Villa's only shot in the second half had resulted in a goal, Redknapp was pleased with the players' application.[111] Video later emerged that appeared to show Paul Robinson kicking and punching Villa's James Chester just after the goal was scored. After Villa owner Tony Xia alerted the authorities to the incident via Twitter, Robinson was charged by the FA, who did not accept his argument that contact was accidental, and he received a three-match ban.[112][113]

Michael Morrison's return to fitness after three months out coincided with Robinson's suspension, and he returned to both starting eleven and captaincy for the home fixture against Huddersfield Town. With his team confirmed in the play-off positions, manager David Wagner made ten changes to his starting eleven. After eight minutes, Adams was brought down in the area but Jutkiewicz's penalty was saved. A quarter of an hour later, Adams was sent off for what the referee perceived as a foul;[114] the red card was rescinded on appeal.[115] Four minutes before half-time, Grounds' close-range header put Birmingham ahead, and with fourteen minutes or normal time remaining, a foul on Maghoma conceded a second penalty. Maghoma wanted to take the kick himself, but Redknapp told Gardner to do so – he had never seen Gardner take a penalty, but admired the way he could strike a ball – and the kick was successful. Despite the win, Blackburn Rovers beating Aston Villa meant relegation was still a possibility.[114]

Birmingham went into the last day of the season knowing that a win away to Bristol City guaranteed survival. If they failed to win, they would go down only if both Blackburn and Nottingham Forest won their final matches.[114] Survival was indeed achieved with a 1–0 victory, this result being essential as both Blackburn and Forest won their final matches.[7]

Match results[]

Match results: Championship
Date League[55]
position 		Opponents Venue Result Score
F–A 		Scorers Attendance[116] Refs
6 August 2016 10th Cardiff City H D 0–0 19,833 [39]
13 August 2016 7th Leeds United A W 2–1 Maghoma 15', Morrison 55' 27,392 [41]
16 August 2016 9th Wigan Athletic A D 1–1 Davis 44' 11,182 [117]
20 August 2016 13th Wolverhampton Wanderers H L 1–3 Che Adams 24' 18,569 [118]
27 August 2016 10th Norwich City H W 3–0 Davis 22', Donaldson 68' pen., 83' 16,295 [119]
10 September 2016 4th Fulham A W 1–0 Donaldson 49' pen. 17,603 [48]
13 September 2016 5th Reading A D 0–0 14,602 [49]
17 September 2016 5th Sheffield Wednesday H W 2–1 Donaldson 81' pen., Jutkiewicz 90+2' 16,786 [52]
24 September 2016 6th Queens Park Rangers A D 1–1 Jutkiewicz 23' 13,693 [120]
27 September 2016 6th Preston North End H D 2–2 Shotton 30', Che Adams 68' 15,779 [54]
1 October 2016 6th Blackburn Rovers H W 1–0 Gleeson 64' 16,781 [56]
14 October 2016 6th Nottingham Forest A L 1–3 Jutkiewicz 71' 19,208 [121]
18 October 2016 5th Rotherham United H W 4–2 Morrison 15', Jutkiewicz 35', Maghoma 43', Cotterill 84' pen. 16,404 [58]
21 October 2016 5th Burton Albion A L 0–2 5,818 [59]
30 October 2016 7th Aston Villa H D 1–1 Davis 71' 29,656 [60]
5 November 2016 7th Huddersfield Town A D 1–1 Jutkiewicz 73' 20,200 [62]
19 November 2016 5th Bristol City H W 1–0 Che Adams 81' 18,586 [64]
26 November 2016 4th Brentford A W 2–1 Donaldson 14' pen., Shotton 63' 10,925 [65]
3 December 2016 5th Barnsley H L 0–3 17,072 [67]
10 December 2016 7th Newcastle United A L 0–4 52,145 [70]
13 December 2016 7th Ipswich Town H W 2–1 Donaldson 41' pen., Morrison 53' 15,212 [71]
17 December 2016 8th Brighton & Hove Albion H L 1–2 Jutkiewicz 52' 15,212 [76]
27 December 2016 11th Derby County A L 0–1 32,616 [77]
31 December 2016 11th Barnsley A D 2–2 Maghoma 33', Jutkiewicz 52' pen. 13,397 [78]
2 January 2017 13th Brentford H L 1–3 Jutkiewicz 23' 18,030 [79]
14 January 2017 12th Nottingham Forest H D 0–0 18,041 [80]
21 January 2017 12th Blackburn Rovers A D 1–1 Jutkiewicz 3' pen. 12,035 [81]
28 January 2017 12th Norwich City A L 0–2 25,678 [82]
31 January 2017 12th Reading H L 0–1 16,672 [84]
4 February 2017 12th Fulham H W 1–0 Jutkiewicz 75' 17,426 [85]
10 February 2017 12th Sheffield Wednesday A L 0–3 24,805 [87]
14 February 2017 14th Preston North End A L 1–2 Che Adams 47' 10,233 [88]
18 February 2017 14th Queens Park Rangers H L 1–4 Nsue 90+3' 20,265 [89]
24 February 2017 13th Wolverhampton Wanderers A W 2–1 Kieftenbeld 27', Davis 32' 27,541 [90]
3 March 2017 14th Leeds United H L 1–3 Gardner 63' 20,321 [92]
7 March 2017 17th Wigan Athletic H L 0–1 15,596 [93]
11 March 2017 17th Cardiff City A D 1–1 Jutkiewicz 89' 20,334 [94]
18 March 2017 18th Newcastle United H D 0–0 20,334 [95]
1 April 2017 18th Ipswich Town A D 1–1 Grounds 48' 16,667 [96]
4 April 2017 18th Brighton & Hove Albion A L 1–3 Che Adams 85' 28,654 [97]
8 April 2017 18th Derby County H L 1–2 Che Adams 68' 19,381 [99]
14 April 2017 19th Rotherham United A D 1–1 Frei 73' 10,160 [122]
17 April 2017 20th Burton Albion H L 0–2 19,794 [105]
23 April 2017 21st Aston Villa A L 0–1 40,884 [111]
29 April 2017 20th Huddersfield Town H W 2–0 Grounds 41', Gardner 76' (pen.) 26,914 [114]
7 May 2017 19th Bristol City A W 1–0 Che Adams 16' 25,404 [7]

League table[]

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
17 Bristol City 46 15 9 22 60 66 −6 54
18 Queens Park Rangers 46 15 8 23 52 66 −14 53
19 Birmingham City 46 13 14 19 45 64 −19 53
20 Burton Albion 46 13 13 20 49 63 −14 52
21 Nottingham Forest 46 14 9 23 62 72 −10 51
Source: English Football League, Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Points in head-to-head matches; 5) Goal difference in head-to-head matches; 6) Goals scored in head-to-head matches; 7) Play-off.


Results summary[]

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 14 19 45 64  −19 53 8 5 10 25 31  −6 5 9 9 20 33  −13

Source: [55]

FA Cup[]

Main article: 2016–17 FA Cup

As with all first- and second-tier teams, Birmingham entered the competition at the third-round (last-64) stage. They were drawn at home to Newcastle United.[123]

FA Cup match details
Round Date Opponents Venue Result Score
F–A		 Scorers Attendance Refs
Third round 7 January 2017 Newcastle United H D 1–1 Jutkiewicz 42' 13,171 [124]
Third round replay 18 January 2017 Newcastle United A L 1–3 Cotterill 72' 34,896 [125]

EFL Cup[]

Main article: 2016–17 EFL Cup

In the first round of the League Cup competition, renamed EFL Cup following the rebranding of the Football League as English Football League,[126] Birmingham were drawn at home to Oxford United, newly promoted to League One.[127] They made nine changes from the eleven who started the opening league fixture, only Morrison and Grounds keeping their places. Full-back Josh Dacres-Cogley made his senior debut, and first appearances of the season were made by goalkeeper Adam Legzdins, full-back Paul Caddis – playing in a covering position ahead of Dacres-Cogley[128] – midfielders Robert Tesche and Maikel Kieftenbeld, winger Viv Solomon-Otabor and striker James Vaughan. After a first half which Birmingham dominated, creating numerous chances which they failed to take, the second-half introduction of Maghoma, Donaldson and Gleeson made no difference to the score. Just before the end of extra time, Liam Sercombe won the match for Oxford with a close-range header.[129]

EFL Cup match details
Round Date Opponents Venue Result Score
F–A		 Scorers Attendance Refs
First round 9 August 2016 Oxford United H L 0–1 a.e.t. 7,202 [127]

Transfers[]

In[]

Date Player Clubdagger Fee Ref
30 June 2016 Ryan Shotton Derby County Undisclosed [16]
1 July 2016 Robert Tesche (Nottingham Forest) Free [12]
27 July 2016 Daniel Cleary (Liverpool) Free [13]
8 August 2016 Che Adams Sheffield United Undisclosed [15]
12 August 2016 Greg Stewart Dundee Undisclosed [14]
3 January 2017 Lukas Jutkiewicz Burnley £1,000,000 [130]
4 January 2017 Logan Kwiecen Beaconsfield SYCOB Undisclosed [131]
4 January 2017 Olly McCoy Beaconsfield SYCOB Undisclosed [131]
18 January 2017 Emilio Nsue Middlesbrough Undisclosed [132]
19 January 2017 Cheick Keita Virtus Entella Undisclosed [133]
20 January 2017 Kerim Frei Beşiktaş €2.25 million [134]
23 January 2017 Dan Scarr Stourbridge Undisclosed [135]
dagger Brackets around club names indicate the player's contract with that club had expired before he joined Birmingham.

Out[]

Date Player Clubdagger Fee Ref
24 August 2016 James Vaughan (Bury) Mutual consent [136]
5 January 2017 Alex Jones Bradford City Undisclosed [137]
24 January 2017 Jonathan Spector (Orlando City) Mutual consent [138]
26 January 2017 Paul Caddis (Bury) Mutual consent [139][140]
30 June 2017 Charlee Adams (Dagenham & Redbridge) Released [141]
30 June 2017 Koby Arthur (Macclesfield Town) Released [142]
30 June 2017 Noe Baba (Macclesfield Town) Released [143]
30 June 2017 Reece Brown (Forest Green Rovers) Released [144]
30 June 2017 Charlie Cooper (Forest Green Rovers) Released [145]
30 June 2017 Logan Kwiecien Released [146]
30 June 2017 George O'Neill Released [146]
30 June 2017 Josh Tibbetts (Peterborough United) Released [147]
dagger Brackets round a club denote the player joined that club after his Birmingham City contract expired.

Loan in[]

Date Player Club Return Ref
31 August 2016 Lukas Jutkiewicz Burnley 2 January 2017 [18]
31 August 2016 Rhoys Wiggins AFC Bournemouth 2 January 2017 [19]
11 January 2017 Craig Gardner West Bromwich Albion End of season [148]
31 January 2017 Jerome Sinclair Watford End of season [149]
31 January 2017 Krystian Bielik Arsenal End of season [149]

Loan out[]

Date Player Club Return Ref
9 August 2016 Wes Harding Alfreton Town 9 September 2016 [150]
12 August 2016 Alex Jones Port Vale 2 January 2017 [24]
17 August 2016 Andrew Shinnie Hibernian End of season [20]
19 August 2016 Koby Arthur Cheltenham Town 2 January 2017 [22]
19 August 2016 Charlee Adams Kilmarnock 5 January 2017 [23]
31 August 2016 Nicolai Brock-Madsen PEC Zwolle End of season [21]
26 October 2016 Charlie Cooper York City One month [151]
9 December 2016 Charlie Cooper Forest Green Rovers End of season [152]
1 January 2017 Jack Storer Yeovil Town 25 January 2017 [153]
23 January 2017 Diego Fabbrini Spezia End of season [154]
27 January 2017 Luke Maxwell Grimsby Town End of season [155]
31 January 2017 Reece Brown Chesterfield End of season [156]
31 January 2017 Viv Solomon-Otabor Bolton Wanderers End of season [157]
31 January 2017 David Cotterill Bristol City End of season [158]

Appearances and goals[]

Sources:[159][160]
Numbers in parentheses denote appearances as substitute.
Players with name and squad number struck through and marked Left club during playing season 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 included in matchday squads
No. Pos. Nat. Name League FA Cup EFL Cup Total Discipline
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals A yellow rectangle, denoting the yellow penalty card shown to a player being cautioned A red rectangle, denoting the red penalty card shown to a player being sent off
1 GK  ENG Adam Legzdins 8 (2) 0 2 0 1 0 11 (2) 0 1 0
2 DF  EQG Emilio Nsue 18 1 0 0 0 0 18 1 1 0
3 DF  ENG Jonathan Grounds 42 2 2 0 1 0 45 2 9 0
4 DF  ENG Paul Robinson 13 (9) 0 2 0 1 0 16 (9) 0 5 1
5 DF  ENG Ryan Shotton 43 2 2 0 0 0 45 2 11 0
6 MF  NED Maikel Kieftenbeld 33 (6) 1 2 0 1 0 36 (6) 1 7 0
7 MF  GER Robert Tesche 19 (5) 0 1 0 1 0 21 (5) 0 5 0
8 MF  IRL Stephen Gleeson 25 (4) 1 1 0 0 (1) 0 26 (5) 1 6 0
9 FW  JAM Clayton Donaldson 16 (7) 6 0 0 0 (1) 0 16 (8) 6 2 0
10 MF  ITA Diego Fabbrini 2 (5) 0 1 (1) 0 0 0 3 (6) 0 0 0
11 MF  WAL David Cotterill 19 (6) 1 1 1 0 0 20 (6) 2 3 0
12 DF  WAL Rhoys Wiggins Left club during playing season 1 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 1 (1) 0 0 0
12 MF  ENG Craig Gardner 19 (1) 2 0 0 0 0 19 (1) 2 3 1
14 FW  ENG Che Adams 28 (12) 7 2 0 0 0 30 (12) 7 3 1
15 FW  ENG Lukas Jutkiewicz 31 (7) 11 1 (1) 1 0 0 32 (8) 12 1 0
17 MF  ENG Viv Solomon-Otabor 0 (3) 0 1 0 1 0 2 (3) 0 0 0
18 MF  ENG Reece Brown 1 (7) 0 0 (1) 0 0 0 1 (8) 0 1 0
19 MF  COD Jacques Maghoma 20 (7) 3 0 0 0 (1) 0 20 (8) 3 4 0
20 FW  SCO Greg Stewart 6 (15) 0 0 (1) 0 0 0 6 (16) 0 1 0
21 FW  ENG James Vaughan Left club during playing season 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0
21 MF  TUR Kerim Frei 3 (10) 1 0 0 0 0 3 (10) 1 2 0
22 MF  SCO Andrew Shinnie 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
23 DF  USA Jonathan Spector Left club during playing season 22 0 1 0 0 0 23 0 1 1
25 DF  ENG Josh Dacres-Cogley 9 (5) 0 1 (1) 0 1 0 11 (6) 0 2 0
26 MF  ENG David Davis 40 (1) 4 2 0 0 0 42 (1) 4 14 1
27 GK  ENG Connal Trueman 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
28 DF  ENG Michael Morrison 30 (1) 3 0 0 1 0 31 (1) 3 6 0
29 GK  POL Tomasz Kuszczak 38 0 0 0 0 0 38 0 2 0
30 DF  IRL Corey O'Keeffe 0 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 0 (1) 0 0 0
31 DF  SCO Paul Caddis Left club during playing season 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0
31 DF  POL Krystian Bielik 8 (2) 0 0 0 0 0 8 (2) 0 3 0
33 DF  MLI Cheick Keita 9 (1) 0 0 0 0 0 9 (1) 0 4 0
38 FW  ENG Jack Storer 0 (4) 0 0 0 1 0 1 (4) 0 2 1
48 FW  ENG Jerome Sinclair 3 (2) 0 0 0 0 0 3 (2) 0 0 0
Players not included in matchday squads
No. Pos. Nat. Name
16 MF  ENG Charlee Adams
24 MF  GHA Koby Arthur
44 FW  DNK Nicolai Brock-Madsen

References[]

  1. ^ "Birmingham City: Trillion Trophy Asia complete takeover of club". BBC Sport. 17 October 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d "Birmingham City Statistics 2016/2017". ESPN FC. Retrieved 30 October 2016. Select competition(s) and season required via dropdown menu.
  3. ^ "Birmingham City". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  4. ^ "Gary Rowett: Birmingham City manager sacked by Championship club". BBC Sport. 14 December 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  5. ^ a b "Gianfranco Zola: Birmingham City appoint ex-West Ham boss as manager". BBC Sport. 14 December 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  6. ^ a b c "Birmingham City: Harry Redknapp named manager after Gianfranco Zola's resignation". BBC Sport. 18 April 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
    "Harry Redknapp: 'If I don't keep Birmingham up, I don't want paying'". BBC Sport. 19 April 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  7. ^ a b c "Bristol City 0–1 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 7 May 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  8. ^ Ireland, Shane (9 May 2017). "Birmingham City midfielder David Davis' player of the year award came at a price". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  9. ^ Dick, Brian (7 May 2016). "Birmingham City analysis: A promising debut; a curse of a curse and symmetry isn't always pleasing". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
    "Birmingham City league performance history: League Championship table at close of 2015-16 season". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 19 January 2019. Select table required via dropdown menu.
  10. ^ "Five players leave Blues". Birmingham City F.C. 11 May 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  11. ^ "Blues bid farewell to Mitch Hancox". Birmingham City F.C. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  12. ^ a b Charles, Andy (24 June 2016). "Birmingham City sign Robert Tesche on three-year contract". Sky Sports. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  13. ^ a b "Daniel Cleary joins Birmingham following Liverpool release". RTÉ Sport. 27 July 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  14. ^ a b "Greg Stewart: Birmingham City sign Dundee forward on three-year contract". BBC Sport. 12 August 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  15. ^ a b "Che Adams: Birmingham City sign Sheffield United striker". BBC Sport. 8 August 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  16. ^ a b "Ryan Shotton: Derby County defender completes move to Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 30 June 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  17. ^ "Blues snap up James Vaughan". Birmingham City F.C. 8 January 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
    "Official: James Vaughan joins Bury". Birmingham City F.C. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  18. ^ a b "Blues bag Lukas Jutkiewicz from Burnley". Birmingham City F.C. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  19. ^ a b "Blues bring in AFC Bournemouth defender Rhoys Wiggins". Birmingham City F.C. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  20. ^ a b "Andrew Shinnie: Hibs sign Birmingham forward on loan". BBC Sport. 17 August 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  21. ^ a b "Birmingham City: Bournemouth's Rhoys Wiggins & Burnley's Lukas Jutkiewicz join". BBC Sport. 31 August 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  22. ^ a b "Cheltenham Town loan Bristol City's Jonny Smith and re-sign Koby Arthur from Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 19 August 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  23. ^ a b "Official: Charlee Adams heads to Kilmarnock". Birmingham City F.C. 20 August 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  24. ^ a b "Alex Jones makes Port Vale move". Birmingham City F.C. 12 August 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  25. ^ "Sky Bet Championship 2016–2017". Historical Football Kits. Dave Moor. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  26. ^ "Adidas to become Blues' new kit supplier". Birmingham City F.C. 3 March 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  27. ^ "2016/17 home kit launch event success". Birmingham City F.C. 7 June 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  28. ^ "Boss looking forward to a productive training camp". Birmingham City F.C. 2 July 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  29. ^ "Solihull Moors 1 Blues 3". Birmingham City F.C. 12 July 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  30. ^ Dick, Brian (16 July 2016). "Forest Green 0 Birmingham City 3". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
    "Birmingham City come out on top at FGR". Forest Green Rovers F.C. 16 July 2016. Archived from the original on 6 October 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  31. ^ Dick, Brian; Suart, Paul (19 July 2016). "Birmingham City friendlies RECAP: BCFC draw at Walsall and lose to Shrewsbury in pre-season friendly double header". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  32. ^ "Walsall 1 Birmingham 1". Express & Star. Wolverhampton. 19 July 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  33. ^ Hislop, John (24 July 2016). "Much changed Hibs side comfortably overcome Birmingham City". The Edinburgh Reporter. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  34. ^ "Report: Port Vale v Birmingham City". Port Vale F.C. 27 July 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  35. ^ "Report: Blues 0 Roda JC 0". Birmingham City F.C. 30 July 2016. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  36. ^ Chapman, Joseph (2 August 2016). "Kidderminster 0 Birmingham City 4: Match report with pictures as Blues conclude pre-season in style". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  37. ^ "Report: Blues 0 Cardiff City 0". Birmingham City F.C. 6 August 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  38. ^ "Blues team news ahead of EFL opener". Birmingham City F.C. 5 August 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
  39. ^ a b c "Birmingham City v Cardiff City". sportinglife.com. PA Sport. 6 August 2016. Archived from the original on 30 December 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
  40. ^ "Cardiff boss Paul Trollope took inspiration from Wales in Birmingham draw". Sky Sports. Press Association. 6 August 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
  41. ^ a b "Leeds United 1–2 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 13 August 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
  42. ^ Kendrick, Paul (16 August 2016). "Caldwell given the Blues despite late Latics leveller". Wigan Today. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
  43. ^ "Birmingham 1 Wolves 3". Express & Star. Wolverhampton. 20 August 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  44. ^ Dick, Brian (20 September 2016). "Birmingham City boss Gary Rowett on Jack Storer: Apologies, provocation but no cuddles". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  45. ^ "Games played by David Davis in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  46. ^ "R. Tesche". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  47. ^ Dick, Brian (27 August 2016). "Birmingham City 3 Norwich City 0: Match report – Davis and Donaldson double ensure Blues cruise to Canary victory". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  48. ^ a b "Fulham 0–1 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 10 September 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  49. ^ a b "Reading v Birmingham City". sportinglife.com. PA Sport. 13 September 2016. Archived from the original on 10 January 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  50. ^ "Birmingham hit back to take the points against Sheffield Wednesday". ESPN. PA Sport. 17 September 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  51. ^ Wildey, Rob (29 September 2016). "Does Birmingham City man offer a goal threat? Another big fat yes". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
    Hart, Simon (3 May 2014). "Paul Caddis gets Birmingham out of jail". The Independent. London. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  52. ^ a b "Birmingham City 2–1 Sheffield Wednesday". BBC Sport. 17 September 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  53. ^ Dick, Brian (24 September 2016). "Birmingham City boss Gary Rowett feels his side had to fight UFC style to earn a point against Queens Park Rangers". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  54. ^ a b "Birmingham City 2–2 Preston North End". BBC Sport. 27 September 2016. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  55. ^ a b c "Birmingham City league performance history". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 7 May 2017. Select content required via dropdown menus.
  56. ^ a b "Birmingham City v Blackburn Rovers". sportinglife.com. PA Sport. 1 October 2016. Archived from the original on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  57. ^ Dick, Brian; McCartney, Aidan (14 October 2016). "Nottingham Forest 3 Birmingham City 1 result: Blues go down to defeat despite Lukas Jutkiewicz strike". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  58. ^ a b "Birmingham City v Rotherham United". sportinglife.com. PA Sport. 1 October 2016. Archived from the original on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  59. ^ a b "Burton Albion 0–0 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 21 October 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  60. ^ a b "Birmingham City v Aston Villa". sportinglife.com. PA Sport. 30 October 2016. Archived from the original on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  61. ^ "Injury news: Wiggins out for the season, no more long term injuries ahead of Sunderland". AFC Bournemouth. 30 October 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  62. ^ a b "Huddersfield Town 1–1 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 5 November 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  63. ^ Dick, Brian (5 November 2016). "Huddersfield 1 Birmingham City 1: Report, stats and pictures as Blues claim point". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  64. ^ a b "Birmingham City 1–0 Bristol City". BBC Sport. 19 November 2016. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  65. ^ a b "Brentford 1–1 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 26 November 2016. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  66. ^ Dick, Brian (26 November 2016). "Brentford 1 Birmingham City 2: Match report as Blues move into fourth with goals from Clayton Donaldson and Ryan Shotton". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  67. ^ a b "Birmingham City 0–3 Barnsley". BBC Sport. 3 December 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  68. ^ Douglas, Mark (21 June 2016). "Newcastle shortest ever Championship favourites: A bookie explains why – and who else to watch". The Chronicle. Newcastle. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  69. ^ a b Dick, Brian (10 December 2016). "Birmingham City analysis: Lights go down on Blues as Newcastle United show too much class". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  70. ^ a b "Newcastle United 4–0 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 10 December 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  71. ^ a b c d Scott, Ged (13 December 2016). "Birmingham City 2–1 Ipswich Town". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  72. ^ "Gary Rowett: Birmingham City manager sacked by Championship club". BBC Sport. 14 December 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  73. ^ a b Percy, John (15 December 2016). "Gianfranco Zola defends his Birmingham City appointment and denies getting Gary Rowett sacked". Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  74. ^ McCartney, Aidan (14 December 2016). "Birmingham City exclusive: How the players reacted to Gary Rowett's sacking". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  75. ^ Kendrick, Mat (16 December 2016). "Gianfranco Zola reveals what he wants to change about Birmingham City – gradually". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  76. ^ a b Dick, Brian; Kendrick, Mat (17 December 2016). "Birmingham City vs Brighton live: Anthony Knockaert and Glenn Murray ruin Gianfranco Zola's Blues debut". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
    Dick, Brian (18 December 2016). "Birmingham City player ratings: Gianfranco Zola's men rated after Brighton defeat". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  77. ^ a b Phillips, Owen (27 December 2016). "Derby County 1–0 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
  78. ^ a b "Barnsley 2–2 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 31 December 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  79. ^ a b "Birmingham City 1–3 Brentford". BBC Sport. 2 January 2017. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  80. ^ a b "Birmingham City 0–0 Nottingham Forest". BBC Sport. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  81. ^ a b "Blackburn Rovers 1–1 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 21 January 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  82. ^ a b "Birmingham City 0–0 Norwich City". BBC Sport. 28 January 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  83. ^ Dick, Brian (1 February 2017). "Birmingham City: Gianfranco Zola explains why he let David Cotterill leave". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  84. ^ a b Dick, Brian (31 January 2017). "Birmingham City 0 Reading 1". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  85. ^ a b "Birmingham City 1–0 Fulham". BBC Sport. 4 February 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  86. ^ "Birmingham 1–0 Fulham: Gianfranco Zola finally gets first win". Sky Sports. 4 February 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
  87. ^ a b Garry, Tom (10 February 2017). "Sheffield Wednesday 3–0 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
  88. ^ a b "Preston North End 2–1 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 14 February 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  89. ^ a b Dick, Brian (18 February 2017). "Birmingham City 1 QPR 4: The nightmare continues for Gianfranco Zola". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
  90. ^ a b Garry, Tom (24 February 2017). "Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–2 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  91. ^ "Paul Robinson: Birmingham City club captain has Wolves red card overturned". BBC Sport. 28 February 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
  92. ^ a b "Birmingham City 1–3 Leeds United". BBC Sport. 4 March 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  93. ^ a b "Birmingham City 0–1 Wigan Athletic". BBC Sport. 7 March 2017. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
  94. ^ a b Pritchard, Dafydd (11 March 2017). "Cardiff City 1–1 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  95. ^ a b "Birmingham City 0–0 Newcastle United". BBC Sport. 18 March 2017. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  96. ^ a b "Ipswich Town 1–1 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 1 April 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  97. ^ a b "Brighton & Hove Albion 3–1 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 4 April 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  98. ^ "Report: Brighton & Hove Albion 3 Blues 1". Birmingham City F.C. 4 April 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  99. ^ a b c "Birmingham City 1–2 Derby County". BBC Sport. 8 April 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  100. ^ Ireland, Shane (9 April 2017). "Derby County boss Gary Rowett's verdict on Birmingham City's disallowed goal". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  101. ^ a b "Rotherham United 1–1 Birmingham City". ESPN. PA Sport. 14 April 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  102. ^ "Rotherham v Birmingham preview". Sky Sports. 13 April 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  103. ^ "Preview: Rotherham United v Blues". Birmingham City F.C. 13 April 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  104. ^ Dick, Brian; Ireland, Shane (13 April 2017). "Rotherham United 1 Birmingham City 1 LIVE: Emilio Nsue restrained in angry scenes; Blues deny dressing room damage; Zola Out taunts". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  105. ^ a b "Birmingham City 0–2 Burton Albion". BBC Sport. 17 April 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  106. ^ a b c "Gianfranco Zola: Birmingham City manager resigns after four months". BBC Sport. 17 April 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  107. ^ Ley, John (7 May 2010). "Tottenham's Harry Redknapp named manager of the season". Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 10 May 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  108. ^ "Harry Redknapp parachutes in to take over as Birmingham City manager". The Guardian. London. 18 April 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  109. ^ "Cotterill and Groves complete new-look backroom team". Birmingham City F.C. 19 April 2017. Archived from the original on 18 May 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  110. ^ Dick, Brian (22 April 2017). "Birmingham City: How Gary Rowett has been helping Harry Redknapp". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  111. ^ a b Scott, Ged (23 April 2017). "Aston Villa 1–0 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  112. ^ Xia, Tony [@Dr_TonyXia] (24 April 2017). "That's really unacceptable disgusting!@EFL @FA" (Tweet). Retrieved 30 April 2017 – via Twitter.
  113. ^ "Birmingham defender Paul Robinson banned for three games after Aston Villa clash". Sky Sports. 27 April 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  114. ^ a b c d "Birmingham City 2–0 Huddersfield Town". BBC Sport. 29 April 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  115. ^ "Che Adams: Birmingham City win appeal over striker's red card". BBC Sport. 3 May 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  116. ^ "Birmingham City football club match record: 2017". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  117. ^ "Wigan Athletic 1–1 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 16 August 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  118. ^ "Birmingham City 1–3 Wolverhampton Wanderers". BBC Sport. 20 August 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  119. ^ "Birmingham City 3–0 Norwich City". BBC Sport. 27 August 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
  120. ^ "Queens Park Rangers 1–1 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 24 September 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  121. ^ "Nottingham Forest 3–1 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 14 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  122. ^ "Rotherham United 1–1 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 14 April 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  123. ^ Hunter, Andy (5 December 2016). "FA Cup third round draw: Reading's Jaap Stam faces return to Manchester United". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  124. ^ "Birmingham City 1–1 Newcastle United". BBC Sport. 7 January 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  125. ^ "Newcastle United 3–1 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 18 January 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  126. ^ Chapman, Matthew (4 April 2016). "Football League seeks cup tie-up amid rebrand for digital age". Campaign. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
  127. ^ a b "Birmingham City 0–1 Oxford United". BBC Sport. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
  128. ^ Dicken, Alex (10 August 2016). "Birmingham City: Player ratings from EFL Cup defeat to Oxford United". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
  129. ^ Dicken, Alex (9 August 2016). "Birmingham City 0 Oxford United 1 aet: Liam Sercombe knocks out Blues with last gasp EFL Cup winner". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
  130. ^ "Lukas Jutkiewicz: Birmingham City sign on-loan Burnley striker for £1m". BBC Sport. 20 December 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  131. ^ a b "Blues Under-23s squad boosted by two new additions". Birmingham City F.C. 4 January 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  132. ^ "Emilio Nsue: Birmingham City sign Middlesbrough winger". BBC Sport. 18 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  133. ^ "Cheick Keita: Birmingham City sign left-back from Serie B side Virtus Entella". BBC Sport. 19 January 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  134. ^ "Kerim Frei: Birmingham City sign former Fulham winger from Besiktas". BBC Sport. 20 January 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
    For fee: "Kerim Frei resmen Birmingham'da!" [Kerim Frei is officially a Birmingham Player] (in Turkish). beIN Sports. 20 January 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
    "Birmingham City have agreed deal worth €3.5m, details now released". Sport Witness. 20 January 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  135. ^ "Dan Scarr: Birmingham City sign defender from non-league neighbours Stourbridge". BBC Sport. 23 January 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  136. ^ "James Vaughan: Bury sign striker after Birmingham City exit". BBC Sport. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  137. ^ "Alex Jones: Bradford City sign Birmingham City striker for undisclosed fee". BBC Sport. 5 January 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  138. ^ "Jonathan Spector makes MLS move". Birmingham City F.C. 24 January 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  139. ^ "Paul Caddis departs Blues". Birmingham City F.C. 26 January 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
  140. ^ "Paul Caddis: Bury sign ex-Birmingham City defender on short-term deal". BBC Sport. 25 February 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2017.
  141. ^ Keating, Ned (3 July 2017). "Dagenham & Redbridge sign former Birmingham City midfielder Charlee Adams". Barking and Dagenham Post. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
  142. ^ "Koby Arthur: Macclesfield Town sign former Birmingham City midfielder". BBC Sport. 1 August 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  143. ^ "Macclesfield Town sign Kieran Kennedy and Noe Baba". BBC Sport. 21 July 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  144. ^ "Reece Brown joins Forest Green Rovers after being released by Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 1 June 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  145. ^ "Charlie Cooper: Forest Green sign Birmingham City loanee on two-year deal". BBC Sport. 15 June 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  146. ^ a b "Club makes decisions on young prospects". Birmingham City F.C. 30 March 2017. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  147. ^ "Josh Tibbetts: Peterborough United sign Birmingham City goalkeeper". BBC Sport. 17 May 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  148. ^ "Craig Gardner: Birmingham City re-sign West Bromwich Albion midfielder". BBC Sport. 11 January 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  149. ^ a b "Birmingham sign Arsenal's Krystian Bielik and Watford's Jerome Sinclair on loan". BBC Sport. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  150. ^ "Wes Harding makes Alfreton Town switch". Birmingham City F.C. 9 August 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  151. ^ "Signing alert: Birmingham City youngster Charlie Cooper joins York City on loan". The Press. York. 26 October 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  152. ^ "Charlie Cooper: Birmingham City youngster extends loan with Forest Green Rovers". BBC Sport. 9 January 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  153. ^ "Jack Storer: Birmingham City striker joins Yeovil Town on loan". BBC Sport. 31 December 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
    "Jack Storer returns to Blues". Birmingham City F.C. 25 January 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  154. ^ "Mercato: per le Aquile la fantasia di Diego Fabbrini" [Transfer market: the creativity of Diego Fabbrini for the Eagles] (in Italian). Spezia Calcio. 23 January 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
    "Diego Fabbrini leaves for Italy". Birmingham City F.C. 24 January 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  155. ^ "Luke Maxwell: Grimsby sign midfielder on loan from Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 27 January 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  156. ^ "Reece Brown and Osman Kakay among four Chesterfield loan signings". BBC Sport. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  157. ^ "Bolton sign Cardiff's Adam le Fondre and Birmingham's Viv Solomon-Otabor". BBC Sport. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  158. ^ "Bristol City sign Matty Taylor from Bristol Rovers and Birmingham's David Cotterill". BBC Sport. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  159. ^ For squad numbers: "2016/17 Blues First Team squad numbers". Birmingham City F.C. 26 July 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  160. ^ "Birmingham 2016/17 Player Appearances". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
Retrieved from ""