2018–19 Birmingham City F.C. season

Birmingham City F.C.
2018–19 season
Owner Trillion Trophy Asia[1]
Manager Garry Monk[2]
Stadium St Andrew's
EFL Championship 17th (after matches played 6 October 2018)
FA Cup Third round
EFL Cup First round
Top goalscorer League: Lukas Jutkiewicz (6)
All: Lukas Jutkiewicz (6)
Highest home attendance 22,715 (vs West Bromwich Albion, 14 September 2018)
Lowest home attendance 19,795 (vs Rotherham United, 6 October 2018)
Home colours
Away colours

The 2018–19 season is Birmingham City Football Club's 116th season in the English football league system and eighth consecutive season in the second-tier Championship.[3] As with all English Football League clubs, the first team will also compete in the FA Cup and EFL Cup.

The season covers the period from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019.

Background and pre-season

After a 2016–17 season in which the club had three different managers and avoided relegation on the final day, Birmingham repeated the process in 2017–18.[4][5][6] Garry Monk, appointed in March, vowed to change the pattern: he would be "relentless, and whoever is not on board with that won't be here. The ones who are will be here. It has to be like that. We have to raise the mentality of the club. That goes for everyone at the club."[7] Apart from assistant manager Pep Clotet, the remainder of his backroom staff, including first-team coach James Beattie and goalkeeping coach Darryl Flahavan,[2] were those he had worked with before Middlesbrough sacked him some months earlier. That club had then placed his staff on gardening leave and included a clause preventing their working together or with Monk for a rival club for the next 12 months. After they joined Monk at Birmingham, Middlesbrough sought an injunction to enforce that clause, but the matter was settled out of court after a counter-claim for damages.[8][9]

For sponsorship reasons, and in the light of Financial Fair Play (FFP), the club's owners agreed a three-year naming rights package under which St Andrew's was renamed St Andrew's Trillion Trophy Stadium and the Wast Hills training ground became the Trillion Trophy Training Centre.[10] It emerged in early July that the EFL had refused to register Birmingham's first signing of the summer window – Danish left-back Kristian Pedersen – because of failure to comply with FFP requirements and had placed the club under a transfer embargo.[11] On 30 July, BBC Sport quoted an EFL spokesperson confirming they had "been in regular contact with the club throughout the summer and set out on 13 July [their] requirements in respect of the basis upon which the club would be able to make additions to Garry Monk's squad."[12] The club then issued a statement expressing their disappointment with the continuing embargo despite their best efforts to comply, and their understanding of and empathy with supporters' frustrations.[13]

However, "after consideration of the legal position as between the Club, Player and the EFL" and despite the EFL being "exceptionally disappointed" at the club's attitude, a deal was reached. The club agreed to a business plan aimed at restricting expenditure, Pedersen was registered, and the club could make a further five signings under strict conditions,[14] reported by the Birmingham Mail as meaning loans and free transfers only and a salary cap pitched at a "debilitating" level.[15] The club faced further punishment, including possible points deductions, from an EFL commission to meet later in the year.[16]

Birmingham made four signings: three loans – winger Connor Mahoney from AFC Bournemouth,[17] striker Omar Bogle from Cardiff City,[18] and midfielder Gary Gardner – younger brother of Craig Gardner – from Aston Villa,[19] and one free transfer, goalkeeper Lee Camp, also from Cardiff City.[20] They cancelled Diego Fabbrini's contract,[21] loaned out Nicolai Brock-Madsen,[22] Jonathan Grounds,[23] Cheick Keita,[24] Cheikh Ndoye[25] and Greg Stewart,[26] and tried unsuccessfully to offload high-earning goalkeepers David Stockdale and Tomasz Kuszczak.[27]

The home kit consists of a blue shirt with white trim on the shoulders and upper chest and white stripes down the side seams, white shorts with blue trim and blue stripes down the side seams, and blue socks with white trim at the turnover. The away kit has a yellow shirt with three blue stripes on the shoulders, blue shorts with yellow stripes down the side seams, and yellow socks with blue trim. The kits are supplied by Adidas and bear the logo of the club's principal sponsor, online bookmaker 888sport.[28]

After a training camp based in Bad Häring, Austria, which included friendly matches against Akhmat Grozny of the Russian Premier League and German fourth-tier club SSV Ulm, Birmingham City's first-team pre-season programme continued with matches against Doncaster Rovers, Cheltenham Town, Las Palmas and Brighton & Hove Albion.[29]

Pre-season match details
DateOpponentsVenue ResultScore
F–A		Scorers AttendanceRefs
12 July 2018 Akhmat GroznyN L0–1 [30]
14 July 2018 SSV UlmN D1–1Jota 61' [31]
20 July 2018 Doncaster RoversN W1–0Adams 87' [32]
21 July 2018 Cheltenham TownA W3–0Lakin 26', Lubala 52', Ndoye 89' pen. 2,234 [33]
27 July 2018 Las PalmasN L1–4Scarr 45' [34]
28 July 2018 Brighton & Hove AlbionH D1–1Kieftenbeld 31' 3,434 [35]

EFL Championship

August–September

Birmingham City opened their 2018–19 EFL Championship season with a home match against Norwich City.[36]

Match results

General source:[36] Match content not verifiable from these sources is referenced individually.

DateLeague
position		Opponents VenueResultScore
F–A		Scorers AttendanceRefs
4 August 2018 7th Norwich CityH D2–2Maghoma 56', Solomon-Otabor 89' 22,677 [37]
11 August 2018 19th MiddlesbroughA L0–1 23,748 [38]
17 August 2018 17th Swansea CityH D0–0 20,083 [39]
22 August 2018 20th Bolton WanderersA L0–1 13,821 [40]
25 August 2018 20th Nottingham ForestA D2–2Jutkiewicz 21', Adams 72' 26,799 [41]
1 September 2018 19th Queens Park RangersH D0–0 21,155 [42]
14 September 2018 17th West Bromwich AlbionH D1–1Jota 26' 22,715 [43]
19 September 2018 20th Sheffield UnitedA D0–0 23,525 [44]
22 September 2018 17th Leeds UnitedA W2–1Adams 8', 29' 34,800 [45]
29 September 2018 16th Ipswich TownH D2–2Jutkiewicz 48', 68' 21,612 [46]
2 October 2018 18th BrentfordA D1–1Morrison 26' 9,715 [47]
6 October 2018 17th Rotherham UnitedH W3–1Jutkiewicz 20', 23', 68' 19,795 [48]

Current league table (part)

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
15 Aston Villa 12 3 6 3 20 20 0 15
16 Bolton Wanderers 12 4 3 5 10 15 −5 15
17 Birmingham City 12 2 8 2 13 12 +1 14
18 Queens Park Rangers 12 4 2 6 9 19 −10 14
19 Rotherham United 12 3 2 7 9 19 −10 11
Updated to match(es) played on 7 October 2018. Source: BBC Sport
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results [49]

Result summary

OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
12 2 8 2 13 12  +1 14 1 5 0 8 6  +2 1 3 2 5 6  −1

Last updated: match played 6 October 2018.
Source: [50]

FA Cup

EFL Cup

In the first round of the EFL Cup, Birmingham were drawn away to another Championship team, Reading. With a televised Championship fixture three days later, Monk made eleven changes from the team that started the previous Saturday, with debuts for Lee Camp, Dan Scarr and Gary Gardner and first starts for Connor Mahoney, Beryly Lubala and Omar Bogle. Reading fielded a full-strength side and were rarely tested.[51]

EFL Cup match details
Round DateOpponentsVenue ResultScore
F–A		Scorers AttendanceRefs
First round 14 August 2018ReadingA L0–2 6,934 [51]

Transfers

In

Date Player Clubdagger Fee Ref
25 June 2018Kristian PedersenUnion BerlinUndisclosed [52]
8 August 2018Lee CampCardiff CityFree [20]
15 August 2018Francis AmarteyFAB Academy [lower-alpha 1]
15 August 2018Danny LupanoSolihull Moors [lower-alpha 1]
15 August 2018Michael Luyambula(Borussia Dortmund)Free [lower-alpha 1]
15 August 2018Cameron McGilp(Melbourne Victory)Free [lower-alpha 1]
dagger Brackets round a club's name indicate the player's contract with that club had expired before he joined Birmingham.
  1. 1 2 3 4 Player signed specifically for the U23 team under the club's transfer restrictions.[53]

Out

Date Player Clubdagger Fee Ref
3 September 2018Diego FabbriniFC BotoșaniMutual consent [21]
dagger Brackets round a club's name denote the player joined that club after his Birmingham City contract expired.

Loan in

Date Player Club Return Ref
7 August 2018Connor MahoneyAFC BournemouthEnd of season [17]
7 August 2018Omar BogleCardiff CityEnd of season [18]
9 August 2018Gary GardnerAston VillaEnd of season [19]

Loan out

DatePlayerClubReturnRef
3 January 2018[lower-alpha 1]Ronan HaleDerry City5 November 2018 [54]
28 June 2018Cheick KeitaEupenEnd of season [24]
2 July 2018Luke MaxwellSolihull Moors5 January 2019 [55]
24 July 2018Dominic BernardAldershot TownJanuary 2019 [56]
26 July 2018Leo BrownSutton Coldfield TownEnd of August [57]
26 July 2018Jack ConcannonSutton Coldfield TownEnd of August [57]
26 July 2018Kieron DawesSutton Coldfield TownEnd of August [57]
9 August 2018Nicolai Brock-MadsenSt MirrenJanuary 2019 [22]
13 August 2018Jonathan GroundsBolton WanderersEnd of season [23]
16 August 2018Cheikh NdoyeAngersEnd of season [25]
17 August 2018Corey O'KeeffeSolihull Moors17 February 2019 [58]
28 August 2018Greg StewartKilmarnock9 June 2019 [26]
30 August 2018Steve SeddonStevenage15 January 2019 [59]
8 September 2018David StockdaleSouthend United28 September 2018 [60]
21 September 2018Ben McLeanAFC Totton20 October 2018 [61]
21 September 2018Adam SiviterAFC Totton20 October 2018 [61]
28 September 2018Jake WeaverHungerford Town28 December 2018 [62]
5 October 2018Michael LuyambulaHungerford Town1 November 2018 [63]
  1. ↑ Hale was loaned to Derry City in January 2018 with initial expiry date of 30 June; the loan was then extended to the end of that club's season.[54]

Appearances and goals

Sources:[64][65][66]
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
1GK NIR Lee Camp 100001011000
3DF DEN Kristian Pedersen 120000012030
4DF ENG Marc Roberts 0 (1)000101 (1)000
5DF FRA Maxime Colin 120000012000
6MF NED Maikel Kieftenbeld 8 (2)000109 (2)030[lower-alpha 1]
7MF ENG Connor Mahoney 0 (6)000101 (6)000
8MF ENG Craig Gardner 2000002001
9FW ENG Che Adams 9 (3)3000 (1)09 (4)300
10FW ENG Lukas Jutkiewicz 126000012610
12DF ENG Harlee Dean 120000012020
14FW ENG Omar Bogle 3 (6)000104 (6)000
17MF SEN Cheikh Ndoye 1 (1)000001 (1)010
19MF COD Jacques Maghoma 121000012120
20MF ENG Gary Gardner 100001011040
22MF ENG Viv Solomon-Otabor 0 (6)100101 (6)100
23FW ESP Jota 121000 (1)012 (1)110
24DF ENG Dan Scarr 0000101000
25DF ENG Josh Dacres-Cogley 0000101010
27GK ENG Connal Trueman 2000002000
28DF ENG Michael Morrison 121000012120
30FW COD Beryly Lubala 0 (2)000101 (2)000
31MF ENG Charlie Lakin 3 (2)0000 (1)03 (3)000
32DF ENG Steve Seddon 0000000000
40GK ENG Jake Weaver 0000000000
45DF ENG Wes Harding 0 (3)000101 (3)000
  1. ↑ Kieftenbeld was sent off against Brentford on 2 October, but the decision was reversed on appeal.[47][67]
Players not included in matchday squads
No. Pos. Nat. Name
11FW ENG Isaac Vassell
26MF ENG David Davis

References

  1. ↑ "Birmingham City: Trillion Trophy Asia complete takeover of club". BBC Sport. 17 October 2017. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  2. 1 2 "Garry Monk appointed new Birmingham City manager". Sky Sports. 4 March 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  3. ↑ "Birmingham City". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  4. ↑ "Manager profiles: Birmingham City". League Managers' Association. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  5. ↑ "Bristol City 0–1 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 7 May 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  6. ↑ "Birmingham City 3–1 Fulham". BBC Sport. 6 May 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  7. ↑ Dick, Brian; Dicken, Alex (6 May 2018). "'Relentless' Garry Monk reveals his Birmingham City masterplan after safety is secured". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  8. ↑ "Middlesbrough sue rivals Birmingham and coaching staff". Reuters. 26 April 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  9. ↑ Breen, Julia (6 July 2018). "Middlesbrough and Birmingham City settle High Court battle". The Northern Echo. Darlington. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  10. ↑ Dick, Brian (14 June 2018). "Birmingham City sign St Andrew's naming rights deal". Birmingham Post. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  11. ↑ "Birmingham hopeful of resolving FFP and lifting transfer embargo". Sky Sports. 11 July 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  12. ↑ "Birmingham City: EFL 'requirements' must be met before club can make signings". BBC Sport. 30 July 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  13. ↑ "Birmingham City Club statement". Birmingham City F.C. 30 July 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  14. ↑ "Birmingham City: Profitability and Sustainability". English Football League. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  15. ↑ Dick, Brian (2 August 2018). "The latest on Birmingham City's transfer embargo and Kristian Pedersen's registration". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  16. ↑ Percy, John (7 September 2018). "Exclusive: Birmingham City facing 12-point deduction after breaking EFL spending rules". Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
    "Championship clubs briefed on potential 21-point penalty for financial breaches". BBC Sport. 21 September 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  17. 1 2 "Connor Mahoney: Birmingham City sign Bournemouth winger on loan". BBC Sport. 7 August 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  18. 1 2 "Omar Bogle: Birmingham City sign striker on loan from Cardiff City". BBC Sport. 7 August 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  19. 1 2 "Gary Gardner: Birmingham City sign Aston Villa midfielder on loan". BBC Sport. 9 August 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  20. 1 2 "Lee Camp: Birmingham City sign Cardiff City goalkeeper". BBC Sport. 8 August 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  21. 1 2 Fiore, Tommaso (3 September 2018). "Diego Fabbrini leaves Birmingham City by mutual consent". Sky Sports. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  22. 1 2 "Nicolai Brock-Madsen: St Mirren sign Birmingham striker on loan". BBC Sport. 9 August 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  23. 1 2 Iles, Marc (13 August 2018). "Wanderers sign Birmingham City full-back on season-long loan". The Bolton News. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  24. 1 2 "Cheick Keita: Claude Makelele signs Birmingham defender on loan for Belgian side Eupen". BBC Sport. 28 June 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  25. 1 2 "Cheikh Ndoye: Birmingham City loan Senegal international back to French club Angers". BBC Sport. 16 August 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  26. 1 2 "Greg Stewart loaned to Kilmarnock". Birmingham City F.C. 28 August 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  27. ↑ Chapman, Joseph (5 September 2018). "Tomasz Kuszczak posts message from Birmingham City 'Bomb Squad'". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  28. ↑ "Introducing the 2018/19 adidas home kit". Birmingham City F.C. 26 June 2018. Archived from the original on 3 July 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
    Rodger, James (13 July 2018). "This is Birmingham City's new away kit for the 2018–19 season". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  29. ↑ "Men's team fixtures". Birmingham City F.C. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  30. ↑ Dick, Brian (12 July 2018). "Birmingham City player ratings: How Garry Monk's men fared on first summer outing". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  31. ↑ "Report: SSV ULM 1 Blues 1". Birmingham City F.C. 14 July 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  32. ↑ "Report: Blues 1 Doncaster Rovers 0". Birmingham City F.C. 20 July 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  33. ↑ Palmer, Jon (21 July 2018). "Cheltenham Town v Birmingham City". Gloucestershire Live. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  34. ↑ "Las Palmas 4 Blues 1". Birmingham City F.C. 27 July 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  35. ↑ "Blues 1 Brighton 1". Birmingham City F.C. 28 July 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  36. 1 2 "Birmingham 2018/19 Match results". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  37. ↑ "Birmingham City 2–2 Norwich City". BBC Sport. 4 August 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  38. ↑ "Middlesbrough 1–0 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 11 August 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  39. ↑ "Birmingham City 0-0 Swansea City". BBC Sport. 17 August 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  40. ↑ "Bolton Wanderers 1–0 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 22 August 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  41. ↑ "Nottingham Forest 2–2 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 25 August 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  42. ↑ "Birmingham City 0–0 Queens Park Rangers". BBC Sport. 1 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  43. ↑ "Birmingham City 1–1 West Bromwich Albion". BBC Sport. 14 September 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  44. ↑ Beardmore, Michael (20 September 2018). "Sheffield United 0–0 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  45. ↑ "Leeds United 1–2 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 22 September 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  46. ↑ "Birmingham City 2–2 Ipswich Town". BBC Sport. 29 September 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  47. 1 2 "Brentford 1–1 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 2 October 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  48. ↑ "Birmingham City 3–1 Rotherham United". BBC Sport. 6 October 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  49. ↑ "EFL Regulations Section 3 – The League; subsection 9 – Method of Determining League Positions". EFL. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  50. ↑ "League Championship table after close of play on 6 October 2018". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 7 October 2018. Select content required via dropdown menus.
  51. 1 2 "Reading 2–0 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 14 August 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
    "Reading 2–0 Birmingham: John Swift scores spectacular free-kick in home win". Sky Sports. PA Sport. 14 August 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  52. ↑ "Kristian Pedersen: Birmingham City boss Garry Monk makes his first signing". BBC Sport. 25 June 2018. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  53. ↑ Ireland, Shane (15 August 2018). "Birmingham City clarify transfer situation after four new signings for under-23s". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  54. 1 2 "Ronan Hale makes Derry City loan move". Birmingham City F.C. 3 January 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
    "Ronan Hale has international loan extended". Birmingham City F.C. 28 June 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  55. ↑ "Solihull Moors sign midfielder on loan from Championship side Birmingham City". The Non-League Football Paper. 2 July 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  56. ↑ "Dominic Bernard makes loan move". Birmingham City F.C. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  57. 1 2 3 "Blues trio head to Sutton Coldfield Town". Birmingham City F.C. 26 July 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  58. ↑ "O'Keeffe makes Moors move". Birmingham City F.C. 17 August 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2018.
  59. ↑ "Steve Seddon: Birmingham loan left-back to Stevenage until January". BBC Sport. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  60. ↑ "David Stockdale: Birmingham City loan goalkeeper to Southend United". BBC Sport. 8 September 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
    "Stockdale's emergency loan extended". Southend United F.C. 22 September 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  61. 1 2 "Young Blues duo go out on loan". Birmingham City F.C. 21 September 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
  62. ↑ "Jake Weaver loaned to Hungerford Town". Birmingham City F.C. 28 September 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  63. ↑ "Michael Luyambula makes youth loan move". Birmingham City F.C. 5 October 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  64. ↑ "Birmingham 2018/19 Player Appearances". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  65. ↑ "Men's team". Birmingham City F.C. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  66. ↑ "Blues squad numbers 2018/19". Birmingham City F.C. 3 August 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  67. ↑ "Birmingham 3-1 Rotherham: Lukas Jutkiewicz hat-trick inspires Blues win". Sky Sports. 6 October 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
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