Blues Ease Into Third Round | Blackpool 1-2 Birmingham City | Emirates FA Cup 2024-25

Blues Ease Into Third Round | Blackpool 1-2 Birmingham City | Emirates FA Cup 2024-25

In a controlled and professional performance, Birmingham City comfortably secured a 2-1 victory over Blackpool to progress to the Third Round of the 2024-25 Emirates FA Cup. The Blues, despite being put under pressure in the second half, held their nerve to advance and maintain their bid for a deep cup run.

The Match: Birmingham City Take Early Control

From the moment the match kicked off at Bloomfield Road, it was clear that Birmingham City were the stronger side on paper, and they played like it. John Eustace’s men dominated possession early on, controlling the tempo of the game with a measured and calm approach.

The opening goal came in the 17th minute, courtesy of a fine strike from Lukas Jutkiewicz. A beautifully floated cross from Jordan James into the box found Jutkiewicz, who rose above his marker and sent a header beyond Blackpool goalkeeper Chris Maxwell to give Birmingham City the lead. The striker’s header was expertly placed, and the Blues were off to a great start.

Blackpool, despite being second-best early in the game, began to show signs of life after conceding. Josh Bowler and Gary Madine started to combine better up front, but Birmingham City’s defense, anchored by Troy Deeney and Marc Roberts, held firm and limited the hosts’ opportunities.

Blackpool's Response: Late Push for Equalizer

After falling behind, Blackpool began to up the pressure, hoping to equalize before halftime. The Tangerines pushed forward with purpose, and in the 34th minute, Madine was denied a certain goal by a fantastic save from Birmingham goalkeeper John Ruddy, who reacted quickly to block a close-range header.

Though Blackpool had more possession in the final stages of the first half, Birmingham City stood resilient, and the score remained 1-0 at halftime.

Second Half: Birmingham City Seal the Win

As the second half began, Blackpool came out with renewed energy, throwing everything forward in search of an equalizer. The Blues’ defense came under pressure, but Ruddy continued to keep Blackpool at bay with some key saves.

However, Birmingham City doubled their lead in the 63rd minute through an excellent team move. Hannibal Mejbri, who had been pulling the strings in midfield all game, played a perfectly weighted through ball to Reda Khadra. The young winger made no mistake, calmly slotting the ball past Maxwell to give Birmingham City a 2-0 advantage.

The Blues were now in full control, but Blackpool weren’t ready to give up. They continued to push, and their efforts paid off in the 75th minute when Jerry Yates pulled one back with a well-taken shot from just outside the box. It was a beautifully struck effort that found the top corner, leaving Ruddy with no chance. The goal brought a sense of optimism to the Blackpool fans, and for a brief moment, it looked like the game might be heading for an exciting finish.

A Nervy Finish, but Birmingham Hold On

With the score at 2-1, Blackpool threw everything they had at Birmingham City in the final stages. The hosts pushed forward with urgency, but Birmingham stood firm, with Ruddy making a crucial save in the 87th minute to deny Bowler’s powerful shot.

As the final whistle blew, Birmingham City had secured their place in the Third Round of the 2024-25 Emirates FA Cup. Despite a late scare, the Blues' solid first-half performance and clinical finishing were enough to see them through.

Post-Match Reaction

Speaking after the game, Birmingham City manager John Eustace praised his team for their professionalism and resilience, especially after the late goal from Blackpool.

“I’m pleased with the way the boys controlled the game for the most part,” said Eustace. “The second goal really helped to settle us, but we know Blackpool are a dangerous side. They’ve got players who can hurt you, so it was important that we stayed focused, especially in the closing stages.”

For Blackpool, manager Michael Appleton expressed disappointment but remained proud of his team’s fighting spirit in the second half. “We showed character to get back into the game, but we were too slow in the first half,” said Appleton. “Credit to Birmingham, they punished us early, but we’ll learn from this and move on.”

Conclusion: Blues March On

For Birmingham City, this win marks an important step in their FA Cup journey. They will now look forward to the Third Round, where they will be hoping to carry forward their momentum and push for a deep run in the competition. While Blackpool will be disappointed to bow out, they can take solace in their second-half performance, showing they can compete with the best.

Birmingham City’s focus will now shift back to their league commitments, but their fans will surely be hoping for more of the same as they look to go further in the 2024-25 Emirates FA Cup.