Saturday, 16 August 2025 | Ewood Park, Blackburn
Blackburn Rovers fell to a 2-1 defeat against Birmingham City in the Sky Bet Championship Round 2, as the visitors mounted a late comeback to claim all three points at Ewood Park.
First Half
Both sides struggled to break the deadlock in a goalless opening 45 minutes. Birmingham controlled 60% of possession but created few clear-cut chances, while Blackburn defended resolutely on the home turf.
Second Half
The second half sprang to life in the 49th minute when Todd Cantwell fired home for Blackburn to give the hosts the lead. Birmingham rallied late, with Jay Stansfield converting a penalty in the 89th minute to level the scores. Just moments later, Lyndon Dykes struck in stoppage time to secure a 2-1 win for the away side.
Key Events
- 29’ | Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham) booked for a late challenge
- 49’ | Todd Cantwell (Blackburn) opens scoring with a composed finish
- 75’ | Tomoki Iwata (Birmingham) shown yellow for a foul midfield challenge
- 89’ | Jay Stansfield (Birmingham) converts from the penalty spot to make it 1-1
- 90+’ | Lyndon Dykes (Birmingham) heads home the winner in the final minute
- 90+’ | Sean McLoughlin (Blackburn) booked in stoppage time for a late foul
Standout Performers
- Todd Cantwell: Breathed life into Blackburn’s attack with a composed finish to break the deadlock.
- Jay Stansfield: Coolness under pressure won Birmingham a point-saving penalty and kept up his fine goal-scoring form.
- Lyndon Dykes: A late‐game hero whose stoppage-time header completed a dramatic turnaround for the visitors.
Match Statistics
| Statistic | Blackburn Rovers | Birmingham City |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 40% | 60% |
| Win Probability | 28.7% | 41.9% |
| Championship Record | W0–D0–L1 (0 pts) | W1–D0–L0 (3 pts) |
With a valuable away victory, Birmingham City move to the top half of the table, while Blackburn must regroup quickly before their next home fixture.
