Birmingham City have broken the EFL points record after dismantling Steve Bruce’s Blackpool 2-0 at Bloomfield Road.
Ethan Laird and Alfie May scored either side of half-time to down Blackpool and take Blues to 108 points – a record for a team across the EFL leagues in a 46-game season. The previous record, which stood at 106 points and was held by Reading, is no more.
Blues equalled the record for the most wins in an EFL season in the process and can beat Doncaster Rovers’ long-standing record with a final day victory at Cambridge on Saturday.
Blackpool have greater quality than their ninth-placed league position suggests and CJ Hamilton raced in behind Blues’ back-line to create their first opening inside 10 minutes.
Hamilton was matched by Christoph Klarer but Albie Morgan picked up the pieces on the edge of Blues’ box and his deflected shot was unconventionally saved by Ryan Allsop. Ashley Fletcher’s eyes lit up for the rebound only for Klarer to hurl his 6ft 4in frame in the way once more to deny Blackpool.
The improving Willum Willumsson soon tested Harry Tyrer at the other end. Willumsson’s shot was curling towards the far corner before Tyrer tipped it around the post.
Laird had a sight of goal after cutting inside from the right and unleashing a powerful left-footed shot that Tyrer was equal to.
But Blackpool were undone in the 39th minute when Laird intelligently drifted to the far post to powerfully head Marc Leonard’s left-wing corner past Tyrer.
One goal was the least Blues deserved from a half which saw them enjoy 81 percent possession and register eight shots at goal.
The second arrived within six minutes of the restart from May. Allsop’s trademark long ball was won by Keshi Anderson who squared the ball to May to score his 16th goal in all competitions this season.
May tried to turn provider for substitute Jay Stansfield with a cute ball into the box with the outside of his right boot that Blues’ top scorer couldn’t quite reach to convert.
That wasn’t the only time Blues opened their hosts up in the second half but they weren’t able to add a third goal – not that it mattered.
League One champions Blues have taken all the records in this unique season.
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Ryan Allsop 8
Allsop made a good save in each half from Morgan and Fletcher respectively. As ever, his distribution was on point and a brilliant pass set Anderson away to set up May’s goal.
Ethan Laird 8
Blues’ right-back was on his game at Bloomfield Road. Laird had the beating of Husband, who was withdrawn at half-time, and almost scored before he beat Tyrer with a powerful header.
Christoph Klarer 9*
Blues’ number four was a colossus at the back, as he has been throughout this record-breaking campaign. Klarer made two potentially goal-saving challenges early on before Blues broke Blackpool’s resistance.
Ben Davies 8
Davies was assured in possession and matched Blackpool’s attackers when they looked to run in behind. Blues have conceded 16 goals in his 35 League One matches.
Alex Cochrane 8
Cochrane coped with Apter in the first half and wasn’t troubled by Hamilton in the second half either. You can’t fault the left-back.
Marc Leonard 8
Leonard sent in the corner that Laird headed home and dictated Blues’ play in the first half. The Scot never appeared rushed and always made the right choice in a promising performance.
Tomoki Iwata 8
Iwata misplaced the odd pass and almost put Blues in trouble at the start of the second half, but the majority of his work was so tidy in a congested engine room.
Kieran Dowell 8.5
Dowell picked up some fabulous positions in the first half to create space for Laird and combine with Willumsson. The on-loan Rangers man has been superb since January and would be a good addition for next season.
Willum Willumsson 8.5
Willumsson continued his improvement with a star showing in Blackpool. The Icelandic found space effortlessly and invariably picked the right pass to unlock Blackpool time and time again.
Keshi Anderson 8
Anderson showed poise and presence of mind to set up May for Blues’ second goal when he could have gone it alone. A good performance on his return to his former stomping ground.
Alfie May 9
May was a thorn in Blackpool’s side all evening and got the goal his play deserved. He tried an audacious attempt from the halfway line that wasn’t far away.
SUBS
Taylor Gardner-Hickman (for Laird, 58) 7
The utility man put in a few crosses from the right and would have been in late on had Willumsson got the weight of the pass right.
Paik Seung-ho (for Leonard, 58) 8
Paik walked all over Blackpool for half-an-hour in another demonstration that he is a cut above League One. It’s remarkable that he didn’t make the Team of the Year.
Jay Stansfield (for Anderson, 58) 7
Stansfield threatened to add to his goals tally in a lively cameo on the left-wing. He was a whisker away from connecting with one of May’s centres.
Luke Harris (for Dowell, 63) 7
Harris played a nicely weighted pass which Stansfield latched onto not long after coming on and was generally positive and precise in possession.
Grant Hanley (for May, 83) N/A
Not used: Peacock-Farrell, Hansson
