Jay Stansfield scores late winner to help Birmingham progress to second round

Gustavo Hamer produced an early contender for goal of the season but it was not enough to stop Birmingham advancing into the Carabao Cup second round with a 2-1 victory against Sheffield United thanks to Jay Stansfield’s late winner.

The England Under-21 international struck three minutes from time with a deflected effort which saw the hosts book themselves a home tie against Port Vale.

Birmingham had made almost all the running and wasted numerous chances to build on a fifth-minute lead given to them by Kyogo Furuhashi following good work by Demarai Gray.

But Hamer’s introduction off the bench early in the second half breathed fresh life into the Blades and he stunned the home crowd with a quite magnificent drive from 50 yards.

The midfielder picked up a loose ball in midfield before stepping forward and taking aim, sending a shot beyond home debutant James Beadle who had strayed marginally off his line.

Blues boss Chris Davies was upset with referee Gavin Ward on the touchline as the ball hit the match official, who he felt should have blown up for a dropped ball before Hamer produced his moment of magic.

However, those complaints were rendered irrelevant when, after a period of pressure, Stansfield twisted and turned inside the area, firing off a shot which was diverted past Adam Davies by a slight touch from a covering defender.