Birmingham's first-minute goal set up a 3-0 win over Millwall

Birmingham scored three times in the first 29 minutes and beat Millwall 3-0, while Millwall's shots from inside the box produced nothing.

Birmingham were three goals up before half an hour had passed, and the first came in the opening minute. Alex Cochrane scored it, Max Bird doubled the lead in the 16th minute from a pass by Jhon Elmer Solís Romero, and Jay Stansfield made it three in the 29th, set up by Bird. Millwall had little chance to settle after that, and the rest of the game was played from behind.

Birmingham had 53% of the ball, which is close to their usual 52.2% at home, so that part was ordinary. Their shooting was another matter. They took 19 shots against a home average of 12.3, but 10 of them came from outside the box. Their expected goals (xG, a measure of how good a chance is, judged by where and how it was struck) was 1.23, below their usual 1.49. They had more efforts, but not better ones, and they still finished with three goals.

Millwall had 15 shots, very near their away average of 14.6, so the volume was normal for them. Thirteen of those came from inside the box, yet only two were on target. Their xG was just 0.93, well below their away average and below the league average of 1.38. They found good positions in the penalty area but rarely forced a save.

Millwall scored none, far short of the 1.9 goals they usually manage away, and conceded three where they normally concede 1.5. The match as a whole was ordinary, since three goals is exactly the league average for a game. What was unusual was who scored them, and how early. Birmingham took the lead and Millwall spent the rest of the evening chasing it.

Max Bird was rated 8.5 for a goal and an assist, the highest mark in the match. Jay Stansfield, rated 8.2, had five shots and four of them were on target. For Millwall, C. Neghli was the standout at 7.2, creating four chances with his key passes. That was the best return on the visitors' side, and it came from a player who did not score.

Birmingham are sixth in the table on 23 points from 13 games, and they have won four of their last six. Millwall sit twelfth with 18 points from the same number of matches, and have won two of their last six.

Player of the matchM. Bird1 goal · 1 assist8.4

J. Stansfield1 goal8.2

J. Solis1 assist7.7

C. Neghli4 chances created7.2