2021–22 Birmingham City F.C. season

The 2021–22 season is Birmingham City Football Club's 119th season in the English football league system and 11th consecutive season in the second-tier Championship.[4] As with all English Football League clubs, the first team will also compete in the FA Cup and EFL Cup.

Birmingham City F.C.
2021–22 season
Owner
  • Birmingham Sports Holdings 75.00%
  • Oriental Rainbow 21.64%[1]
Head coachLee Bowyer[2]
StadiumSt Andrew's
Championship16th[3]
FA CupThird round
EFL CupSecond round (eliminated by Fulham)
Top goalscorerLeague: Scott Hogan (6)
All: Scott Hogan (6)
Highest home attendance17,686 (vs Blackpool, 27 November 2021)
Lowest home attendance4,783 (vs Fulham, EFL Cup 2nd round, 24 August 2021)
All statistics correct as of matches played 4 December 2021.

The season covers the period from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022.

Background and pre-season
Main article: 2020–21 Birmingham City F.C. season

All Birmingham's home matches in the 2020–21 season were played behind closed doors because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[5] Under head coach Aitor Karanka, Birmingham City gradually slid down the 2020–21 Championship table until, with ten games remaining and in serious danger of relegation, former Birmingham player Lee Bowyer resigned as manager of Charlton Athletic to take over as head coach.[2] The team lost only one of the next eight matches and retained their Championship status with two games still to play.[6] On 11 May 2021, CEO Ren Xuandong resigned.[7]

In June 2020, the club announced a four-year partnership with Nike as supplier of kits, which carry the logo of the club's principal sponsor, Irish bookmaker BoyleSports.[8] The home shirt has a camouflage-patterned front in two shades of blue, worn with white shorts and blue socks, while the away kit has a yellow shirt with blue pinstripes and trim, similar to the Europa League kit of ten years before, with blue shirts and white socks.[9] In November, they brought out a limited-edition third kit; the shirt has a camouflage front in orange and green and a predominantly green back, and is worn with orange shorts and socks.[10]

After a training camp in Scotland, Birmingham planned five pre-season friendlies: away to Cheltenham Town and Northampton Town, behind-closed-doors games at the Wast Hills training ground against Oxford United – who cancelled due to COVID-19 and were replaced by a Salford City XI[11][12] – and Barrow, and one match at St Andrew's against West Bromwich Albion.[13]

Pre-season friendly match details
Date Opponents Venue Result Score
F–A		 Scorers Ref.
17 July 2021 Cheltenham TownA W3–0Gardner 6', Hogan 36', Leko 82' [14]
20 July 2021 BarrowH D1–1Gardner 76' [15]
24 July 2021 Salford City XIH W7–0Stirk 1', Williams 9', Lakin 45', Hogan (2) 47', 70', Aneke 48', George 87' [12]
24 July 2021 Northampton TownA L2–3Sánchez 5', Jutkiewicz 38' [16]
31 July 2021 West Bromwich AlbionH L0–4— [17]

EFL Championship
Main article: 2021–22 EFL Championship

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
15 Preston North End 22 7 7 8 24 28 −4 28
16 Swansea City 22 7 6 9 26 31 −5 27
17 Birmingham City 23 7 6 10 22 30 −8 27
18 Bristol City 23 7 6 10 26 35 −9 27
19 Hull City 23 6 5 12 20 28 −8 23
Updated to match(es) played on 18 December 2021. Source: EFL Official Website
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results; 5) Wins; 6) Away goals; 7) Penalty points (sec 9.5); 8) 12-point sending off offences[18]

Results summary
OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
22 7 6 9 22 26  −4 27 4 3 4 12 14  −2 3 3 5 10 12  −2

Last updated: matches played 11 December 2021.
Source: [3]

Match results
EFL Championship match details[19]
Date League
position[3]		 Opponents Venue Result Score
F–A		 Scorers Attendance Ref.
7 August 2021 5thSheffield UnitedA W1–0Colin 19' 29,043 [20]
14 August 2021 10thStoke CityH D0–0— 10,189 [21]
18 August 2021 14thAFC BournemouthH L0–2— 9,922 [22]
21 August 2021 8thLuton TownA W5–0Marc Roberts 7', Hogan (2) 26', 47', Gardner 84', Aneke 88' 10,014 [23]
28 August 2021 8thBarnsleyA D1–1Jutkiewicz 33' 13,950 [24]
10 September 2021 4thDerby CountyH W2–0Hogan 31', Bela 81' 14,912 [25]
15 September 2021 10thFulhamH L1–4Deeney 87' (pen.) 14,562 [26]
18 September 2021 11thPeterborough UnitedA L0–3— 12,199 [27]
25 September 2021 12thPreston North EndH D0–0— 14,925 [28]
28 September 2021 13thQueens Park RangersA L0–2— 12,257 [29]
2 October 2021 16thNottingham ForestH L0–3— 15,148 [30]
15 October 2021 16thWest Bromwich AlbionA L0–1— 24,870 [31]
20 October 2021 19thHuddersfield TownA D0–0— 15,618 [32]
23 October 2021 17thSwansea CityH W2–1Deeney 47', McGree 82' 16,132 [33]
30 October 2021 14thMiddlesbroughA W2–0Marc Roberts 53', Hogan 56' 21,582 [34]
2 November 2021 13thBristol CityH W3–0McGree 14', Hogan 68', Gardner 76' 16,143 [35]
6 November 2021 15thReadingH L1–2Hogan 3' 17,535 [36]
20 November 2021 15thHull CityA L0–2 12,409 [37]
23 November 2021 17thCoventry City CityA D0–0 22,676 [38]
27 November 2021 13thBlackpoolH W1–0Jutkiewicz 81' 17,686 [39]
4 December 2021 15thMillwallA L1–3Deeney 56' 14,324 [40]
11 December 2021 15thCardiff CityH D2–2Deeney 29', Šunjić 45+1' 17,840 [41]

FA Cup
Main article: 2021–22 FA Cup

As with all teams in the top two divisions, Birmingham enter the competition in the third round.

EFL Cup
Main article: 2021–22 EFL Cup

Birmingham were drawn to play League One club Colchester United at home in the first round.[42] Bowyer made 11 changes from the team that started at Sheffield United 72 hours earlier, giving debuts to Chuks Aneke, Jordan Graham and Marcel Oakley, and it was Oakley who scored the only goal of the game with a 75th-minute deflected shot. Tate Campbell made his Birmingham debut as a substitute, and Jobe Bellingham, the 15-year-old brother of England international Jude, was also named on the bench.[43][44] In the second round they fielded a slightly less weakened team, but still made 10 changes from the previous league match, with Mitch Roberts, Dion Sanderson and (as a substitute) Alfie Chang making their first Birmingham appearances and Neil Etheridge returnng in goal after recovering from COVID-19. Opponents Fulham, newly relegated from the Premier League, scored midway through the first half after an error by Ivan Šunjić, but Birmingham held out until stoppage time before conceding a second.[45]

EFL Cup match details
Round DateOpponentsVenue ResultScore
F–A		Scorers AttendanceRefs
First round 10 August 2021Colchester UnitedH W1–0Oakley 75' 6,199 [46]
Second round 24 August 2021FulhamH L0–2— 4,783 [45]

Transfers
For those players released or contract ended before the start of this season please see 2020–21 Birmingham City F.C. season.

In
DatePlayerClub FeeRef.
1 July 2021Chuks Aneke(Charlton Athletic)Free [47]
1 July 2021Jordan Graham(Gillingham)Free [48]
1 July 2021Ryan Woods(Stoke City)Free [49]
16 July 2021Oliver Basey(Sunderland)Free [50]
9 August 2021Archie Matthews(Swindon Town)Free [51]
31 August 2021Troy DeeneyWatfordFree [52]
15 November 2021Renedi Masampu *(Dulwich Hamlet)Free [53]
Brackets round a club's name indicate the player's contract with that club had expired before he joined Birmingham.
* Signed primarily for the development squad

Loaned in
DatePlayerClubReturnRef.
1 July 2021Riley McGreeCharlotte FC1 January 2022 [54]
6 July 2021Juan CastilloChelseaEnd of season [55]
9 July 2021Tahith ChongManchester UnitedEnd of season [56]
19 July 2021Dion SandersonWolverhampton WanderersEnd of season [57]
26 July 2021Matija SarkicWolverhampton WanderersEnd of season [58]

Out
DatePlayerClub FeeRef
15 July 2021Andrés Prieto(Dinamo Tbilisi)Mutual consent [59][60]
22 July 2021Steve SeddonOxford UnitedUndisclosed [61]
31 August 2021Charlie LakinBurton AlbionUndisclosed [62]
5 November 2021Adam ClaytonMutual consent [63]
Brackets round a club's name denote the player joined that club after his Birmingham City contract expired.

Loaned out
DatePlayerClubReturnRef.
27 July 2021Ryan StirkMansfield TownEnd of season [64]
30 July 2021Zach JeacockSalford CityEnd of season [65]
2 August 2021Kane Thompson-SommersWokingJanuary 2022 [66]
3 August 2021Fran VillalbaSporting GijonEnd of season [67]
9 August 2021Odin BaileyLivingstonEnd of season [68]
10 August 2021Josh AndrewsRochdaleEnd of season [69]
11 August 2021Sam CosgroveShrewsbury TownEnd of season [70]
31 August 2021Jonathan LekoCharlton AthleticEnd of season [71]
16 September 2021Archie MatthewsBath City16 October 2021 [72]
23 November 2021Connal TruemanOxford United30 November 2021 [73]
26 November 2021Oliver BaseyHednesford Town5 January 2022 [74]

Appearances and goals
Sources: [75][76][77]
Numbers in parentheses denote appearances as substitute.
Players with name and squad number struck through and marked left the club during the playing season.
Players with names in italics and marked * were on loan from another club for the whole of their season with Birmingham.
Players listed with no appearances have been in the matchday squad but only as unused substitutes.
Key to positions: GK – Goalkeeper; DF – Defender; MF – Midfielder; FW – Forward
Players included in matchday squads
No. Pos. Nat. Name League FA Cup EFL Cup Total Discipline
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1GK PHI Neil Etheridge 1000101020
2DF FRA Maxime Colin 121000012110
3DF DEN Kristian Pedersen 150000015050
4DF ENG Marc Roberts 202000020240
5DF ENG George Friend 6000208000
6MF ENG Ryan Woods 13 (1)0000013 (1)031
7MF NED Tahith Chong * 130000013020
9FW IRL Scott Hogan 18 (1)6000018 (1)620
10FW ENG Lukas Jutkiewicz 11 (9)2000011 (9)210
11FW FRA Jérémie Bela 17 (2)1000017 (2)120
12DF ENG Harlee Dean 14 (1)0000014 (1)020
13GK MNE Matija Sarkic * 200000020000
14FW ENG Jonathan Leko 1 (3)000203 (3)010
15FW ENG Chuks Aneke 0 (15)100202 (15)110
17MF ESP Iván Sánchez 0 (2)000101 (2)000
18MF AUS Riley McGree * 8 (3)2001 (1)09 (4)250
19MF WAL Jordan James 2 (3)000002 (3)000
20MF ENG Gary Gardner 11 (3)2000011 (3)242
21DF ENG Dion Sanderson * 11 (1)0001012 (1)020
23DF NED Juan Castillo * 0 (2)000202 (2)010
24MF ENG Jordan Graham 6 (1)000208 (1)000
27GK ENG Connal Trueman 0000101000
31MF ENG Charlie Lakin 00001 (1)01 (1)000
34MF CRO Ivan Šunjić 18 (2)0002020 (2)030
35MF ENG George Hall 0000000000
36FW ENG Troy Deeney 11 (4)3000011 (4)300
39MF ENG Jobe Bellingham 0000000000
41MF ENG Remi Walker 0000000000
42MF ENG Alfie Chang 00000 (1)00 (1)000
43DF ENG Mitch Roberts 1000102000
50DF ENG Nico Gordon 0000101000
52DF ENG Marcel Oakley 2000214110
53MF ENG Tate Campbell 00000 (1)00 (1)000
54FW ENG Keke Simmonds 00000 (1)00 (1)000
    Players not included in matchday squads
    No. Pos. Nat. Name
    16FW ENG Sam Cosgrove
    37MF ENG Odin Bailey
    38GK ENG Zach Jeacock
    40FW ENG Adan George
    44MF NIR Caolan Boyd-Munce
    47MF WAL Ryan Stirk
    51MF ENG Kyle Hurst

    References
    1. "Birmingham City PLC Shareholder Breakdown" (PDF). Birmingham City F.C. 11 February 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
    2. "Bowyer replaces Karanka as Blues boss". BBC Sport. 16 March 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
    3. "Birmingham City league performance history". 11v11.com. AFS Enterprises. Retrieved 12 December 2021. Select content required via dropdown menus.
    4. "Birmingham City". Football Club History Database. Richard Rundle. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
    5. Aloia, Andrew (11 September 2020). "EFL 2020–21: New season begins after 38-day summer break". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
    6. "Derby County 1–2 Birmingham: Lukas Jutkiewicz double increases Rams' drop fears". Sky Sports. 24 April 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
    7. White, Jonathan (12 May 2021). "Hong Kong-owned Birmingham City chief executive Ren Xuandong resigns". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
    8. "Blues partner with Nike". Birmingham City F.C. 25 June 2020. Archived from the original on 2 July 2019. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
      "Blues are a safe bet for BoyleSports". Birmingham City F.C. 26 April 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
    9. "2021/22 Blues home kit released". Birmingham City F.C. 25 June 2021. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
      "2021/22 Blues away kit released". Birmingham City F.C. 23 July 2021. Archived from the original on 25 July 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
    10. "Limited edition Birmingham City 2021–22 third kit". The Kitman. 19 November 2021. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
    11. "Friendly against Oxford United cancelled". Birmingham City F.C. 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
    12. "Report: Blues 7–0 Salford City XI". Birmingham City F.C. 24 July 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
    13. "Blues announce three more pre-season matches". Birmingham City F.C. 30 June 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
    14. Dick, Brian (17 July 2021). "Birmingham City vs Cheltenham player reports: Gardner, Hogan and Leko strike for Blues". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
    15. "Report: Blues 1–1 Barrow AFC". Birmingham City F.C. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
    16. "Northampton Town 3–2 Blues". Birmingham City F.C. 24 July 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
    17. "Report: Blues 0–4 West Bromwich Albion". Birmingham City F.C. 31 July 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
    18. "EFL Regulations Section 3 – The League; subsection 9 – Method of Determining League Positions". English Football League. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
    19. "Birmingham results 2021/22". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
    20. Woodcock, Ian (7 August 2021). "Sheffield Unted 0–1 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
    21. "Stoke City 1–1 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 14 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
    22. "Birmingham 0–2 Bournemouth: Dominic Solanke and Jaidon Anthony secure late Cherries win". Sky Sports. 18 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
    23. "Luton Town 0–5 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 21 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
    24. "Barnsley 1–1 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 28 August 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
    25. Long, Dan (10 September 2021). "Birmingham 2–0 Derby County: Troy Deeney makes debut in comfortable Blues win". Sky Sports. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
    26. "Report: Blues 1–4 Fulham". Birmingham City FC. 15 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
    27. "Peterborough 3-0 Birmingham: Classy Posh cruise past Blues". Sky Sports. 19 September 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
    28. "Birmingham 0-0 Preston North End". BBC Sport. 25 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
    29. "Queens Park Rangers 2–0 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 28 September 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
    30. "Birmingham City 0-3 Nottingham Forest". BBC Sport. 2 October 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
    31. "Report: West Bromwich Albion 1–0 Blues". Birmingham City F.C. 15 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
    32. "Huddersfield Town 0–0 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 20 October 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
    33. Vincent, Gareth (23 October 2021). "Birmingham City 2-1 Swansea City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
    34. "Middlesbrough 0-2 Birmingham: Blues resurgence continues at the Riverside". Sky Sports. 30 October 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
    35. "Birmingham 3–0 Bristol City: Blues make it three wins in a row". Sky Sports. 2 November 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
    36. "Report: Blues 1–2 Reading". Birmingham City F.C. 6 November 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
    37. "Hull City 2–0 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 20 November 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
    38. Scott, Ged (23 November 2021). "Coventry City 0–0 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
    39. "Report: Blues 1–0 Blackpool". Birmingham City F.C. 27 November 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
    40. "Millwall 3–1 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 4 December 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
    41. "Birmingham 2-2 Cardiff City: Mark McGuinness earns late point for Bluebirds". Sky Sports. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
    42. "Carabao Cup first-round draw: Sutton United to face Cardiff City". BBC Sport. 24 June 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
    43. Chapman, Joseph (10 August 2021). "Lee Bowyer makes 11 Birmingham City changes as Jobe Bellingham makes squad". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
    44. Chapman, Joseph (10 August 2021). "Birmingham City player ratings as Nico Gordon shines in EFL Cup win". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
    45. Dick, Brian (24 August 2021). "Birmingham City vs Fulham player ratings: Sanderson shines on Blues debut". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
    46. "Report: Blues 1-0 Colchester United". Birmingham City F.C. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
    47. "Chuks Aneke signs for Blues!". Birmingham City F.C. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
    48. "Jordan Graham joins Blues". Birmingham City F.C. 24 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
    49. "Ryan Woods is a Blue". Birmingham City F.C. 23 June 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
    50. "Oliver Basey joins Blues". Birmingham City FC. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
    51. "Archie Matthews signs for Blues". Birmingham City FC. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
    52. "Troy Deeney comes home!". Birmingham City FC. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
    53. "Renedi Masampu joins Blues". Birmingham City F.C. 15 November 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
    54. "Riley McGree: Birmingham City re-sign Charlotte FC midfielder on loan". BBC Sport. 19 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
    55. "Juan Castillo: Birmingham City sign Chelsea defender on season-long loan deal". BBC Sport. 6 July 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
    56. "Tahith Chong: Birmingham City sign Manchester United winger on season-long loan". BBC Sport. 9 July 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
    57. "Birmingham City: Gary Gardner signs new deal as Dion Sanderson joins on loan". BBC Sport. 19 July 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
    58. "Matija Sarkic: Birmingham City sign Wolves and Montenegro keeper on loan". BBC Sport. 26 July 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
    59. "Blues agree Prieto contract termination". Birmingham City F.C. 15 July 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
    60. "El portero español Andrés Prieto ficha por el Dinamo Tbilisi" [Spanish goalkeeper Andrés Prieto sings for Dinamo Tbilisi]. BeSoccer (in Spanish). 14 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
    61. "Steve Seddon: Oxford United sign Birmingham City left-back for undisclosed fee". BBC Sport. 22 July 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
    62. "Charlie Lakin signs for Burton Albion". Birmingham City FC. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
    63. "Adam Clayton departs". Birmingham City F.C. 5 November 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
    64. "Ryan Stirk: Mansfield Town sign Birmingham City midfielder". BBC Sport. 27 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
    65. "Zach Jeacock: Salford City sign Birmingham City goalkeeper on season-long loan". BBC Sport. 30 July 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
    66. "Thompson-Sommers joins Woking on loan". Birmingham City F.C. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
    67. "Fran Villalba moves to Sporting de Gijon on loan". Birmingham City F.C. 3 August 2021. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
    68. "Odin Bailey joins the Lions on-loan". Livingston F.C. 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
    69. "Josh Andrews heads to Rochdale on loan". Birmingham City F.C. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
    70. "Sam Cosgrove joins Shrewsbury Town on loan". Birmingham City F.C. 11 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
    71. "Jonathan Leko joins Charlton Athletic on loan". Birmingham City FC. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
    72. "Archie Matthews departs on loan". Birmingham City F.C. 16 September 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
    73. "Emergency Loan: Connal Trueman". Birmingham City F.C. 23 November 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
    74. "Oliver Basey joins Hednesford Town on youth loan". Birmingham City F.C. 26 November 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
    75. "2021/22 squad numbers confirmed". Birmingham City F.C. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
    76. "Birmingham squad details 2021/22". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
    77. Sources for representative nationality: "Birmingham City: Players from A–Z". worldfootball.net. HeimSpiel Medien. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
    This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.