Birmingham’s chairman, Tom Wagner, insists relegation to League One will not derail his grand plans for the club but it is impossible not to recognise it is a significant backwards step. Birmingham’s American owners plan to build a 60,000-capacity arena on a 48-acre site in nearby Bordesley Green, a world-class facility if it materialises, but no amount of CGI images can sugarcoat a thoroughly deflating end to another depressing season.
As arch-rivals Aston Villa close on qualifying for the Champions League, Birmingham are now preparing to play in the third tier for the first time since 1994-95. Barry Fry ensured it was a brief stay, clinching promotion as champions that season, and Birmingham can only hope they will repeat the feat, their 13-season run in the Championship over.
“Que sera sera, whatever will be will be, you’re going to Shrewsbury,” sang the Norwich supporters, who can look forward to a date with Leeds and their former manager Daniel Farke in the playoffs.
Birmingham’s survival always hinged on getting favours elsewhere and with results going against them a narrow victory courtesy of Paik Seung-ho’s second-half header was insufficient.
There was no pinwheeling Paul Caddis moment to get them out of jail this time. Perhaps the only consolation is that, whereas a decade ago there were fears of administration, if not liquidation, financially at least they appear in rude health. Perhaps that is why there was a muted atmosphere at the final whistle, a jarring numbness, a few jeers as opposed to anarchy.
“It’s very easy to say but I do believe that once the dust settles the club are destined for some really exciting times because I don’t think there are many teams with the desire [of the owners],” Gary Rowett said. “It feels like the club has gone to ground zero but I believe we can get it right on the pitch.”
Sammie Szmodics' second-half double ensured Blackburn's survival following a 2-0 win at the newly-crowned champions Leicester. The division's top scorer found the net just when Rovers' survival hopes were in the balance as relegation rivals, and the Blackburn manager John Eustace's former club, Birmingham, had just taken the lead against Norwich. However, Szmodics eased fans' nerves and sealed victory in stoppage time when he ran on to a Joe Rankin-Costello pass and beat the Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen to the ball before running it into an empty net for his 27th Championship goal of the season.
Plymouth's 1-0 win over Hull, courtesy of Joe Edwards' goal, and Sheffield Wednesday's win at Sunderland, where Liam Palmer and Josh Windass were on target, confirmed Birmingham fans' worst fears. The Blues' 1-0 victory over Norwich was not enough to save them from the drop to League One.
West Brom's 3-0 win over Preston secured fifth place, overtaking Norwich. Alex Mowatt, Kyle Bartley and Darnell Furlong scored to rubberstamp the Baggies' play-off place, effectively closing the door on Hull.
Rotherham signed off in style for a 5-2 win over Cardiff – only their fifth win of the season as Jordan Hugill and Tom Eaves both scored twice, Sam Nombe adding the other after Nat Phillips and Ollie Tanner had briefly made it 2-2.
QPR made it five wins from their final eight games by beating Coventry 2-1 after first-half goals from Ilias Chair and Morgan Fox, with Jamie Allen responding for the hosts.
Casper De Norre scored the only goal as Millwall won away at Swansea, with the Swans' Jerry Yates and the Lions' Japhet Tanganga both sent off for an off-the-ball incident, with Middlesbrough 3-1 victors at home to Watford as Emmanuel Latte Lath scored his 11th goal in 12 games.
Stoke ended their season in style with a 4-0 thrashing of Bristol City. First-half strikes from Luke Cundle, Tyrese Campbell and Million Manhoef handed the hosts total control. Manhoef completed his brace after the interval with a spectacular strike from range to cap off an impressive win – they end the season six points above the relegation places. PA Media
Birmingham had circled the drain for a while – they had not finished above 17th since 2015-16, during Rowett’s first spell in charge – and this time there was no salvation story. Rowett namechecked Caddis in the buildup, referencing his heroic 93rd-minute equaliser at Bolton 10 years ago to stave off relegation on the final day, and acknowledged the opportunity for another player to make themselves a hero.
The only problem was Paik’s winner was rendered redundant given Plymouth, Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn all won. “You’re not going to get a Paul Caddis come to your rescue every time,” Rowett said. “That’s what happens when you leave it down to others to fail, rather than you succeeding.”
The galling thing is the club brought much of this predicament on themselves. Birmingham’s board sacked John Eustace in October when the club were sixth and wooed Wayne Rooney to replace him, heralding the appointment as a “defining moment” on their journey.
It proved one for the wrong reasons, that hasty decision backfiring as Rooney lasted 83 days before Tony Mowbray was tasked with securing their second-tier status. When Mowbray stepped back in February for medical reasons, Rowett returned. By then, though, Birmingham had sabotaged their season.
Wagner, in a loud blue blazer and Nike hi-tops, applauded the Birmingham players as they emerged for the warm-up and long before the toe-tapping Mr Blue Sky echoed around St Andrew’s 10 minutes before kick-off, the home supporters hoped for another great escape.
Krystian Bielik came closest to scoring in the first half when Koji Miyoshi’s cross landed at the back post and bounced off his midriff and wide via Angus Gunn after Shane Duffy registered a swing and a miss when attempting to clear. Birmingham’s fans in the Gil Merrick Stand tried to rouse their players as they headed down the tunnel at the interval.
Birmingham got the goal they needed to give themselves a chance 10 minutes into the second half, Paik heading in on the edge of the six-yard box after Keshi Anderson’s shot pinballed into his path. Supporters gnawed at their fingernails while scouring the scores elsewhere.
Norwich, meanwhile, were readying themselves for a reunion with Farke long before the final whistle, with David Wagner withdrawing his entire back four in the second half. “We’ll fight to the end,” sang the home fans. This time, however, blood and guts were not enough.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leicester | 46 | 50 | 98 |
| 2 | Ipswich | 46 | 35 | 96 |
| 3 | Leeds | 46 | 38 | 90 |
| 4 | Southampton | 46 | 24 | 87 |
| 5 | West Brom | 46 | 23 | 75 |
| 6 | Norwich | 46 | 15 | 73 |
| 7 | Hull | 46 | 8 | 70 |
| 8 | Middlesbrough | 46 | 9 | 69 |
| 9 | Coventry | 46 | 10 | 64 |
| 10 | Preston North End | 46 | -11 | 63 |
| 11 | Bristol City | 46 | 2 | 62 |
| 12 | Cardiff | 46 | -17 | 62 |
| 13 | Millwall | 46 | -10 | 59 |
| 14 | Swansea | 46 | -6 | 57 |
| 15 | Watford | 46 | 0 | 56 |
| 16 | Sunderland | 46 | -2 | 56 |
| 17 | QPR | 46 | -10 | 56 |
| 18 | Stoke | 46 | -11 | 56 |
| 19 | Sheff Wed | 46 | -24 | 53 |
| 20 | Plymouth | 46 | -11 | 51 |
| 21 | Blackburn | 46 | -16 | 51 |
| 22 | Birmingham | 46 | -15 | 50 |
| 23 | Huddersfield | 46 | -29 | 45 |
| 24 | Rotherham | 46 | -52 | 27 |
