Priske penalty wins the Midlands derby as Blues march into the play-offs
Sunday 11 October 2026 · By Callum Fenwick
Birmingham City supporters will be enjoying their Sunday. A 1–0 win at The Hawthorns, courtesy of August Priske’s 41st-minute penalty, gave Chris Davies’ side bragging rights in the Midlands derby and lifted them into the Championship play-off places.
It was a tight, tense afternoon, as derbies so often are. The breakthrough came just before the interval when Nat Phillips was penalised for a challenge in the area, and Priske stepped up to convert from the spot. West Brom boss James Morrison disputed the contact afterwards, but Davies had no doubt about who deserved the credit, saying simply that Priske “won it”.
From there, Blues defended their lead with real discipline, and West Brom could not find a way back. For a side that had built a reputation as draw specialists this season, it was exactly the kind of statement win they needed.
The table now looks much healthier. Birmingham have 14 points from nine games and sit seventh, one of six teams on that total between fifth and tenth. Their form reads DDLWDW, and with just one league defeat all season, Davies’ side are among the hardest teams in the division to beat.
The challenge has been turning those draws into wins, and Saturday was a big step in the right direction. Five draws from nine games is a lot, and in a division this tight, converting even two or three of those into victories would make a huge difference.
Priske is becoming the focal point of this team. He gives Blues an outlet and, as he showed on Saturday, has the composure to deliver when it matters most. If he can stay fit and keep contributing, Birmingham will be dangerous.
The best news of all is the fixture list. Birmingham have two home games in five days, which is the perfect chance to build on the derby win. Bottom side Preston visit St Andrew’s on Tuesday night (13 October, 20:00), with Graham Alexander still searching for his first win as manager after losing to Millwall on Saturday.
Then QPR come to town on Saturday 17 October. Julien Stéphan’s side have drawn four in a row and are unbeaten in six, so they will be a tougher proposition, but Blues will back themselves on home soil.
After that, Birmingham travel to Cardiff on Saturday 24 October and Lincoln on Saturday 31 October. Two winnable home games followed by two trips to sides in the bottom half of the table – this is a run where Davies’ side can really establish themselves in the top eight.
For now, though, the supporters will simply savour the moment. Derby wins do not come along every week, and winning at your neighbours’ ground to move into the play-offs is about as good as it gets. Keep this up, and Blues could be in for a very interesting season.
St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park has been Birmingham City’s home since 1906. It sits in Bordesley, a short hop east of the city centre, and holds 29,409. For visiting supporters the ground is compact, loud at the Tilton, and straightforward once you know which end is which. The four stands are the Main Stand on the north side, the Kop along the south touchline, Tilton Road behind the eastern goal, and the Gil Merrick Stand behind the western goal. You will almost certainly be in the Gil Merrick.
Away fans are housed in the lower tier of the Gil Merrick, the old Railway End, named after the club’s record appearance holder and former goalkeeper-manager. The usual league allocation is around 2,000 in the lower blocks nearest the Kop corner (often GML 1–4). For bigger cup ties the whole lower tier can be given over, pushing the number past 4,000. Home supporters sit beside and above you; a net separates the sections. Banter is part of the afternoon. Stewards generally keep it contained. Licensed standing is permitted only in Gil Merrick Lower 1 and 2; everywhere else you are expected to sit.
The address is Cattell Road, Birmingham, B9 4RL. Bordesley station is the closest rail stop, though services are limited; most travelling fans use Birmingham New Street or Moor Street and then a taxi (often £6–£8) or the 17, 60 or 97 buses along Coventry Road. Coaches use the visitors’ coach park by the away turnstiles on the Gil Merrick / Coventry Road corner. If you walk from town you will meet the away entrance first. Arrive 30–45 minutes before kick-off: ticket checks, bag searches and a tight concourse all take time.
Views from the Gil Merrick lower are good and close to the pitch. Legroom is tight in places. The goal in front of you is the western one; the Tilton, packed with the loudest home support, faces you across the grass. The Kop and Main Stand run the long sides. The Main Stand is the oldest surviving structure (1954), smaller and split into upper and lower, with Arthur’s Area — the family section named after Arthur Labinjo-Hughes — at the Tilton end of that stand. The Kop and Tilton form an L-shaped 1990s rebuild and carry most of the home noise.
Concourses can feel cramped at half-time. Balti pies are the local speciality and worth queuing for; kiosks also sell the usual pies, hot drinks and soft drinks, with more vegan and halal options than a decade ago. Alcohol service follows the club’s matchday rules and can be restricted for some fixtures. Cashless tills are common, so take a card. There is little point hunting a “proper” away pub right on the ground; most visiting groups drink in the city centre and travel over together. After the final whistle a short dispersal period is usual around the away gates.
Accessibility includes wheelchair bays and companion seats, ramps and a disabled lift at the Main Stand. Away accessible arrangements are confirmed with the ticket; contact Birmingham City’s disability liaison team before you travel if you need a specific bay. The club shop and ticket office sit with the Kop on the Cattell / Coventry Road side — handy if you want a programme or replica, less handy if you are already inside the Gil Merrick.
St Andrew’s is an old bowl with modern seats rather than a identikit bowl. Get there early, know that the away end is west behind the Gil Merrick goal, and treat the Tilton opposite as the soundtrack. Check bcfc.com for the exact allocation, turnstile numbers and standing blocks for your fixture, because those details shift with the size of the following.