Birmingham City showcased the progress they have made this season during a thrilling FA Cup tie against Newcastle United on Saturday.
Joe Willock’s 82nd-minute goal ultimately undid the League One leaders, but there was no disgrace in their 3-2 defeat.
Newcastle were fortunate to progress to the fifth round after being pushed to the limit in front of a raucous crowd at St Andrew’s.
Back-to-back promotions on the cards for Birmingham
Birmingham invested heavily in their squad after suffering relegation from the Championship, but the money has been spent wisely.
Manager Chris Davies has implemented a style of play which is not only pleasing on the eye, but also extremely effectively.
The Blues caused plenty of problems for Newcastle, working hard out of possession and using the ball intelligently when they had it.
Birmingham looked nailed on to win promotion back to the Championship at the first attempt, and they will be a welcome addition to the second tier.
Back-to-back promotions are not beyond Birmingham if they recruit sensibly this summer. Don’t be surprised to see them in the Premier League in 2026/27.
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What to watch
Aston Villa versus Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup fourth round should be an entertaining way to start Sunday evening.
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