Birmingham City 3-4 Southampton – Joe Aribo nets injury-time winner in thriller

Southampton had to twice come from behind before beating 10-man Birmingham City with a winner six minutes into added time.

Inside the space of seven second-half minutes, David Brooks, architect of the visitors’ first goal, then scored the second equaliser, Birmingham old boy Che Adams put Southampton in front for the first time – and home defender Dion Sanderson was sent off for a challenge on Will Smallbone.

But, although Juninho Bacuna levelled on 77 minutes after Stansfield had hit the post, Saints had the final word when, from a headed Taylor Harwood-Bellis knockdown from a 96th-minute corner, Joe Aribo found the bottom left corner from close range.

Saints stay fourth – but are two points closer to third-placed Leeds United, who could only draw in the early game at Huddersfield Town.

But Birmingham’s second-straight defeat, after losing to another promotion-chasing side Ipswich Town last weekend, leaves them clear of the relegation places only on goal difference.

They are one of four teams on 38 points, including third-from-bottom Stoke City.

Birmingham, still under the caretaker managership of Mark Venus following boss Tony Mowbray’s midweek surgery, made a brilliant start.

The hosts scored inside two minutes through Miyoshi’s second goal in three games – and his sixth of the season.

Bacuna curled an excellent dipping crossfield ball with his right instep to the right edge of the penalty area – and Miyoshi coolly chested down before running on to guide home a looping right-foot volley just inside the far post.

But Southampton were level on 18 minutes when Brooks threaded in Armstrong in the inside-right channel and the Saints’ top scorer netted his third goal in the last four away league games – and his 17th of the season.

Saints got caught on the counter four minutes before the break and Birmingham’s top scorer Stansfield was left unattended to rifle the ball into the roof of the net for his 10th goal of the season.

But it was all square again on 55 minutes when Smallbone fed Brooks on the left, and the Welshman cut inside and curled in a stunning equaliser.

Then, just four minutes later, Saints led for the first time, with Smallbone again the architect for Adams’ 12th strike of the campaign.

And three minutes later Birmingham were down to 10 men when Sanderson was sent off for fouling Smallbone.

It looked like 10-man Birmingham had salvaged a point when Fulham loan man Stansfield hit the post, and Bacuna lashed in the rebound.

But Saints still had another trick up their sleeve and, from Stuart Armstrong’s lofted right-wing corner, Harwood-Bellis nodded back across goal and the determined Aribo controlled on his chest before scrambling the ball home as he fell.

Who’s next?

Birmingham now face two away games on the trot – at Hull this Tuesday night, then at Millwall next Saturday.

Southampton’s next two games are both at home – against Preston North End this Wednesday night and then Sunderland on Saturday.

Birmingham City assistant manager Mark Venus:

“It must have exciting for the fans. It was emotional sat there, to be honest.

“We got to 90-odd minutes at 3-3 with 10 men and just to concede the last goal is heartbreaking for everybody.

“They were dangerous every time they put the ball in the box and the bottom line is we rode our luck. But, playing against a good team, we showed a lot of character.”

Southampton boss Russell Martin:

“I’d rather not win in the last minute, but it’s down to togetherness and spirit, and also the amount of work.

“They make teams have to run really, really hard. It tires people out.

“To play the way we play you have to be a bit vulnerable sometimes with the ball. It’s a bit scary. But I’ve loved watching it. And that spirit will help us for sure in the last quarter of the season.”