Birmingham City 3-0 Luton Town: Bacuna opens Blues account

Juninho Bacuna has made four appearances for Birmingham since his January move from RangersImage source, Rex Features
Image caption,

Juninho Bacuna has made four appearances for Birmingham since his January move from Rangers

Juninho Bacuna grabbed his first Birmingham goal as Lee Bowyer's team brushed aside Luton at St Andrew's.

The midfielder, who moved from Rangers in January, fired the Blues into a first-half lead.

Fellow recent arrivals Lyle Taylor and Onel Hernandez wrapped up the points after the break.

It was Blues' first victory in five games and their first clean sheet since the end of November.

Luton looked the better side during a tame opening to the game - which was briefly halted by a volley of tennis balls thrown on to the pitch from Blues fans unhappy with the current regime.

However, the home crowd were given reason to cheer after 25 minutes as Gary Gardner's cross picked out Taylor and, after his initial attempt was blocked, the striker teed up Bacuna to slot home.

Birmingham preserved that lead until half-time - and they doubled it just a minute after the restart when Jeremie Bela's ball was helped on by Henri Lansbury for Taylor to fire home his third goal in four games.

Luton might have reduced the deficit immediately as Allan Campbell went close and James Bree's effort was saved by Neil Etheridge.

But Birmingham regained control and made certain of victory with 21 minutes remaining as Gardner and Jordan Graham combined to set up Hernandez, who tapped past James Shea.

The win, only Blues' second in their past 12 games, lifted them a place in the table to 17th, while Luton drop to 10th.

It also completed a double by Birmingham over the Hatters this season by an aggregate score of 8-0 after winning 5-0 at Kenilworth Road back in August.

Birmingham manager Lee Bowyer told BBC Radio WM:

"It wasn't pretty for the first 20 minutes until we got the goal, but I said to them at half-time, 'Take care of the ball a little bit more and there's going to be opportunities to score'.

"That's been our problem this season, we've been creating a lot of chances but we just haven't taken them.

"All three of them (the goalscorers) have added loads to the way we play in the final third and we could have scored more.

"With a makeshift back three, we've kept a clean sheet so it's been a very good day. I'm pleased for Neil [Etheridge], that's his first clean sheet since he's come back into the side."

Luton manager Nathan Jones told BBC Three Counties Radio:

"We've saved our two worst, most inept performances for Birmingham. We've conceded five at home and three today. But there's no crying over spilt milk for us.

"If we'd done the basics right today, we could have come away with something, but we were a mile off with the basics.

"We didn't defend well. The first goal was poor, the second was even worse and then the third goal, we were chasing the game and trying to be positive and that's what happens.

"I don't like saying we were bad and not giving the opposition credit, but they didn't have to work that hard to get three points."

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