In a tightly contested derby fixture at the weekend against local rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers, one of the stand out players in the goalless draw was substitute Jaques Maghoma.
His pace and trickery caused problems for Wolves who defended fairly comfortably before the arrival of the Democratic Republic of Congo international entered the field of play.
With Gary Rowett`s Birmingham City having just ten games left in the Sky Bet Championship this season, trailing Sheffield Wednesday by four points with a game in hand, who currently occupy sixth position; I believe Maghoma could be the key to success in both home and away games for the remainder of the campaign.
So the question is, why Maghoma over other options? There is no doubt that the former Burton Albion man`s pace can cause problems for any defence, especially with Birmingham`s counter attacking style of play.
Furthermore, with other options, besides Viv Solomon-Otabor having raw speed, Maghoma is the perfect fit for the left side for Blues; stretching defences with drilled crosses for attacking options like Clayton Donaldson, Jon Toral and Diego Fabbrini to tap home for Blues, which was very nearly the case on three occasions on Sunday for Jamaican forward, Donaldson.
Another factor, that has certainly surprised me this season, is the defensive work-rate that Maghoma possesses winning countless challenges, chasing back after midfield runners of opposition sides and his desire to go and win the ball back if he has given possession away.
Overall, I feel as though if Birmingham are to get a play-off spot this season, Maghoma will be one of the biggest factors in the team to securing a chance of returning to the Premier League.
Blues fans, do you agree that Jacques Maghoma is going to be the key to Blues making the play-offs before the end of the season? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section down below!
Share this article
Related Articles
