Opinion: Player Ratings Vs. Burnley

Birmingham City were on the end of a clinical Burnley side who moved to within two points of table toppers Middlesbrough after a 2-1 win at St.Andrews thanks to goals from George Boyd and Andre Gray.

Despite the result suggesting that Burnley may have been the better side, in actual fact, despite the three attempts they had on target, they offered very little in the game.

Just after the half hour mark had passed and the visitors took an undeserved lead. The ball fell kindly to Boyd in the area after a few deflections and his cool, calm and collected effort trickled into the bottom corner.

Heading into the second half and Gary Rowett’s side once again started the brighter of the two and they got their reward soon after through Jacques Maghoma.

On loan Arsenal midfielder Jon Toral saw his curling effort parried to the left hand side by Tom Heaton in the visitors goal but Maghoma came rushing in with the header and he found the bottom corner neatly.

However, with all the pressure coming from the home side, the Clarets then went a dealt a sucker punch and handed Blues their fourth 2-1 defeat in the last five games courtesy of Gray’s 24th goal of the season.

With three defenders crowded round Boyd on the right hand side of the box, the ball was chipped to the far post where Gray was left unmarked and his powerful volley flew past Adam Legzdins in the Birmingham City goal.

Late on, Toral picked up his second yellow card of the game for a foul on former loanee Lloyd Dyer and he is now set to miss Tuesday nights game against Preston North End.

Down below are the ratings for each individual who played in the game yesterday, along with my Man of the Match…

Legzdins – 6

Caddis – 6

Morrison – 7

Shotton – 7

Grounds – 6

Kieftenbeld – 9 and my Man of the Match.

Davis – 7

Cotterill – 7

Toral – 5

Maghoma – 8

Donaldson – 7

Substitutes: Lafferty (5), Fabbrini (5).

Blues fans, do you agree that Maikel Kieftenbeld was Man of the Match in yesterdays game? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section down below!