A dramatic ending to an enthralling game of football in Birmingham as Southampton claimed all three points to keep their promotion dreams alive. Nigerian midfielder, Joe Aribo scored his third league goal of the season to claim a 4-3 win for the saints.
The game lit up as early as the second minute when Koji Miyoshi got the party started and put Birmingham into the lead. The saints responded in the 18th minute via Adam Armstrong and parity was restored. The game seemed to be heading into halftime with things level, until Jay Stansfield scored in the 41st minute and Birmingham took a 2-1 lead into the halftime break.
The second half lit up in the 55th minute as David Brooks equalized again for Southampton, and Che Adams put the saints into the lead four minutes after. Birmingham were down for the first time in the game and they fought back, an equalizer coming in the 77th minute through Juninho Bacuna.
Joe Aribo came off the bench in the 70th minute to replace Will Smallbone, and the Nigerian got his moment right at the death. With 9 minuted added on the regulation 90, the 27 year old’s only attempt on target came in the 96th minute and it served as the knockout punch as Southampton claimed all three points.
Russell Martin’s side sit fourth with 70 points after their first win in four games, and sit three points behind Leeds United. They will now host Preston on the 6th of March at the St Mary’s.
