Stansfield double sends Birmingham City top of the Championship with 2-1 win over Swansea

Birmingham City are top of the Championship. Jay Stansfield scored twice, including a winner three minutes from time, as the Blues beat 10-man Swansea City 2-1 in front of a sell-out crowd of 28,005 at St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park on Saturday, BBC Sport reports.

The win was Birmingham's seventh in nine matches and their fourth in a row at home, and it takes Chris Davies' side into the international break as leaders on 29 points, level with Middlesbrough and Stoke City but ahead on goal difference.

Red card turns the game

The afternoon did not start smoothly. Swansea were the more threatening side early on and won a penalty when Alex Cochrane was penalised for holding Jenson Seelt at a corner, but Ryan Allsop guessed the right way to save Stewart's spot-kick. Goncalo Franco then headed against the post for the visitors.

The game changed in the 26th minute, when Swansea midfielder Marko Stamenic was sent off for a heavy challenge on Ethan Laird. Three minutes later Patrick Roberts and Max Bird combined down the right, and Stansfield finished first time to put Birmingham ahead. It was his 50th goal for the club.

Birmingham should have been further ahead by half-time. Swansea goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux denied Liam Millar and Bird, and Stansfield headed against the woodwork.

Late winner brings the house down

Swansea levelled 20 minutes after the break when Christoph Klarer turned Josh Tymon's corner into his own net, and for a while it looked as though the missed chances might cost the Blues.

But with three minutes left, Swansea failed to deal with a Demarai Gray corner, Phil Neumann's header hit the bar, and Stansfield drilled home from close range. It was, in the BBC's words, a goal to "bring the house down at a sold-out St Andrew's".

Davies told BBC Radio WM: "At the start of the game, we weren't sharp enough, and they got a penalty, but we got going after that. We started really well with chances, with control and with the right character. Then of course after the red card it's a completely different game."

The numbers behind the rise

The statistics showed Birmingham's dominance: 59% of possession, 21 shots to Swansea's eight, and eight on target. The Blues now have the best defensive record in the division, having conceded just 14 goals in 15 games.

Stansfield has stepped up in the continued absence of leading scorer August Priske, and has now scored four goals this season. Earlier in the week he spoke of enjoying a changed role in the side, and on this evidence it suits him.

It is a remarkable turnaround from last season, when Birmingham finished tenth, separated from Swansea only on goal difference. There is a long way to go, with two-thirds of the season still to play, but the mood around St Andrew's is the best it has been in years.

One blemish

The game was briefly stopped in the second half after Vigouroux complained that objects had been thrown from the crowd, with the referee handing two cigarette lighters to the fourth official. Swansea's head coach, Vitor Matos, called it "not acceptable", and it was an unwelcome note on an otherwise memorable afternoon for the home supporters.

After the international break, Birmingham's next task will be to hold on to top spot.