Jay Stansfield refused to rejoice his purpose on his return to Birmingham as
Fulham cruised to a 2-0 Carabao Cup second-round win.
Stansfield, 21, who was Birmingham’s a number of participant of the yr and 13-goal prime scorer final season, netted after 14 minutes after Raul Jimenez’s Tenth-minute penalty had given Fulham the lead.
Birmingham hit the bar by Willum Willumsson’s blistering free-kick.
Fulham’s Premier League high quality shone regardless of 11 adjustments to their line-up and for League One scorching favourites Metropolis, defeat ended their unbeaten four-match run.
The Londoners received a penalty with their first severe assault after a handball by Metropolis left-back Alex Cochrane. Former Wolves striker Jimenez saved his nerve to coolly roll the ball to the left of goalkeeper Ryan Allsop, who went the alternative method.
Birmingham’s first likelihood got here when Christoph Klarer’s looping header was held beneath the bar by goalkeeper Steven Benda.
However Fulham returned to the assault to double their lead by Stansfield.
The England U21 worldwide managed an extended move from Joachim Andersen and calmly curled the ball round Allsop into the far nook.
The teenager refused to rejoice out of respect for the membership the place he spent final season and was applauded by the Metropolis followers behind the purpose.
Stansfield tried to double his account with an audacious 40-yard effort however it drifted broad.
Keshi Anderson’s header was nodded off the road by Timothy Castagne as Metropolis sought a method again into the tie.
However Fulham have been in management they usually virtually snatched a 3rd purpose when Krystian Bielik put behind his personal purpose beneath strain from Jimenez.
Birmingham went closest to opening their account within the first interval two minutes earlier than the break when Willumsson’s thunderous free-kick crashed off the bar to security.
Birmingham seemed to take the sport to Fulham after the break with out threatening Fulham’s purpose.
Metropolis supervisor Chris Davies made a triple substitution simply after the hour to tug his facet again into the tie.
Tyler Roberts, Koji Miyoshi and Ayumu Yokoyama changed Alfie Could, Emil Hansson and Anderson and it appeared to work as Metropolis threatened for the primary time within the second half.
Cochrane let fly with a full-blooded drive however his 25-yard effort was pushed across the publish by Benda.
Stansfield was applauded by each units of followers when he was substituted within the 78th minute.