Jay Stansfield fires leaders Birmingham past Charlton at St Andrew’s

Birmingham extended their unbeaten Sky Bet League One run to 15 games as they beat Charlton 1-0 at St Andrew’s to increase their lead at the top of the table.

Jay Stansfield’s 23rd-minute strike stretched their lead to nine points ahead of second-placed Wycombe and the Blues have a game in hand.

The goal came after Ethan Laird flicked on a goal-kick from Ryan Allsop and Stansfield took it past Conor Coventry on the halfway line before lashing it into the roof of the net from the edge of the box.

His memorable strike was his 16th league goal of the season.

Kieran Dowell almost made it 2-0 but his free-kick grazed a post and Willum Willumsson’s curling shot from the edge of the box flew inches wide.

Tomoki Iwata was denied by goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer when his shot was saved.

Charlton were forced to replace the injured Maynard-Brewer with Will Mannion at half-time.

The visitors’ only on-target effort came in the 76th minute when Daniel Kanu’s shot was saved by Allsop.