Alfons is in very good 'sted after taking his big chance!

MANAGER Chris Davies heaped praise on Alfons Sampsted after the right-back 'seized his chance' on his first league start for Blues.

- By ALEX DICKEN

Sampsted was drafted in from the cold to start against Stevenage and repaid Davies with a man-of-the-match performance.

The Iceland international won the penalty that Kieran Dowell converted to put Blues ahead before Paik Seung-ho clinched a 2-1 victory after half-time at St Andrew's.

"He made so many runs in that first half, inside and outside, it was constant. Sometimes they sort of looked up and he'd already run and they hadn't seen it. He was relentless," said Davies.

"I think that was because he really wanted to seize his opportunity. He's had to be patient and he wasn't even in the squad in the last game and now he's starting this game.

"I was confident to put him in because his daily training and his attitude is exceptional. He's one of the best professionals you could ever work with and I knew he'd be ready because of how hard he's been working in the background. I'm really pleased for him that he's seized his chance."