LAWAL IS OFF THE MARK FOR STOKE

BOSUN Lawal's first goal for Stoke earned them a deserved 1-0 Championship win over Birmingham City at the bet365 Stadium.

- Isaac Seelochan

The Ireland defender headed in Aaron Cresswell's 21st-minute corner to hand last season's runaway League One champions a third successive defeat in all competitions.

Mark Robins' only complaint would be that his much-improved side failed to make the final outcome more comfortable.

Birmingham, beaten 2-0 at Leicester before the international break, were fortunate not to be further behind at halftime.

And while Blues improved in a much less eventful second half, they lacked a cutting edge to save a point or even threaten a third league win since their second-tier arrival.

For Stoke, who handed a debut to impressive Slovakia international Tomas Rigo, it was the perfect way to rally from their previous home defeat by West Brom.

They have now won four of their first five league games and look set for their most productive campaign in years.

The home side had already warned Birmingham of their intent, minutes before centre-half Lawal broke the deadlock.