In a pulsating Sky Bet Championship clash, August Priske delivered a crucial equaliser for Birmingham City, ensuring the hosts salvaged a 1-1 stalemate against Southampton. The Danish forward’s precise header in the 55th minute levelled the score after new signing Keven Schlotterbeck had given the visitors the lead with a powerful aerial strike during stoppage time at the close of the first half. Birmingham dominated large portions of the match and generated a plethora of opportunities, yet they were unable to convert many of them.
Jay Stansfield, in particular, squandered two clear chances, one of which saw his shot rebound off the post. The opening stages of the game were frenetic, with both sides creating openings early on. Southampton’s striker Cyle Larin was fed through by Finn Azaz but failed to finish cleanly, sending a low drive straight at goalkeeper James Beadle. The Blues, who had bolstered their squad with Hull winger Liam Millar on a season‑long loan signed on deadline day, forced Daniel Peretz into a reflex save from a low‑driven effort by Priske.
Beadle’s initial clearance was intercepted by Azaz, but the ball eventually drifted wide as the visitors pressed forward. Later, Stansfield struck the inside of the post after a 40‑yard sprint that followed a mis‑controlled back‑pass from Schlotterbeck. Unmarked, the £10 million striker then headed a cross from Alex Cochrane just inches wide. Birmingham continued to threaten.
Jhon Solis made a forward run and unleashed a shot from about 20 yards that drifted just outside the post. Larin, receiving an Azaz pass that split the defence, whipped a powerful effort over the bar.
A deep free‑kick taken by Cochrane found Tomoki Iwata at the far post, but his unmarked strike sliced wide. Priske’s twisting header from a Patrick Roberts cross also fell short, skimming just outside the goal.
The deadlock was finally broken when centre‑back Schlotterbeck headed home from a Leo Scienza corner, marking his first goal since January 2025 and putting Southampton ahead. Roberts appeared to have equalised on 49 minutes when his effort was smothered by Peretz, but the home side did not have to wait long for a response. Roberts delivered another cross, this time finding Priske, who guided a neat header into the net – the Danish forward’s inaugural league goal of the season. Southampton had a chance to retake the lead when substitute James Ward‑Prowse’s deflected shot was palmed up by Beadle, only for Larin to loop the rebound wide.
Birmingham breathed a sigh of relief when Kuryu Matsuki’s volley was ruled offside, and Priske’s rising effort flew just over the bar. Beadle again intervened, this time punching away Ward‑Prowse’s 25‑yard free‑kick, with James Bree following up to fire the rebound into the side netting. Later, Phil Neumann headed straight at Peretz from a Demarai Gray free‑kick as Birmingham pressed for a winning goal. After the final whistle, Birmingham midfielder Chris Davies reflected on the performance: "It was a very good game.
We had an electric start – I was really pleased with how we got after them. Our tails were really up which is exactly what we want to be here, St.
Andrew's was rocking. To go into half‑time a goal down was a real sucker punch as they had had little periods of control with the ball without hurting us too much. We deserved to get the goal and could have won the match.
August worked his socks off and was a real handful so it was great for him to score." Southampton captain Tonda Eckert praised the overall quality of the encounter: "It was a good advertisement for the Championship – a good game of football. There were a couple of moments that went in our direction to win it, but overall a very good quality Championship game.
It was quite an even game – there were a couple of chances for us and the same for Birmingham. Fair play to Keven – it was a great header and a great delivery from Leo Scienza.
It was a proper header, there is so much conviction in everything he does. I take that error on me because we try to play football and sometimes that can happen if the ball goes back and you try to find a solution.
That one slipped through but I will take the blame for that. It was an excellent decision from Daniel Peretz not to come rushing out – it allowed the striker more time to think and delay the shot. It shows the courage and bravery in which he (Schlotterbeck) continued to play the game, especially in an atmosphere like this, so all credit to him."