Port Vale inflict first home defeat on Birmingham City as Jaheim Headley nets winner

Port Vale inflicted a first home defeat upon Birmingham City as Jaheim Headley earned them a shock 1-0 Carabao Cup victory at St Andrew’s.

Darren Moore‘s men, without a win in League One in five attempts so far this season, caused an upset thanks to the defender’s header on the stroke of half-time.

Birmingham boss Davies made 10 changes from the side that defeated Oxford at the weekend and his heavily-changed team struggled to find any rhythm.

The Valiants also made wholesale alterations to their line-up but they enjoyed a purple patch 10 minutes before the interval and took a deserved lead.

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The visitors caused problems from set-pieces all night and the home goal led a charmed life as the visitors scented blood.

Home keeper James Beadle saved twice from Mo Faal, and Ryan Croasdale somehow missed the target with a header from four yards out.

However, Croasdale’s next involvement of note ended with Headley beating two blue-shirted defenders to the ball as he nodded home powerfully.

Davies threw on three substitutes at the interval and he had used up all his options from the bench with 15 minutes to go as he searched for a solution.

But Vale held firm and missed a chance to seal it when Ronan Curtis fired narrowly wide as the game entered its final quarter.

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