Football League Trophy final player ratings as 19-year-old earns 9/10 in Peterborough’s shock win vs Birmingham City

Add as preferred source on Google

Peterborough United secured their second straight Football League Trophy triumph and ended Birmingham City’s hopes of a double-winning season at Wembley Stadium.

Having just secured the League One title, beaten Peterborough just five days prior to the final at Wembley, and received a rousing video message from co-owner Tom Brady, Birmingham were heavy favourites to lift the trophy on Sunday.

However after an end-to-end and thoroughly frantic opening 15 minutes, it was Peterborough United who took a surprising lead through Harley Mills.

The 19-year-old scored just his second goal for Peterborough on the 15 minute mark in remarkable fashion, doing his best Declan Rice impression by thundering a 25-yard free kick past an outstretched Ryan Allsop, off the crossbar, and into the back of the net.

Birmingham expectedly pushed forward in search of an equaliser thereafter in the first half, but didn’t really test Jed Steer in goal thanks to Peterborough’s defence standing firm and keeping Jay Stansfield under lock and key.

As well as being solid in the defensive third, Peterborough managed to pose a threat at the other end too with swift counter attacks. On the stroke of half-time, one of these counter attacks resulted in Darren Ferguson’s side taking a 2-0 lead. The second goal came courtesy of another stunning strike, this time from Hector Kyprianou, who latched onto a Mills cross from the left flank to sweep the ball into the top corner of the net.

Chris Davies’ side were almost caught on the break again in 65th minute, with Ricky-Jade Jones and Kwame Poku forcing Allsop into a fantastic double save.

Birmingham did finally managed to find the back of the net through Stansfield in the 83rd minute, but the goal was ruled offside. Aside from that scare, Peterborough remained resolute throughout the remainder of the game to hold onto their 2-0 advantage and become the first team to ever retain the Football League Trophy – earning a six-figure prize pot in the process.

Birmingham City player ratings vs Peterborough in Football League Trophy final

Ryan Allsop – 6/10

No goalkeeper in the world would’ve got near either of Peterborough’s goals in the first half. Allsop then made a stunning double save to keep his side in the game in the 65th minute.

Ethan Laird – 5/10

Got forward at times on the right flank, but was caught out going the other way for Peterborough’s second goal. Sacrificed for another attacking option on the hour mark as Birmingham searched for a route back into the game.

Christoph Klarer – 5/10

Made an excellent sliding challenge to deny Jones in the 70th minute.

Ben Davies – 4/10

The ex-Liverpool man struggled at times up against Jones’ searing pace on the counter-attack.

Alexander Cochrane – 4/10

He didn’t really make an impact in the final third.

Seung-Ho Paik – 5/10

Worked hard in and out of possession until he was subbed off with an injury in the 72nd minute.

Tomoki Iwata – 5/10

The Japanese national didn’t do much wrong on the ball all afternoon, but he wasn’t able to find a defence-splitting pass either.

Willum Willumsson – 5/10

Hooked at half-time after not really having much of an impact on the game in the opening 45 minutes.

Kieran Dowell – 4/10

Booked in the first half and didn’t really have the impact he was hoping to have on the left flank.

Keshi Anderson – 5/10

Birmingham’s liveliest attacking player in the first half…which wasn’t saying much to be honest.

Jay Stansfield – 5/10

Marked out of the game by Oscar Wallin and Emmanuel Fernandez. He couldn’t find an inch of space throughout. Maybe Chris Davies made a mistake by not starting Alfie May alongside Stansfield?

Substitutes

Alfie May -5/10

Taylor Gardner-Hickman – 5/10

Marc Leonard – 5/10

Lukas Jutkiewicz – N/A

Peterborough player ratings vs Birmingham City in Football League Trophy final

Jed Steer – 7/10

He wasn’t really tested by Birmingham throughout the game until added time at the very end of the game, when he came up trumps to make a brilliant stop.

James Dornelly – 7/10

The 19-year-old was a key part of Peterborough’s stoic backline on Sunday.

Oscar Wallin – 7/10

Wallin did brilliantly well up against Stansfield, keeping him extremely quiet.

Emmanuel Fernandez – 8/10

Alongside Wallin, Fernandez was key in ensuring Stansfield couldn’t really impact proceedings at Wembley Stadium.

Harley Mills – 9/10

The star of the show. Bagged one of the best goals scored at Wembley Stadium in recent memory to give Peterborough an early lead, and then set up the second by curling a dangerous cross into the penalty area. The best game of Mills’ young career to date.

Archie Collins – 7/10

Worked his socks off up and down the left flank all afternoon. Defended well.

Hector Kyprianou – 8/10

For the second year in a row, Kyprianou scored in the Football League Trophy final. The goal this year was out of the top drawer, with the club captain curling beautifully into the top corner on the stroke of half-time.

Kwame Poku – 6/10

The man linked with a move to Birmingham City worked hard and was denied what looked like a certain goal in the 65th minute when Allsop reacted quickly to save his first-time effort from inside the box.

Malik Mothersille – 6/10

Like his teammates, Mothersille worked hard off the ball at Wembley Stadium.

Abraham Odoh – 6/10

Helped Collins out as much as he could in the defensive third, ensuring that Ethan Laird couldn’t cause too many problems when he raced up the field.

Ricky-Jade Jones – 7/10

He probably should’ve scored in the second half, but Jones did at least provide Peterborough with a much-needed out-ball when Birmingham were pilling on the pressure at the other end of the park.

Substitutes

Mahamadou Susoho – N/A