Ruth: Team spirit evident in win over Birmingham

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The win yesterday saw Albion climb up to tenth in the table.

Nick Szczepanik

2026-02-23T10:50+00:00

Jo Belmont scored his third Premier League 2 goal of the season in the win over Birmingham. 📸 by James Boardman.

Our men's under-21s head coach Shannon Ruth was delighted with the team spirit his players showed in the 3-2 victory over Birmingham City on Sunday evening.

That spirit was shown in the celebrations for goals scored by Joe Belmont and Aidan West, the latter a spectacular strike to make the score 3-1, which brought the whole team up the pitch to join in the congratulations.

“That's the group that we've got,” he said. “They're really together they were also equally delighted for Joe Belmont's goal because Joe and Westy have both been out of the team a little for a couple of games. Adam Brett's been in and for them to both come in and score shows what teammates they are because everyone was so delighted for them, so pleased for them.

“And I was equally pleased that we finished with Bailey Palmer, a first-year scholar, on the pitch, Zach Brennan a first-year scholar and Jacob Parsons, a first-year scholar, so even finishing the game with the young players on the pitch and them helping us get across over the line was positive too.”

Mikey Harris and Shannon Ruth in the Albion dugout. 📸 by James Boardman.

Birmingham have not won since November but still posed problems, cancelling out Callum Mackley’s opener at 1-1 and scoring a late second to give the game a nervy finish.

“It's important that our young players realise that you get nothing for free in the game and no matter where someone is in the league table or whatever good moment you might be in, it doesn't give you the right to win a game of football,” Ruth said.

“So, we spoke about what Birmingham might bring today and they brought everything that we thought they would do, and I think we gave them too many opportunities to come back into the game or too many opportunities to hang on to something.

Miah Oriola is in 'a good moment' according to Shannon Ruth. 📸 by James Boardman.

“In the first half we were really good, I thought we were unlucky to have a goal disallowed [when Charlie Penman headed in a corner from Miah Oriola]. I’ve seen it back and it looks fine. Goals can change games so we were disappointed that was disallowed because it would have been another set piece goal that we can add to our tally. And another assist for Miah Oriola.

“He's in fine form obviously, scoring two on Monday just gone and he's showing good versatility. He played on the left predominantly then but he scored his goal from being on the right, today he was on the right and I thought him and Charlie Tasker were a real threat for us.

“Then we moved him to the left and moved Aidan West out and obviously Westy's got a really good goal. Miah is becoming really hard to play against because he can go inside and he can go outside and he's in a good moment. It's been a good season for him so far.”