Tennis ball protest can’t derail Birmingham as Blues sweep aside Luton

Three new signings scored as Birmingham brushed off the latest display of supporter unrest to claim an impressive 3-0 win over play-off chasing Luton at St. Andrew’s.

The match was brought to a brief halt early on when fans threw dozens of tennis balls on to the pitch, but it did not put the home side off their stride.

Lyle Taylor set up Juninho Bacuna for his first Blues goal and then scored his third in four games since his loan arrival from Nottingham Forest.

Onel Hernandez added the third as Birmingham recorded only their second win in 12 games and a first clean sheet in that spell.

It was also the hosts’ first double of the season following their 5-0 win at Kenilworth Road in August and dented Luton’s charge after the Hatters had taken 20 points from their previous eight games.

Luton, backed by a sizeable following, started the brighter and created the first opening.

A cross from the right caused panic and Elijah Adebayo flicked the ball on, but Amari’i Bell’s flick was too weak to trouble goalkeeper Neil Etheridge.

Play was briefly held up in the 14th minute when dozens of tennis balls were hurled on to the pitch from all four sides of the ground in a planned protest by Blues fans angry at the club’s board.

It was the fourth home game supporters unhappy about the running of the club had demonstrated, while chants of ‘Get out of our club’ and ‘We want our club back’ could also be heard.

The home fans were much happier in the 25th minute when their team scored from their first attack.

Luton centre-back Tom Lockyer and goalkeeper James Shea failed to deal with Gary Gardner’s cross and Taylor held off Lockyer to tee up Bacuna to finish high into the net from 12 yards.

Luton responded with a low angled drive from Bell