The Nottingham Forest transfer Birmingham City might have to make

Birmingham City were beaten at home by Sheffield United – despite taking the lead once again.

Lyle Taylor gave Blues the lead after an hour – and had Juninho Bacuna made it 2-0 following a sweeping counter attack the game might have been different.

But once again a failure to take chances cost Blues and the Blades' quality told as Billy Sharp and Jayden Bogle gave the visitors the points. Here’s what stood out.

Lyle Taylor was having a very good game before he superbly finished off Juninho Bacuna’s pass, calmly curling the ball beyond Wes Foderingham from 20 yards.

Taylor has scored twice in two games since arriving on loan from Nottingham Forest – and it’s easy to see why his former Charlton boss Lee Bowyer has such faith in him.

The head coach took one of the sessions I watched at Blues’ training camp in Troon in the summer – a finishing drill in which he constantly emphasised his demand that players pass the ball low into the corners of the goal.

Taylor has now done that against Derby and Sheffield United, neat, unfussy, composed finishes that did just that.

But he’s been just as impressive with his mobility and hold-up play and it’s certainly not an exaggeration to say he’s Blues most all-round striker since Che Adams left the club. Indeed it’s quite possible to see him playing up front on his own in a 4-2-3-1 in a role in which Clayton Donaldson excelled.

Bowyer likes to have two strikers but that set-up – used by Gary Rowett – would allow him to field Taylor Richards, Onel Hernandez and Tahith Chong when they’re all fit.

Craig Gardner has said there won’t be any big transfer fees or long contracts for thirtysomethings – but with one season left on his Nottingham Forest deal one wonders if the technical director