In this EFL Cup clash between Charlton Athletic and Birmingham City, the match was ultimately decided by fine margins and one critical early goal. The lone goal came in the first half at the 31-minute mark, served up by Birmingham City’s effective attack. This efficient finishing came from one of their few chances, emphasizing the importance of capitalizing on opportunities, an area where Charlton failed to deliver.

Charlton Athletic, despite having an equal number of corner kicks (three) as Birmingham, struggled to convert these set-piece opportunities into tangible results. Shots on target and off target statistics were notably absent, indicating that neither side was particularly aggressive or efficient in attack throughout the match. Charlton's struggle is highlighted by their inability to score, reflecting a lack of penetration through Birmingham’s defense, which remained resolute even after going down to 10 men due to a red card in the second half.

The match was also characterized by a high number of yellow cards, indicating a highly physical and possibly contentious match. Charlton collected two yellow cards early in the first half, forcing them to play cautiously to avoid further bookings. Birmingham, however, accrued three yellow cards and one red, showing their aggressive style of play that ultimately didn't hinder their ability to secure a win.

Moreover, Birmingham’s ability to avoid being caught offside (with zero offsides) compared to Charlton’s two offsides demonstrates Birmingham’s disciplined forward line movement and better match coordination. Birmingham's disciplined defensive organization, even after receiving a red card, played a crucial role in maintaining their slim lead and securing victory in this tightly contested match.

In conclusion, Birmingham City’s early clinical goal and disciplined play, even under the pressure of being a man down, proved decisive. Charlton Athletic’s failure to convert set-pieces and keep discipline early on underpinned their downfall in this fixture.

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