Birmingham City Carabao Cup fixtures and results 2026/27

1963: a derby final decided across Birmingham

Birmingham beat Aston Villa 3–1 at home and drew 0–0 away to win the 1962/63 League Cup final 3–1 on aggregate. The trophy was decided over two legs, so the goalless return was enough to complete the job. A supporter looking only at that second score would miss the advantage Blues had already established.

The route to the final included a 6–0 quarter-final win over Manchester City and a 4–3 aggregate semi-final victory against Bury. Those are separate ties in the winning campaign, not scores from the Villa final. The record gives the 1963 success a strong local identity at its conclusion, but the road there stretched through opponents from elsewhere. It also shows why an older cup programme can list a final at a club ground rather than Wembley.

2011: Zigic opens the scoring and Martins finishes it

At Wembley on 27 February 2011, Birmingham beat Arsenal 2–1. Nikola Zigic scored in the 28th minute, Robin van Persie equalised before half-time and Obafemi Martins supplied the winner in the 89th minute. Ben Foster was Birmingham's goalkeeper and Stephen Carr captained the side.

This final was settled in one match, unlike the two-legged Villa contest. The late timing of Martins' goal explains why it dominates so many recollections, but Zigic's opener also belongs in the account. Birmingham first led, were pegged back and then scored again close to full-time. Reading that order makes the outcome clearer than a highlights title built around the winner alone.

The date is also useful when searching for the match. An Arsenal–Birmingham fixture in another season may be a league game rather than the final. Use 27 February 2011, Wembley and the 2–1 score together to identify the trophy-winning afternoon.