Birmingham City boss Chris Davies says his side will not change their approach for in-form Hull City striker Oli McBurnie, despite the Scot’s stunning start to the Championship season.
McBurnie has been directly involved in 9 goals so far – 6 strikes and 3 assists – to top the division for total goal contributions heading into this weekend’s clash at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park.
What Happened and Why It Matters
The 29-year-old has quickly become the most potent striker in the Championship since swapping La Liga side Las Palmas for Hull in the summer. His partnership with Ryan Giles has been particularly devastating, with the left-back assisting 5 of McBurnie’s goals to date. That combination has powered Hull’s impressive early-season form and earned McBurnie the Championship’s Player of the Month award for September.
A goal, an assist and 3 points. Disfrutan tu finde los tigres😍🐅 pic.twitter.com/yVoxikwcH0
— Oli McBurnie (@oli_mcburnie) September 20, 2025
Despite that threat, Davies insists Birmingham will not adopt a bespoke plan to stop the former Swansea and Sheffield United forward, preferring to rely on established tactical principles.
“There won’t be a special plan for McBurnie,” said Davies. “He has been in good form, to be fair, and he’s a good player at this level but it will be our general principles and how to deal with a striker of that type and then making sure we don’t give up chances to the people that are providing the chances for him, one of them being Giles who has been very good with his quality on that side.”
Davies also highlighted the wider attacking threat posed by Hull, with Joe Gelhardt’s energy and movement offering an additional danger.
“They’ve got Geldhardt as well who’s dangerous. We need to be vigilant and aware of the quality they have,” he added.
“Every team we have played have got 1 or 2 of those, even though McBurnie has been the stand-out player in the division in terms of strikers, but every team has one or two. We’ve dealt with it and we will have to again.”
The most direct goal involvements in the Championship so far this season. ✅
PFA Championship Fans’ Player of the Month for September. ✅
Championship Player of the Month for September. ✅
It’s Oli McBurnie’s world, we’re all just living in it. 🌍👏#HCAFC pic.twitter.com/WsiKqlqXKV
— The Championship Chat Podcast (@Champchatpod24) October 14, 2025
Reaction, Impact, and What Comes Next
The comments underline Davies’ belief in his system-first philosophy, one that prioritises collective structure over individual man-marking. Birmingham’s defensive organisation has been a key strength since the former Tottenham and Swansea assistant took charge, and he is reluctant to deviate from a shape that has shown resilience even against strong attacking sides.
Birmingham were linked with McBurnie during the summer when he became a free agent, but Davies confirmed that the club’s recruitment focus ultimately shifted elsewhere.
“It was talk,” he explained. “We had a long list of targets that had to get shortened down into the ones that you really go after. He’s come back from Spain and gone to Hull and he’s made a good start to the season.”
The Blues instead secured the signings of Kyogo Furuhashi and Marvin Ducksch to strengthen their forward line, both of whom have shown flashes of promise in a transitional squad. While McBurnie’s early form has sparked debate about whether Birmingham missed an opportunity, Davies remains committed to his chosen recruits and the broader development of his team.
For Birmingham, this fixture provides both a challenge and an opportunity. Hull’s high-flying attack will test a back line that has impressed but still seeks consistency, while Davies’ men will aim to build momentum amid a run of mixed results. McBurnie’s presence guarantees a demanding afternoon, but the manager’s confidence in his defensive principles suggests City will look to impose their own rhythm rather than react to Hull’s strengths.
