Scott Hogan scored his first hat-trick in six years as his Birmingham side defeated West Brom 3-2 at the Hawthorns in the Championship on Wednesday.
The Ireland international scored with three tidy finishes, one coming in the first half, and two in the second. He now has five goals in nine league appearances for Birmingham this season.
Hogan's fellow Ireland internationals Dara O'Shea and Jayson Molumby both lined out for West Brom. Molumby set up Jed Wallace for his goal which had levelled the game at 1-1 after 23 minutes.
Scott Hogan hat-trick for Birmingham vs West Brom
"Scott Hogan is a top, top striker," said Birmingham manager John Eustance, who worked with Hogan while he was a coach under Ireland manager Stephen Kenny.
"The one thing I was really excited about coming here was I have worked with Scott at international level, I know what he can bring to the Championship.
"You don’t have moves like he has had if you are not a top striker. The lad just needs confidence. You can see he is a top all-round player and the way he took his hat-trick tonight with three different finishes was brilliant. That’s come on the back of 15, 16 other lads making like easy for him. It’s all about the squad.
11 June 2022; Scott Hogan of Republic of Ireland in action against Scott McKenna of Scotland during the UEFA Nations League B group 1 match between Republic of Ireland and Scotland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
"I think he is just enjoying his football, I put no pressure on him at all, we have got a good relationship. We are trying to set up that we get the best out of the players in each position and I think the way we are playing at the moment really suits Scott.
"He could have easily have been on more goals this season that what he is. But it’s all about collective performances, the way the group are playing – not just about Scotty, it’s the group."
Wednesday's victory puts Birmingham 14th in the Championship on 11 points.
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