second half – we couldn't keep the ball or pass the ball and we didn't create anything." The 3–1 loss to a superior AFC Bournemouth team brought an improvement in attitude and a first goal of the season for Hogan, who said he was feeling fitter and sharper, noting that he'd "always been able to [score] quite consistently in the past when [he'd] played regularly." Despite the new regulations that allowed five changes from a nine-man bench, Hogan was one of eight unused substitutes in the goalless draw with Coventry City, the first league meeting between the clubs since Coventry began their groundshare at St Andrew's. Etheridge's goalkeeping earned Birmingham a draw away to Luton Town, although Šunjić's stoppage-time shot would have secured all three points but for a fine save from his compatriot Simon Sluga, and the month ended with a dull goalless draw with Millwall that left Birmingham 17th in the table. December opened with a well-worked goal from Hogan at home to Barnsley, but what BBC Sport dubbed a "contentious penalty", when Pedersen was judged to have tripped Callum Brittain, and a late deflected shot extended Birmingham's winless run to six games. The defensive nature of the visit to Bristol City was enlivened by the arrival of Alen Halilović for a 20-minute debut, and Dean's header from a corner gave Birmingham all three points. Uncharacteristically, Karanka made only one (enforced) team change for the next match. In front of 2,000 socially distanced fans at the Madejski Stadium, Jon Toral demonstrated what the Birmingham Mail called "an inexplicable difference to the form he had showed so far this season" to score twice in the first half. After Reading made the score 1–2, Dean received a second yellow card for a foul in the penalty area and was sent off. Etheridge saved the kick, and Birmingham held on for a second consecutive win. Toral remained unused in a defensive setup at home to Watford, it was Pedersen's turn to be sent off for conceding a penalty, and Troy Deeney converted for his fifth goal against Birmingham. Jake Clarke-Salter's error led to Cardiff City's opening goal, Roberts equalised, and Sánchez "slalomed through three defenders and picked out the far corner with an absolute piledriver" to give Birmingham the lead and join the now seven-way tie for top scorer with two goals. The goal was voted Birmingham's Goal of the Season.