Southampton won a thrilling game with Super Eagles star eventually scoring the winner.
Russell Martin’s Saints were in desperate need of a morale-boosting win having lost four of their five games in all competitions since their club-record 25-match unbeaten run came to an end.
It was a blockbuster end to a breathless encounter that began with Koji Miyoshi putting the Blues ahead inside two minutes, only for Adam Armstrong to level for Saints.
But Jay Stansfield put Birmingham back ahead against the run of play, meaning Saints had to rally after the break.
Birmingham threatened to further dent their fading automatic promotion bid but Southampton’s strong bench and spirit paid dividends as substitute Aribo struck deep in stoppage time.
Joe Aribo clutch moment
Substitute Joe Aribo was the matchwinner for Southampton on Saturday as he scored a stoppage-time goal to secure a thrilling 4-3 victory over 10-man Birmingham City in a Championship encounter.
David Brooks scored a brilliant equaliser and Che Adams put Martin’s men ahead, with Blues captain Dion Sanderson’s sending-off appearing to end the game as a contest.
But further twists followed as Birmingham levelled through Juninho Bacuna, before Aribo delivered a potentially huge stoppage-time winner.
Speaking after the game, Southampton manager spoke highly of Joe Aribo.
“The lads love him, the fans love him. Hopefully, everyone’s really seeing what he has to offer,” Martin told the club’s official website.
“He was amazing on Wednesday [against Liverpool], he probably deserved to play, but he hadn’t played 90 minutes for a long time and was absolutely hanging on Thursday.
“He’s a brilliant player and an even better character, and for him to score the goal – I said to him there’ll be a chance for you at some point.
“I was completely guessing, but I hoped, and it’s fallen to him and he’s tucked it away.”
Aribo has now scored three goals in 24 league appearances for Southampton this season.
As narrated by The Guardian; This result sees the Saints climb the table, moving within eight points of leaders Leicester City, who surprisingly lost at home to Queens Park Rangers.
Southampton are now just three points behind third-placed Leeds United and five behind second-placed Ipswich Town.
Despite conceding three goals, Southampton manager Russell Martin expressed satisfaction with the team’s character and fighting spirit.
