Lee Bowyer rues bobbly pitch after Birmingham held in goalless draw with Hull

Posted Sunday, March 13, 2022 by PA

Birmingham head coach Lee Bowyer admitted the lively St Andrew’s pitch made it hard going for entertainment after a dull 0-0 draw against Hull.

Chances were thin on the ground throughout with Hull forcing Birmingham goalkeeper Neil Etheridge into two saves and Tom Eaves failing to take a chance from point-blank range and the hosts failing to seriously test Matt Ingram.

“From what I understand the pitch isn’t too good – it’s really bobbly, but that’s no excuse,” said Bowyer.

“The pitch was really lively – it’s firm. We couldn’t even do just simple passes today – Onel Hernandez was in, the Gary Gardner pass – a simple pass and he overhit it. Then vice versa.

“We got into some great positions, especially second half, but it was just that bit of quality lacking, that final bit.

“If we can improve on that – and I’ve said it a few times this season – we will create and score more goals.

“It wasn’t very pretty. It was two groups of honest lads working hard but I think the quality wasn’t there for both teams. It was disappointing because we had some good players on the pitch.

“But we had too many that had an off day on the same day. That’s life.

“There were positives. We didn’t lose, we kept another clean sheet on a day when we weren’t at the standard we can be.”

Hull City head coach Shota Arveladze felt his team asked more questions than Birmingham.

“The good thing was both teams tried to win and I think in the first half we did well and could have scored,” he said.

“That was probably the reason why they changed their system at half-time because we’d been better than them and they came back as a back four.

“Even in the second half, we didn’t hold the ball as long as we wished but we still created two or three chances to score.

“For long parts of the first half we did well and in the second half was a little bit like a game of up and down – we get the ball, they get the ball and it was a bit rushed from both sides.

“That’s why I’m happy with a point. It could have been 1-0 or 0-0. It was a game where I think the team that scored first would have maybe got a second and a third.”

Regarding the pitch, Arveladze said: “I haven’t heard much about it. Maybe it was a good sign that the players they haven’t talked much about it.

“Of course at this level the pitches must be very good but the weather doesn’t help – it’s cold.

“But at the end of March it will be a bit better.”

Hull are now four away games unbeaten and the head coach admitted he has tailored their game on their travels.

“We’ve tried to change our style a little bit,” he added.

“It’s about having the ball a bit longer, being calm and not just reacting.

“At home there’s a bit more pressure on us to be number one and then get the opponent under pressure.”