Chris Davies lauds Birmingham reaction to poor start as Blues fight back for win

Posted Sunday, September 29, 2024 by PA

Birmingham boss Chris Davies was delighted with his side’s reaction after seeing them fight back from two goals down to beat Peterborough 3-2 and reclaim top spot in League One.

After a sloppy start, the big-spending Blues found themselves trailing 2-0 after just 16 minutes following goals from Ricky-Jade Jones and Emmanuel Fernandez.

However, a smart finish from Willum Willumsson halved the deficit in the 24th minute and, when Jay Stansfield’s shot deflected beyond Jed Steer off Oscar Wallin at the start of the second half, there was a sense of belief around St Andrew’s.

Captain Krystian Bielik completed the comeback after converting with a headed effort from Tomoki Iwata’s cross in the 66th minute.

Davies was frustration at they started the game but was pleased with their response, saying: “We didn’t quite have the edge that we normally do. Obviously, it was a bit of a mistake for the first goal, and then we’re on the back foot a little bit.

“Then we didn’t defend a set-piece well and all of a sudden you’ve got a mountain to climb against a good opposition.

“I think the reaction was good from that point. And then I think it grew after the first goal.”

Goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell was fiercely booed for his involvement in Posh’s opening goal, where he was caught in possession on his goal line, but Davies offered a strong defence of the Northern Ireland international.

He said: “Other players around him have to be quicker to support him. This is my responsibility, Bailey’s doing what I’m asking the team to do.”

Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson was disappointed with the outcome and insisted the Blues’ winning goal should not have stood.

He said: “Big disappointment in the result for us, in terms of every game we go into, we hope to win it regardless of the opposition, and, obviously, we got a brilliant start. The game plan was going well. We wanted to press them really high up the pitch.

“You want to start the second half well, especially with them shooting towards their own fans. And listen, you need a bit of luck. Then, Stanfield’s shot goes miles wide and hits my centre-half and goes in.”

There were also some who thought Bielik’s winning goal came off his arm, and the Posh manager made his feelings on the incident clear, saying: “Yeah it did [hit his arm].”

Joel Randall was surprisingly excluded from Peterborough’s matchday squad, and Ferguson revealed after the game that the 24-year-old is unhappy at the club and will not be selected moving forward.

He said: “He’s not happy at the football club. He’s made that clear. His attitude suggested that in training, so he’s not going to be part of the squad.

“We’ve just given him a contract that makes him one of the highest-paid players at the club, and now he says he’s not happy, so I’ve had to deal with it.”