'One-way traffic' - Birmingham City boss shares frustrations after Sheffield United stalemate
Sheffield United earned themselves a point on the road on Saturday, drawing 1-1 with Birmingham City at St Andrew’s.
Birmingham City manager Chris Davies insisted his side would have been worthy of all three points following their 1-1 draw with Sheffield United at St Andrew’s on Saturday afternoon.
Just two minutes after Femi Seriki had been sent off for the Blades, Birmingham, from the resulting free-kick, got their noses in front when Marvin Ducksch curled home a superb effort.
However, just a further two minutes later the Blades were presented with a golden opportunity to draw level after they were awarded a penalty in bizarre circumstances. Former United defender Jack Robinson was deemed guilty of handling the ball after he thought he had been passed the ball by Blues goalkeeper James Beadle to take a goal kick.
Following a few minutes of confusion, Sydie Peck eventually stepped up and saw his penalty saved by Beadle. However, the Blades eventually got themselves back on terms in first half stoppage time when Patrick Bamford scored his ninth Championship goal of the season.
Playing with an extra man, Birmingham took the game to Chris Wilder’s side after the break, applying plenty of pressure, but they were unable to find a way past Blades goalkeeper Adam Davies for a second time. They registered 11 shots to United’s one in the second half, and also enjoyed 74 per cent of the possession.
And having knocked on United’s door for so long after the break, Blues chief Davies was disappointed that his side did not scoop all three points.
Davies rues missed chances
Davies, speaking to Birmingham’s YouTube channel, said: "It's obviously frustrating, because we feel like we should have won that match. We started well, even with eleven versus eleven, we were quick and sharp, and got into good areas.
“And then obviously they get a man sent off and we score a goal, and it was really one-way traffic. We needed that second goal to go in, but I think the key moment was the goal that they scored on the stroke of half-time.
“It gave them something to hang onto, and it was a really poor goal from our point of view. Second half, it was one-way traffic, we hit the post and bar four times throughout the match, we just needed one of those to go a couple of inches the other side and it would have been much more comfortable at that point.
“The players gave their all, they did everything. They pushed, but maybe we lacked that little bit of craft around the box just to create that bigger chance that we needed, but we just couldn't turn that into a winning goal."