Tommy Doyle's reaction to rush of blood v Sheffield United as Birmingham City boss opens up on "worst afternoon"
Tommy Doyle's reaction to rush of blood v Sheffield United as Birmingham City boss opens up on "worst afternoon"
Chris Davies, the Birmingham City manager, agreed that his side were architects of their own downfall on their way to a defeat at Sheffield United that Davies described as “probably the worst afternoon” since he took charge of the Blues. The Blades eased to victory at Bramall Lane.
But they received a helping hand from the away side, who left Tyler Bindon unmarked from a corner to open the scoring before Tommy Doyle, the former United loan favourite, wiped out Gus Hamer on the touchline and was sent off with 18 minutes on the clock.
Hamer was then gifted the opportunity to double United’s lead and defeat sparked a furious reaction from the away fans who stayed until the end, with many streaming out of the exit doors before their side were put out of their misery.
Davies bemoaned the “worst possible start” as Bindon headed home Hamer’s corner, admitting: Everything we've been talking about, working on, preparing for was undermined really in the first few minutes because we conceded in the fifth minute from a corner. It was one of the worst corner goals we've conceded, organisationally and strength-wise.
“It was far too easy for the opposition to score and then on 18 minutes, we were obviously a goal down and a man down because of a red card. So, for a team that's not been fantastic away from home, we've caused our own downfall really there.”
Tommy Doyle's reaction to rush of blood v Sheffield United as Birmingham City boss opens up on "worst afternoon"
Doyle was a real fan favourite at United during his season-long loan spell from Manchester City which saw the Blades win promotion to the Premier League, but this will go down as one of his less fond memories of Bramall Lane as he saw red for a terrible challenge on Hamer right in front of both dugouts.
Asked if Doyle had held his hands up, Davies revealed: “Yes, he has. No complaints on the red card, and he's he's accepted responsibility for it because that's not what I want from this team. That's not the sort of team we are and this can cost you and it did today.”
United’s second goal was frustrating from a Blues perspective too, with the hapless Keshi Anderson seeling his backpass intercepted by Hamer who rounded Allsop and finished emphatically.
“At that point we were 1-0 down and a goal down, and you don’t want to invite any unnecessary pressure,” Davies added. “You want to be avoiding the press. Yes, if you can make some passes in the opposition's half, absolutely.
“But not invite pressure, and again we got that. We got that wrong. It was another error because if it's 1-0, you keep it there for as long as you can and anything can happen.
“So, as I say, it's one of the worst afternoons, definitely. Probably the worst afternoon since I've been here.”