Following today’s clash between Birmingham City and Barnsley, here are the instant reactions from both managers.
Birmingham City hosted Barnsley at St Andrew’s Stadium for a 3pm kick off on Saturday February 24, with the visitors taking a two nil victory.
On loan Oliver McBurnie opened the scoring after 12 minutes had been played and he completed his brace on the day in the 36th minute.
New Barnsley head coach Jose Morais picks up his first win since joining the club but Birmingham are now goalless for a fourth game and slip into the relegation places, with Barnsley leapfrogging them into 21st.
Teams:
Birmingham:
Stockdale, Jenkinson (Bramall 83), Roberts, Dean, Colin, Ndoye (Jota 66), Gardner, Boga, Maghoma, Adams, Gallagher.
Substitutes:
Jutkiewicz, Lowe, Dacres-Cogley, Morrison, Trueman.
Barnsley:
Townsend, Yiadom, Jackson, Lindsay, Fryers, Potts, Williams, Gardner (Pearson 87), Thiam (Mahoney 60), Moore, McBurnie (Knasmullner 77).
Substitutes:
Davies, Bradshaw, Moncur, Cavare.
Speaking to the BBC’s cameras a short time after match day referee Jeremy Simpson blew the final whistle, Birmingham City manager Steve Cotterill explained.
‘They’re unrecognisable from the team they were a month ago and the difference is confidence. We looked nervous as anything in the first half and there wasn’t enough players getting on the ball and you can’t have that. I don’t think we are strong enough as a squad and we didn’t strengthen in the window and I think we could have done with doing that. We’ve had a few injuries and suspensions and it’s thrown us out all over the place. It’s not nice to take the stick I take but if it’s someone else managing the team in a month’s time then they’re in the same situation because it’ll be the same players going out on the pitch.’
Barnsley head coach Jose Morais in his comparative interview explained.
‘I woke up today and said ‘the sun is shining, it’s a fantastic day and it will continue like that’ and luckily it did. I want to say thank you to the supporters and don’t stop believing because we will have more days like that. Oli McBurnie is a talented player with quality and he is an extraordinary man. I’m surprised he didn’t score the penalty but maybe he wanted to add a bit more suspense to the result. The players are assimilating things in a quick way and I hope they continue to do this.’
