Demarai Gray saved Birmingham City from defeat against Sheffield Wednesday
Birmingham City manager Chris Davies
Chris Davies had ‘mixed emotions’ after Birmingham City salvaged a draw in the ninth minute of stoppage time against beleaguered Sheffield Wednesday.
Demarai Gray saved Blues from a first league defeat on home soil since April 2024 with a last-gasp strike. Wednesday were headed for three points after Jamal Lowe and George Brown cancelled out Jay Stansfield’s early opener.
Davies endured a rollercoaster night on the touchline, from jeers at his substitutions from a disgruntled crowd to euphoric celebrations in front of the Tilton after Gray’s equaliser.
He reflected: “Mixed emotions. There’s an element of relief and happiness with the way we got the equaliser but underlying that, a frustration that we let the game get away from us somehow and turn into that because I thought we should have been winning that game.”
A triple substitution just before the hour prompted anger from sections of Blues’ support. The withdrawal of Tommy Doyle and Patrick Roberts on their first Championship starts at St Andrew’s didn’t go down well.
Explaining his thinking, Davies said: “They were pre-planned. I have no problem with the fans having angst around decisions I make. I love the fans here, they are amazing fans and right to voice their opinion – no problem.
“For me it was purely pre-planned, both Patrick and Tommy have hardly played any minutes this season.
“We’ve got a growing injury list, I had it noted down to take them off at 60 minutes, if they go on any longer and pick up (injuries) we are going to be down to the bare bones in terms of our squad.
“It was pre-planned to bring energy on with Lewis and Paik at that point, but they both got some minutes under their belt and showed moments, which is good. It gives them a bit more fitness as well. That was why I made those decisions.”
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