![\"Birmingham](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0_JS378840231.jpg\")
Birmingham City manager Chris Davies<\/p>\nBirmingham City were dumped out of the Carabao Cup by League One side Port Vale<\/p>\n
22:46, 26 Aug 2025Updated 22:50, 26 Aug 2025<\/p>\n
Birmingham City manager Chris Davies<\/p>\n
Chris Davies admits Birmingham City\u2019s<\/a> 10 changes contributed to their defeat to Port Vale<\/a> \u2013 but he doesn\u2019t want to use it as an excuse.<\/p>\n Phil Neumann<\/a> was the only player to keep his place from Saturday\u2019s victory over Oxford United and Blues suffered a shock at the hands of winless League One side Vale.<\/p>\n Jaheim Headley netted the only goal of the game shortly before half-time and Blues never threatened to muster up a response.<\/p>\n Reflecting on his third home defeat as Blues manager, Davies said: \u201cI think we suffered tonight because ultimately we couldn\u2019t create enough chances with all the possession and dominance we had.<\/p>\n \u201cThey scored a goal which was really poor from our point of view, but we just couldn\u2019t find our normal rhythm and intensity with the ball to create enough pressure and chances which we have done so many times here. It\u2019s cost us the game.\u201d<\/p>\n Davies handed new signings Marvin Ducksch, Kanya Fujimoto and Lewis Koumas their debuts against Vale and rested several of his big guns ahead of Friday\u2019s Championship clash with Leicester City.<\/p>\n The result was a disjointed performance.<\/p>\n Davies added: \u201cThat\u2019s quite clearly one of the main catalysts for being less fluid. We had a lot of changes there and a lot of new players come in, even the ones that have been here haven\u2019t had a lot of football, some of them.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not an excuse and I certainly don\u2019t expect the players to be using it as an excuse but we definitely lacked our normal rhythm and fluidity.<\/p>\n \u201cWith three games in a week, as we\u2019ve had this week, it was important that we tried to freshen up and have enough energy for what\u2019s ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n Should Blues have fielded a stronger XI? Let us know your thoughts HERE<\/a><\/p>\n Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package<\/p>\n This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more<\/a> \u00a343<\/p>\n \u00a335<\/p>\n Sky<\/p>\n![\"Content](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755016403_380_0_Sky-Factbox.jpg\")
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