{"id":631763,"date":"2025-12-14T10:54:22","date_gmt":"2025-12-14T10:54:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/631763\/"},"modified":"2025-12-14T10:54:22","modified_gmt":"2025-12-14T10:54:22","slug":"birmingham-city-land-inevitable-blow-as-new-debate-rages-before-huge-16-days","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/631763\/","title":{"rendered":"Birmingham City land inevitable blow as new debate rages before huge 16 days"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Birmingham City talking points after the 1-1 draw with Charlton Athletic ended Blues&#8217; winning home run<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_JS390657363.jpg\" alt=\"Paik Seung-ho of Birmingham City reacts following the draw with Charlton Athletic\" loading=\"eager\" \/>Paik Seung-ho of Birmingham City reacts following the draw with Charlton Athletic<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Charlton Athletic dented Birmingham City\u2019s home record by coming from behind to nick a point at <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.birminghammail.co.uk\/all-about\/st-andrews-stadium\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"St Andrew\u2019s @ Knighthead Park.Link opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">St Andrew\u2019s @ Knighthead Park.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">After successive away defeats, <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.birminghammail.co.uk\/all-about\/birmingham-city-fc\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"BluesLink opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Blues<\/a> returned to B9 in the hope of securing a fifth straight home victory but Charlton had other ideas.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Second-half substitute Tyreece Campbell fired home to cancel out Christoph Klarer&#8217;s header as Charlton <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.birminghammail.co.uk\/sport\/football\/birmingham-city-player-ratings-klarer-33052709\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"became only the fourth team to take anything from St Andrew&#039;s this season.Link opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">became only the fourth team to take anything from St Andrew&#8217;s this season.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Here are our talking points\u2026<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Blues lacked punch<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.birminghammail.co.uk\/sport\/football\/football-news\/chris-davies-nathan-jones-disagree-33052875\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"The two managers disagreed over which team deserved more than their pointLink opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">The two managers disagreed over which team deserved more than their point<\/a> in the post-match press conferences and there are compelling cases for both.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">To support <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.birminghammail.co.uk\/all-about\/chris-davies-football-coach\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Chris Davies&#039;Link opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Chris Davies&#8217;<\/a> argument, Blues had more possession, more shots and worked visiting goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski plenty of times, whereas Charlton scored from their only shot on target.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">But Nathan Jones pointed to a miss from striker Miles Leaburn before half-time that really should have been gobbled up in a game that was short of genuine goal-scoring opportunities.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">What is fair to say about Blues&#8217; performance is that it lacked punch up top once again. Their two main attackers, Marvin Ducksch and Jay Stansfield, didn&#8217;t look like scoring.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Demarai Gray shows up<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">One attacker who has really shone for Blues of late is <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.birminghammail.co.uk\/all-about\/demarai-gray\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Demarai Gray.Link opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Demarai Gray.<\/a> By his own admission, Gray wasn&#8217;t entirely happy with some of his early-season games, but he has really got into his flow since the Championship resumed after the November international break.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Gray had racked up five goal contributions in the five games before Charlton and was desperately unlucky not to score with two shots that cannoned back off the woodwork.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Blues boss Davies commented: &#8220;What Dimmy is doing great is influencing the game with goals and assists but he&#8217;s also able to finish games really strong.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;Some players lose that zip and speed as the game goes on but Dimmy always seems to have an extra gear, and that would have been the best solo goal since I&#8217;ve been at the club; it was incredible. It was a really good effort.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;Dimmy has been a real bright spark. I think Patrick (Roberts) has been excellent for us but I wanted to make a change on that side at that point. The wingers have been doing really well for us.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1765709662_729_0_Birmingham-City-v-Charlton-Athletic-Sky-Bet-Championship.jpg\" alt=\"Demarai Gray of Birmingham City is challenged by James Bree of Charlton Athletic \" loading=\"lazy\"  \/>Demarai Gray of Birmingham City is challenged by James Bree of Charlton Athletic (Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">The Allsop vs Beadle debate rages<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">There were plenty of Bluenoses who were happy to see the return of Ryan Allsop in goal against Charlton \u2013 even if it was only because James Beadle was injured.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.birminghammail.co.uk\/sport\/football\/football-news\/birmingham-city-james-beadle-injury-33052953\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"By the sounds of it,Link opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">By the sounds of it,<\/a> Allsop has a few games to stake his claim again to be No.1 before Beadle returns.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Even Allsop would admit that Charlton wasn&#8217;t his best effort. His nonchalance playing out in the first half should have resulted in Leaburn scoring for Charlton and Allsop could only parry Isaac Olaofe&#8217;s centre into Campbell&#8217;s path for the equaliser.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Most would admit there is little to choose from between Allsop and Beadle. Allsop&#8217;s distribution is his unique selling point but those raking long balls to the wide players that wreaked havoc in League One haven&#8217;t transferred to the Championship.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Working in Beadle&#8217;s favour is his save percentage. According to FBREF, Allsop has conceded 11 goals from 19 shots on target &#8211; plus Bright Osayi-Samuel&#8217;s own goal at Coventry &#8211; to give him a save percentage of 47%. Beadle, meanwhile, boasts a 69% save percentage.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The quality of finishes should obviously be taken into account, but Beadle has been more economical with his hands.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">An enormous 16 days for Blues<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Blues couldn&#8217;t keep winning at home, hence why there is such concern about the away form. A trip to Sheffield United next weekend is a daunting prospect given their recent improvement and Chris Wilder will have the Blades fired up after a poor performance at West Bromwich Albion on Friday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">After Sheffield United Blues will play Derby and Southampton at St Andrew&#8217;s, before a trip to Watford on New Year&#8217;s Day, and another home game against league leaders Coventry on January 4 making it five games in 16 days.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">This is a defining period in Blues&#8217; season. They have to close the five-point gap to the play-offs rather than allow this run of results to rumble on.<\/p>\n<p>Get the latest Blues headlines sent straight to your phone<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh  undefined\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">BirminghamLive has its very own <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.birminghammail.co.uk\/all-about\/birmingham-city-fc\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Birmingham CityLink opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"follow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">Birmingham City<\/a> WhatsApp community to deliver the latest headlines straight to your phone. Just <a class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/chat.whatsapp.com\/B9XQh6yFkASKxe76buz3SU\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"click this linkLink opens in a new tab.\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\">click this link<\/a> to receive daily Blues content and breaking news. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don\u2019t like our community, you can check out any time you like. Click on the name at the top of your screen while in WhatsApp and click &#8216;Exit Group&#8217;. 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