{"id":676082,"date":"2026-01-05T19:40:14","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T19:40:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/676082\/"},"modified":"2026-01-05T19:40:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T19:40:14","slug":"keith-hackett-reacts-to-bobby-thomas-incident-in-coventry-loss-vs-birmingham-he-deserved-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/676082\/","title":{"rendered":"Keith Hackett reacts to Bobby Thomas incident in Coventry loss vs Birmingham: ‘He deserved it’"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Bobby<\/p>\n

Credit: ITV, Sky Sports<\/p>\n

\"Oliver <\/p>\n

Mon 5 January 2026 17:45, UK <\/p>\n

Keith Hackett believes that Coventry City defender Bobby Thomas was rightly sent off for striking Birmingham\u2019s Phil Neumann in their 3-2 loss on Sunday.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The former PGMOL general manager and ex-FIFA referee has exclusively told Football Insider<\/strong> that Thomas<\/a>\u2018 action towards his opposite number saw him deservedly shown red by referee James Linington in their heated Championship<\/a> clash.<\/p>\n

Second-tier table toppers Coventry<\/a> made the short trip to St Andrew\u2019s on Sunday as they aimed to get back to winning ways following a loss to Ipswich Town and a draw against Charlton Athletic.<\/p>\n

Chris Davies has been under pressure at Birmingham<\/a> in recent times, but his mid-table side held the edge over their Midlands rivals and came away with a vital 3-2 win on home turf.<\/p>\n

The game was not without controversy, especially in the closing stages, as key Sky Blues defender Thomas received his marching orders for an altercation with Neumann.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Hackett backs Linington as Thomas faces three-match ban for Birmingham red<\/p>\n

Football Insider<\/strong> revealed that Thomas was wanted by Brentford<\/a> ahead of this season, and he has continued to be a key man for Frank Lampard<\/a>\u2018s side this term, with 22 league starts so far.<\/p>\n

He will now be forced to sit out of their upcoming games against Stoke City, Leicester City and Millwall, after Linington brandished a straight red card for violent conduct in the 95th minute of Sunday\u2019s game.<\/p>\n

MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES<\/p>\n

Thomas was seen to have kicked out at Blues defender Neumann after a cross had been cleared out of the hosts\u2019 penalty area, while he also raised his left hand and seemingly caught him on the back of the head.<\/p>\n

\n

A frustrating afternoon for Coventry City boils over \ud83d\udd34<\/p>\n

Bobby Thomas is sent off after an altercation with Birmingham’s Phil Neumann pic.twitter.com\/VRa1vliN1I<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 ITV Football (@itvfootball) January 4, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

View Tweet<\/p>\n

Thomas had no complaints with the red despite Neumann\u2019s theatrics as he quickly ran off the pitch, and ex-PGMOL chief Hackett believes he was rightly sent off.<\/p>\n

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider<\/strong>, he said: \u201cWhen a player raises his hands on an opponent and attempts to strike him, then he deserves to get sent off.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am not surprised that the Coventry City player made no attempt to verbally appeal to the referee. It looks like a correct red card for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Coventry\u2019s promotion chances have decreased after Birmingham loss amid poor form<\/p>\n

Coventry have led the Championship for the majority of the 2025-26 campaign, but look to be in danger of a catastrophic fall-off in the months to come if their current form continues.<\/p>\n

Their loss at St Andrew\u2019s means that Lampard\u2019s side have won just two of their last eight games, and are now eight points ahead of third-placed Ipswich, who have a game in hand.<\/p>\n

\"Coventry(Credit Imago)<\/p>\n

Opta\u2019s supercomputer has previously backed Coventry<\/a> for automatic promotion, with a 100 per cent chance of finishing in the top two, but that figure has now decreased somewhat to 89.40 per cent.<\/p>\n

The odds are still heavily stacked in their favour, but being without Thomas is set to serve as a huge blow to their chances of three points in upcoming league clashes against rivals Leicester and promotion-chasing Millwall.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n