Birmingham City manager Chris Davies felt the Blues profited from two harsh decisions by referee Andrew Kitchen during last night’s 1-1 draw in the Championship’s season opener at St Andrew’s.

Top of the list was the 95th-minute penalty converted by George Hirst after sub Lyndon Dykes, an international teammate of the Town striker with Scotland, had handled a Jacob Greaves header from an Ashley Young corner.

“I thought it was really, really harsh,” Davies said. “He’s gone up and obviously his arms are raised – you have to raise your arms to jump – and it’s scraped his fingers on the way down.

“It’s really harsh. I would be surprised if anyone doesn’t have that opinion. That’s happened now, we just have to take it.

“It’s made a huge impact on the game because we were one-nil up with a couple of minutes to go. That’s football, it can happen.”

Earlier, in the seventh minute of the first half, Japanese international striker Kyogo Furuhashi had the ball in the net but with Kitchen having already blown his whistle as the debutant had jumped into Greaves.

“Again, I thought it was harsh,” Davies added. “You only have to look at Kyogo to see the size of him compared to the centre-back. For me, that one looked harsh.

“The good news is that is what Kyogo is capable of. He was trying to make the right runs and was disciplined in his performance. I’m really happy with him.”

Despite the Blues’ late equaliser, Davies was pleased with his side’s overall display against a Town team which was two division above them last season.

“We were the better team, we dominated the match and we deserved to win the game but for misfortune with a decision,” he insisted.

“We were good with the ball, I thought we showed good patience, we pressed well and switched the play well. We had moments around the box and defensively we were really strong – I don’t think they had a shot on target until the penalty.”

TWTD

FreddySteady added 11:07 - Aug 9 I’m not sure I can disagree with too much of that but hey ho.
1

urbanpenguin added 11:16 - Aug 9 Disallowed goal: It was a foul, and the only reason it went in the net is because everybody stopped playing, including Palmer, if play had carried on as normal i doubt it was a goal. Penalty: Harsh, but legally correct. Would have been annoyed if it was on the other foot (arm?) but it was a penalty. I bet he didn't mention any of the other things including the US Football blocks, studs down shins, bottles, and fans giving out free headlocks.

16

OliveR16 added 11:16 - Aug 9 He does have two points. Or put another way, he doesn't . . .
15

Gforce added 11:17 - Aug 9 I have to agree ,it was a very fortunate penalty. Looking at our central midfield last night,you can see why we were desperate to sign Hackney. We badly need to sign another one or two ,to accompany Cajuste.
1

RadioOrwell added 11:17 - Aug 9 Foul on Greaves. No question. And it doesn't matter how small the bloke is - bizarre comment. It touched the guys hand and those are given all the time and would have been after VAR. Nothing about our very obvious pen which wasn't given.
5

Paulc added 11:19 - Aug 9 It is a penalty you can’t dispute it. The law is the problem not the decision. As for the ‘disallowed goal’ well, it wasn’t disallowed because the foul was given before Kyogo hit it. However, I agree the foul in the first place was a bit harsh. Those fouls though were being given 75% of the time throughout the match. Conclusion: we were lucky to get the point, I don’t think Birmingham really did enough to win the game though. Both teams were drawing soft fouls with minimum contact from a whistle happy inept ref. Take the pint move on.

6

howsey51 added 11:20 - Aug 9 Im just glad we don’t have VAR any more. Not that I think it would have changed these decisions.. just glad it’s not interrupting play making everything delayed.
2

oldbri added 11:22 - Aug 9 sour grapes from the leader of a bunch of fouling ,diving whingeing thugs
3

Facefacts added 11:26 - Aug 9 Take the pint and move on
1

Facefacts added 11:29 - Aug 9 This news item should be entitled "Sky: Two Harsh Decisions" as they wanted BcFC to win just as much as this guy.
2

FreddySteady added 11:29 - Aug 9 Excellent advice @facefacts!
0

earlsgreenblue added 11:40 - Aug 9 I think it levelled up considering a few less then fair tackles, Greaves left ankle in the 2nd half was plain out of order, numerous times kicking the ball away after the whistles gone, picky at throw in’s moving us backwards but allowing BC to move 10yrs up field every time, & as for the American football style blocking of Hirst……..I know he has to go round but stopping a run shoulder fist no ball playing intent & then falling over & calling it a foul. Got what they deserved.

2

blues1 added 11:41 - Aug 9 GForce. So another fan judging Matusawi after 1 game. His 1st game in england. 1st half was definitely caught out by the pace of the game. Not totally surprising. . Was better 2nd half tho, after they scored when we at last started to settle on the ball. Can we not justxwrite players off after 1 game? Lelif had an absolute nightmare on his debut. Turned out pretty well for us hasnt he? Was always gonna be tough last night. Anyone who thought otherwise was kidding themselves. And credit to Birmingham, they stopped us playing our game. For all their possession tho, they barely threatened our goal. And after they scored, we were marginally the better team. Maybe bcse we upped our game or they dropped off a bit. Prob a bit of both tbh. Sure there's bettercto come. But getting a point when far from our best is a good sign. Need to improve tho, for sure.

3

tractor_lady added 11:46 - Aug 9 Point is we were miles off our best and still got a point, Birmingham ran out of steam after they scored and we increased our intensity and they reverted to rugby! That pen was harsh but would not have been overturned by VAR, by letter of the law (stupid as it may be) its a pen… if he is wibbling on day one its gonna be a very long season for them
4

dubblue added 11:59 - Aug 9 Agree penalty was harsh but it was a clear handball. Not sure of Davies’ logic re disallowed goal is he saying it can be a foul if the fouler is much smaller than the player he fouls? Anyways the referee blew his whistle so we can’t speculate what Palmer may have done
2

virginblue added 12:03 - Aug 9 TL hitting the nail on the head with the pen. The law may be awful, but it is the law, so there is no dispute. BBC report talking about intent - it’s irrelevant these days.
2

southnorfolkblue added 12:04 - Aug 9 Doesn’t mention the blatant penalty on O Shea. Should have also been down to 10 men so it’s swings and roundabouts.
2

BobbyBell added 12:12 - Aug 9 Jumping into a defender with a leading arm is a foul. Going up for a header with your arms raised above your head is just stupid. These were not harsh decisions but I' sure very team will get harsh decisions throughout the season. The refereeing standards are awful. It's no good moaning and using them as excuses, just accept them and move on.
1

BlueRuin69 added 12:46 - Aug 9 Both decisions correct
0

Blue_Moses added 12:50 - Aug 9 I didn't think Greaves was fouled, he was out of position (as he was numerous times last night)
-2

flykickingbybgunn added 12:50 - Aug 9 That boy wants to learn the rules and grow up.
-1

ITFC_1994 added 13:03 - Aug 9 Can't get my head around how anyone can say it wasn't a foul on Greaves.... bloke literally jumped in to him with his arm in his back...
3

Bert added 13:17 - Aug 9 If the ref blows his whistle and players stop, chipping the ball in the net afterwards does not mean it’s a goal. I like Davies, he is calm and articulate but in his position it is understandable that he sees things differently.
1

Rozeeboy74 added 13:44 - Aug 9 Greaves was jumping without the use of his arms as the Brum players were hanging off him.
0

OldFart71 added 14:10 - Aug 9 Given for we are all happy. Given against then we are mad as hell. But that's because the ref and rules are useless. Town don't make the rules and we have had plenty go against us. But never believe things will even out as they won't.
0

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