GARY GETTING TOUGH BRUV FROM COACH
Monk: Lockdown did wonders for our mental game
Referee:
GARRY MONK reckons his players have come out of lockdown with a “fresh attitude and mentality”.
The Sheffield Wednesday boss saw his side follow up a point against Nottingham Forest with a deserved win over another of the Championship play-off hopefuls.
A goal in each half from Connor Wickham and Massimo Luongo claimed a victory that was all the more important with a possible points deduction hanging over the Owls.
Monk (with Kadeem Harris, below) said: “We can only focus on things we can control and I sense the start of the culture change I was talking about before the season was interrupted.
“We needed a fresh attitude and mentality because we were letting ourselves and our fans down.
“The players have had time to reflect and to work on their fitness. It is only a couple of steps forward, but I have been really pleased with the last couple of games, though there is still work to be done.”
Wickham was given the freedom of Ashton Gate to head Wednesday in front from Jacob Murphy’s 13th-minute corner. And City were caught out again on 59 minutes when sloppy defending at a corner allowed Luongo room to net with a close-range volley.
Nahki Wells reduced the arrears, heading home on 68 minutes after Wednesday keeper Joe Wildsmith had done brilliantly to keep out a Nathan Baker header.
But it wasn’t enough to stop City’s play-off hopes suffering another blow, or improve on their dismal home form.
Head coach Lee Johnson, who made seven changes from the side beaten 3-1 at Blackburn, said: “You can’t win games if your defenders don’t do their jobs.
“I still believe we can go to Nottingham Forest and win our next game, but not if we defend like that.”
BIRMINGHAM
HULL
GARY GARDNER revealed how he is cashing in on some tough love from brother Craig.
Gardner, who turns 28 today, salvaged a point for Birmingham with the first brace of his career, including the equaliser (above) two minutes from time.
Craig is now Blues’ playercoach and will retire from playing at the end of this season.
The sharpshooting former Blues, Villa and Sunderland man hit the target 41 times in 392 games from midfield, including many like Gary’s 25-yard rocket that started this comeback.
“Craig’s pulled me in the office a few times. He’s been harsh, but sometimes you need that,” said Gary. “He’s told me to get forward more – get in the box when I can add more attacking to my game.
“He said to take the shackles off. The first goal was up there with my best strikes and hopefully I can get many more.”
Gardner’s first equaliser was a header, with sub Jeremie Bela supplying the crosses for that goal and Dan Crowley’s effort.
The midfielder spent much of his career out on loan before making his move from Villa to St Andrew’s permanent last summer. Now he feels settled.
“Most definitely. I’m at the club I love and support and I feel like I’ve found my home,” he said.
Josh Magennis and James Scott had put Hull ahead 2-0 and Herbie Kane’s free-kick made it 3-2 for the visitors.
Boss Grant Mccann thinks they have the firepower to stay up, despite taking just three points since New Year’s Day. “I feel more confident,” he said. “We scored three and could have had six.” BIRMINGHAM: Camp 6, Colin 5, Clarke-salter 5 (Gordon 88), Dean 5, Pedersen 6, Crowley 6, Kieftenbeld 6 (Bela 46, 5), G Gardner 8, Bellingham 6, Jutkiewicz 6, Hogan 5
HULL: Long 7, Pennington 5, Reece Burke 5, De Wijs 6, Elder 6, Batty 6, Da Silva 6 (Honeyman 70, 6), Scott (Lewis-potter 67, 6), Kane 8 (Stewart 77, 5), Wilks 8 (Bowler 67, 6), Magennis 8 (Eaves 67, 6)