AN IDIOT? YES, I AM!
Martin admits he was SO wrong to leave out goal-machine Adam
Saints’ leading scorer has got the right hump with his gaffer, and Martin reckons it’s totally justified.
The boss felt Armstrong needed a rest and benched him for the last two games.
But the 27-year-old was brought back in as Saints tried to recover from three defeats in four games.
Armstrong came up trumps with his 17th goal of the season and his boss was the first to acknowledge his part in the victory.
Martin said: “I’m an idiot for leaving him out. I thought he needed a rest and a break but he didn’t. He is robust and I’m an idiot. My fault!
“He is back in now and he scored. I’m not joking. I was an idiot. I made a big mistake and he is furious at me as he should be. Hopefully he is a bit happier now.”
With the way results went, this wasn’t a week to mess up again, but in typical Saints fashion, they didn’t take the easy route.
They were 3-2 up against 10-man Blues when they allowed Juninho Bacuna to grab a late equaliser.
In the end, Joe Aribo came off the bench to snatch the points deep into stoppage time – a goal which could have massive implications come the end of the season.
It could have been so different. The home side stunned Saints with a thirdminute opener from Koji Miyoshi and could have doubled that three minutes later when Bacuna’s 20-yarder hit a post and then bounced out off keeper Gavin Bazunu’s head.
Aribo’s late game-changer had more damaging consequences for Birmingham, who are now only clear of the relegation zone on goal difference.
Bacuna said: “It’s disappointing. We worked hard from the first minute and to concede in the last seconds to lose is gutting.”
Birmingham’s fighting spirit certainly can’t be questioned. They were reduced to 10 men in the 63rd minute when skipper Dion Sanderson was shown a straight red for a challenge on Will Smallbone.
Bacuna said the dressing room was certain referee James Bell had given them a harsh deal.
He added: “It wasn’t a nasty challenge but the ref gave him a red card and we have to accept it, even if it’s a wrong decision.”
Assistant boss Mark Venus wasn’t happy either, adding: “I certainly didn’t think it was a red. There was no malice in the challenge. He didn’t go out to hurt him.
“That late goal was heart-breaking because we had got to 90 minutes 3-3 with a man down so we thought we deserved something.”