Hogan’s the hero for Brum
AITOR KARANKA has told match-winner Scott Hogan he trusts him to fire Birmingham out of trouble.
Hogan’s strike earned the Blues their first win in eight games, after having a long chat with boss Karanka about his form.
Karanka was relieved after his side put in an impressive shift to dominate former club Boro.
And the Spaniard said: “I had a long chat with a few of them, including Hogan. I am happy for him because he knows I trust him.
“I told him face to face. I was clear I wanted him as a striker and maybe he lacked confidence, but he knows I trust him 100 per cent.
“His body language showed he wasn’t happy when he had not scored, but I like him today.”
Karanka knew how to win games at the Riverside when guiding Boro to promotion to the Premier League in 2016.
But his Birmingham side had been in a major rut – no wins in seven games in all competitions – until catching Boro out.
Their lack of goals was the biggest concern.
The fact they had not scored in 460 minutes, and drawn a blank in their previous four games, was surprising, given the slick opening goal they created.
It was finished seven yards out by Hogan for his third of the season, but the build-up was excellent.
Birmingham won the ball after a bad pass from Marcus Bettinelli and Hogan chested to Jon Toral before he fed Maxime Colin on the right of the box. He presented Hogan with a tap-in to end the move.
The last time Birmingham scored was against Boro a month ago and almost eight hours of play ago.
Karanka added: “I said this group of players can climb the table and do everything to turn it around.
“Today I hope is a reflection of the future.
“We played very well with the ball and, when we had to defend against a very committed team, we did well.”
Boro were sluggish and boss Neil Warnock claimed City’s Ivan Sanchez should have seen red for lashing out at Paddy Mcnair.
Warnock said: “I am disappointed. It is not often I have to have a go at them, but in the first half we were not good enough.
“We have had two weeks of hell and didn’t train until Wednesday, but that doesn’t stop you competing.
“How did they not send Sanchez off? They can’t see someone lashing out like that. Then he made the goal. Double
disappointment.”
Sam Morsy thought he had headed an equaliser, but a combination of the post and bar, and a failed attempt at handball, saw ref Darren England confirm it had not crossed the line.
Warnock said: “I couldn’t see us scoring if we’d played until Christmas.”