Goal shows what young Che is capable of – boss
BIRMINGHAM City manager Gary Rowett praised “exciting prospect” Che Adams for rebounding from a disappointing display at QPR last Saturday to inspire a second-half comeback against Preston in midweek.
The 20-year-old was initially left on the bench against North End as Rowett opted for an unfamiliar – and bold – line-up.
But as they struggled to fire and trailed 2-1, Rowett reverted to a more recognisable system by introducing Adams in the 56th minute.
Within 12 minutes of coming on, the youngster had bagged his second Blues goal – and confirmed his promise.
“That should do a lot for his confidence,” Rowett said. “That was something I spoke to him about in the week.
“When the games are not going your way, like at QPR, you have to find a way to get into the game. I thought the game passed him by a little bit there.
“That’s something as a young player you have to learn.
“Can you gamble for a flick? Can you get into the box? Can you work a little bit harder to try and make something happen?
“Maybe sometimes he plays safe and that’s a young player who has played very well for four or five games and just come off for one or two.
“But that goal is what he’s capable of and that’s why we want a bit more from him – I think he has got more in his locker.
“He is a really, really exciting prospect.
“He has shown again great composure when he has got a chance. I just think he needs to get himself in those positions even more.”
Rowett praised Blues’ character after they twice came from behind to take a point against Preston.
Goals from Ryan Shotton and Adams pegged North End back and extended Blues’ unbeaten run to six matches.
And Rowett was pleased the recent momentum has not been lost.
“It’s important we keep building points. That’s what we have done this year. When we haven’t played well in spells we have turned it round to at least not lose,’’ he said.
“To get to ten games and only lose one is good, apart from one poor second half, I can’t remember too many games where we have looked like we were even going to get beaten.
“We showed real good character, I was very, very pleased in the second half and I thought our wingers and full-backs put some excellent balls into the box and we looked really, really dangerous.”
Rowett admitted his bold selection, with five attacking players from the start, hadn’t quite paid off.
“Last year we struggled against these sorts of teams, who make it hard for you to break them down. We needed a little bit more.
“We tried to be quite brave, I was a little bit nervous about the team because I felt as though we were either going to pass the ball great or struggle to get close enough to Preston and with the intensity of the game.
“I think it was a combination of both at times. We showed some bright bits but not enough.
“And when the ball did go in to Lukas (Jutkiewicz), we didn’t get any real intent to go and join in. A couple of times the wingers tried but not with enough desire to get into those positions.”