MONK OFF AS BLUES HANG ON

BIRMINGHAM manager Garry Monk was sent to the stands for his furious reaction to Maikel Kieftenbeld’s sending off but his team clung on for a point at Brentford. In a 70th-minute flashpoint in front of the dug-outs, Kieftenbeld raised his hands to Brentford striker Neal Maupay off the ball and was shown a straight red card. Monk believed Maupay went down too easily, saying: ‘It was completely the wrong decision. I was expecting a yellow card for feigning injury. The red card was a complete shock but with 10 men we showed unbelievable character.’ Brentford boss Dean Smith said: ‘Kieftenbeld lifted his hands to Neal, but was it enough to go down? Only Neal will know.’ The visitors had seized control in the first half and led when Michael Morrison met Jota’s corner at the near post, glancing a header that bounced in off the far upright. Brentford levelled before the break as Josh McEachran scored his first goal in senior football with a free-kick that Lee Camp could only divert into his net.