Blues woe as Chair’s pulled from under them
BLUES manager Garry Monk admitted his team played with fear in their defeat at QPR.
Rangers came from behind after Che Adams’ goal, meaning Monk’s side will go into the final match of the Championship season with the threat of relegation still hanging over them.
They will go down if they lose at home to Fulham and results elsewhere go against them.
Monk said: “We knew coming here we had the opportunity to secure our survival and that’s what we intended to do.
“I was surprised in the sense that we played with a little bit of fear of the situation. I haven’t seen that from them.
“We’ve been meeting this challenge head on, putting in our maximum on the pitch, and today we played with a little bit of fear which means you play within yourself.
“But that’s what pressure can do. That’s what fear can do at certain times.”
Bright Osayi-Samuel equalised for Rangers and Ilias Chair put them ahead before Matt Smith’s injury-time goal sealed Birmingham’s fate.
Monk is hoping that home advantage will be all-important next Sunday.
He added: “We’ve been playing well there. We’ll go on to that pitch with a full house, all the Blues fans behind us, and we’ll give our absolute maximum.”
QPR boss Ian Holloway paid tribute to Jamie Mackie and skipper Nedum Onuoha, who will leave the club along with James Perch when their contracts expire this summer.
Both players were given rousing receptions when brought on as second-half substitutes.
Holloway said: “It’s a very emotional day for all of us. I’m so proud of my senior players and what they’ve done to help these younger lads.
“It was always going to be a situation where some of the old guard might have to leave in the end.
“I think the dignity they’ve shown and the way we’ve thanked them has been more than I could have hoped for.”