Blues choker as Tate goes for the throat

NEIL ETHERIDGE’S late save denied the home side after Swansea assistant coach Alan Tate had looked the only one ready to take this game by the scruff of the neck.

Tate was hugely lucky not to see red when he grabbed Birmingham’s Jon Toral round the throat as the players left the field at half-time.

Referee Gavin Ward and his assistant missed the clash but the result was an all-in melee and Tate is likely to feel a tug on his collar from the FA in retrospective action.

Both managers claimed they had not seen the incident which left Spaniard Toral on his backside.

But it was the most eye-catching moment of the match until Blues keeper Etheridge made a superb save late on to deny Marc Guehi.

For an ex-Cardiff City player on his debut, it could only have got better for Etheridge if Swans fans had been there to see it.

Birmingham boss Aitor tor Karanka said: “I didn’t see anything because I was in the tunnel. I told them at half-time to forget what happened.

“If the referee has seen something and not done anything then I don’t think he’s doing his job.

“If he didn’t say anything it’s because he didn’t see anything.”

Swans head coach Cooper (above) said: “I didn’t see it.

“It certainly didn’t carry on down the tunnel because I went down there. Afterwards, it was fine – no dramas. I haven’t spoken to Alan. I was more interested in the game.”

Both clubs remain unbeaten and yet to concede a goal.

SWANSEA: Woodman 6; Cabango 6, Rodon 8, Guehi 6; Roberts 6, Smith 4, Grimes 5, Bidwell 6; Gibbs-White 7; Ayew 5, Lowe 5 (Cullen 85th)

BIRMINGHAM: Etheridge 6; Colin 6, Dean 6, Friend 6, Pedersen 6; Sunjic 6, Clayton 7; Sanchez 6, Toral 5 (Gardner (63rd) 6), Bela 6; Jutkiewicz 5

STAR MAN: Joe Rodon

REF: G Ward