Karanka tells hero Hogan he’s Scott goals to save Blues
AITOR KARANKA has told match-winner Scott Hogan he trusts him to fire Birmingham out of trouble.
Hogan’s solitary strike earned Blues their first win in eight games after having a long chat with his boss.
Karanka was relieved after his side put in an impressive shift to dominate Boro.
The Spaniard said: “I had a long chat with a few of them. I am happy for Scott as he knows I trust him.
“I told Scott face-toface. 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 goal they created.
It was finished seven yards out by Hogan for his third of the season but the build-up was excellent.
City 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.
The full-back teed up Hogan for a tap-in to end the neat play.
The last time Birmingham scored was against Boro a month – and almost eight ours of play – ago.
Karanka added: “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.
“It was a nice week on the training ground.
“The atmosphere was good and this game is important for the future.” Boro were sluggish and boss Neil Warnock claimed City’s Ivan Sanchez should have seen red for lashing out at Paddy McNair. He 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.
“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 that he had headed an equaliser for Warnock’s men but referee Darren England confirmed it hadn’t crossed the line.
Warnock said: “I couldn’t see us scoring if we’d played until next Christmas.”
Bettinelli 5; Dijksteel 5, Fry 6, McNair 5, Bola
6; Wing 5 (Spence (46th) 5), Morsy
6 (Howson (46th) 5), Saville 6; Tavernier 5 (Coulson 76th), Akpom 5 (Assombalonga (46th) 5), Johnson 5 (Watmore (64th) 5)
Etheridge 6; Colin
7, Jose 7, Dean 7, Friend 7; Sunjic
6, Kieftenbeld 7; Sanchez 6, Toral 6 (Roberts (62th) 7), Bela 6 (Clayton
90th); Hogan 7 (Jutkiewicz 76th) Maikel Kieftenbeld D English