Pep makes a big point
PEP CLOTET extended the hand of friendship to a former Birmingham boss but it must have felt like shaking a fist as Gary Rowett’s Millwall left town with a point.
Clotet suffered a verbal attack from his predecessor Garry Monk in midweek when the latter, now at Sheffield Wednesday, refused to shake hands after the match.
Clotet made a veiled reference in his programme notes as he said: “I love that tradition here in England. Call me a romantic — all rivalries and personal opinions put aside.”
There was precious little romance as Millwall came within 10 minutes of taking all three points after a breakaway which saw Irish veteran Shaun Williams score with a 25-yarder.
The home side refused to buckle, however, and Chelsea loan defender Jake Clarke-Salter’s header rescued the draw.
Clotet was convinced his side were robbed of two penalty decisions, a claim laughed off by Rowett. The
Birmingham boss pointed the finger at Jake Cooper for a shirt tug on Alvaro Gimenez and a second foul on Clarke-Salter.
Clotet said: “The one on Alvaro is very clear, a penalty and red card. Jake is the same — he is pulled in the box. If the referee did not see it then he cannot give it.”
Rowett insisted: “Two penalties? Blimey I don’t think he should have had one. If you are the home manager and not created many chances that’s what you say.”
There is nothing a football fan likes better than to see a homegrown player make it and it was two of their own who caught the eye for Birmingham. Jude Bellingham is just 16 and a midfielder in perpetual motion.
It is not often you hear a crowd gasp but one moment of skill produced exactly that reaction, the only shame being that it did not result in a goal because Bartosz Bialkowski pushed aside Ivan Sunjic’s long-range effort.
The new No.1 in Birmingham’s goal is another local product. Just 23, Connal Trueman has stepped up to the plate and how. When Jed Wallace robbed Fran Villalba and pinged over a cross, it had goal written all over it.
But Trueman managed to get down to Matt Smith’s header then pushed out Ben Thompson’s volley.