STOKE CITY BIRMINGHAM CHE HAS ’EM BEAT Monk’s hearty heroes set pulses racing
GARRY MONK hailed a performance “full of heart and pure spirit” as his Birmingham side snatched three points with a late winner.
Che Adams’ fourth goal of the season helped the Blues leapfrog their hosts in the table – and secure bragging rights over former boss Gary Rowett.
Adams stretched well to fire home a cross from strike partner Lukas Jutkiewicz nine minutes from time to send 3,200 supporters home jubilant.
Rowett’s miserable day was completed when he was sent off for complaining about two late penalty claims rejected by ref Roger East. He said: “I’ve seen the first again and it isn’t. But the second one the player puts both hands out to the side.
“When you’re two yards away you’re purposely putting your hands out to block the ball. It’s a blatant penalty.”
Rowett insisted he wasn’t abusive: “If I’ve been abusive, sworn at the referee or said something out of order I think I’m honest enough to admit it,” he said. “But I didn’t, I said it’s two handballs.
“The referee sent me off and told me I said something completely different so it will be my word against his and of course they’ll take his side.”
Rowett had never lost in three games against the team which controversially sacked him two years ago and his team almost salvaged a point with a late rally, most notably when Joe Allen turned on substitute Peter Crouch’s knockdown and the ball appeared to hit Jutkiewicz’s hand near the line.
Monk (above, left) said he didn’t see the penalty claims and didn’t realise Rowett (right) had been sent off.
“It’s a huge three points considering who we’re playing against away from home,” Monk said.
“One of, if not the best, quality squads in this league.
“I thought it was a performance full of heart and pure spirit, good organisation and when we got our moment we were clinical.
“We got the goal, Crouch comes on and you expect some direct balls and scrambles in the box but I thought the way we put our bodies on the line and stayed focused meant we got what we deserved.”
The game burst into life in the second half in front of more than 28,000 fans. Bojan came closest in the first half, a snapshot from the edge of the area bringing an acrobatic save from Lee Camp. Stoke keeper Jack Butland saved from midfielder Connor Mahoney in the second period while Allen volleyed over from Tom Ince’s cross.
Birmingham right-back Maxime Colin then burst into the box and rattled the underside of the bar with a superb drive with Butland helpless.
The visitors would grab the win, though, as Jacques Maghoma played in Jutkiewicz down the left and his low cross was buried by Adams.