Blues hit by Fred express
ONYEDINMA’S ON TARGET FOR LIONS
STEVE COTTERILL has got to drag Birmingham out of a derby hangover or the club’s fans will have to suffer an even bigger blow to their pride.
A week after hated local rivals Aston Villa ended their unbeaten run, Blues went down again as Millwall substitute Fred Onyedinma snatched a late goal.
And it was the culmination of an afternoon when their fans and players all seemed scarred by the disappointment of what happened a week earlier.
“We looked flat, our performance was quiet, and the ground was quiet,” admitted Birmingham boss Cotterill (right).
“I’m not blaming the supporters, they pay to come and watch us and not the other way round and we have to give them more tempo in the game.
“Was it a hangover from the derby? Maybe, I don’t know. I’ve just not seen that sort of reaction in training in the last couple of days, but for whatever reason we didn’t get any zip or tempo into our game.
“I didn’t think we deserved to lose, but then again we didn’t deserve to win it.”
Cotterill took over a tough job when he walked into a disjointed St Andrew’s earlier in the season and has started making inroads – but admitted: “We’ve got to look to get on another good run.”
He was criticised by fans last week for not making substitutions earlier. This time he did try to get on the front foot, bringing on Jota for Jason Lowe at halftime, but ironically it simply gave Millwall some room to play.
And after a first half that Birmingham had dominated – without making much more in the way of chances – they showed their threat with Steve Morison going close. Blues claimed they should have had a penalty when Jacques Maghoma clashed with James Meredith, but it wasn’t until the 92nd minute that Jordan Archer had to make a proper save when he kept out Craig Gardner’s free-kick.
The lack of tempo didn’t only cost Birmingham going forward it was their undoing for the winning goal too. Keeper David Stockdale had the ball but no outfield player showed to take it from him, and he ended kicking possession away – only for it to be returned to Onyedinma.
The 21-year-old worked some space and although Stockdale saved his first effort the rebound landed for him to tuck away his first goal in the Championship.
“I’m pleased for him and that will build his confidence,” said Lions boss Neil Harris, whose side are now unbeaten in the league since New Year’s Day.
“He is an athlete, a super young player who came through my youth team and I thought he changed the outcome of this game.
“He was always a goal-scorer as a kid and he got half a dozen in our promotion campaign last year so hopefully this will help him to kick on some more.”