GOING UP IS A BEST-KASE SCENARIO
Ayala says booked rival Adams did NOT try to con ref with dive
Adams Wing Assombalonga
MIDDLESBROUGH star Daniel Ayala cleared rival Che Adams of diving and labelled his yellow card for simulation as “harsh”.
The Birmingham forward was booked by referee Graham Scott after tumbling under an Ayala challenge, much to the relief of Boro’s Spanish defender who feared he had conceded a penalty.
Ayala admitted: “He touched the ball twice and I know he touched my leg, but I was already on the floor so I think it was 50-50 as to whether the referee gave a penalty.
“I thought he had given the penalty to be honest. I was just relieved.
“The referee could or could not have given it. I just wanted to tackle. I just wanted to block the shot.
“I was surprised when he showed their player the yellow card. Personally, I wouldn’t have given a yellow. It was harsh. It wasn’t a foul by me, but there was contact there so I don’t think it was a dive.”
The incident occurred with Birmingham a goal behind to Lewis Wing’s strike.
But Adams made up for it with a second-half equaliser, before Wing set up Boro frontman Britt Assombalonga for the winner.
Adams has 13 goals for the season now and Birmingham team-mate Kristian Pedersen reckons his pal can hit 20.
He also backed him to play at a higher level before long. Danish defender Pedersen, who made two vital goal-line clearances, said: “Che is very important for us. He makes the goals and is the difference for us at the moment. He is a top player and I’m sure he can play on a higher stage.
“So we just have to enjoy him while we can. The potential he has is starting to grow to a high level.”
While Boro have picked up points on their travels this season, they have struggled at the Riverside with just two wins since September.
But Ayala has seen signs REF: that fortunes could be about to change, adding: “We have to put that right and we will. We’ve got a lot of confidence in ourselves. We need to keep the crowd on our side.”
BIRMINGHAM: MIDDLESBROUGH: MOTM ATT: LEWIS WING (MIDDLESBROUGH) KASEY PALMER will consider a permanent move to Bristol City if his loan spell from Chelsea proves a success.
The 22-year-old midfielder couldn’t have made a better start, scoring what proved the winning goal within five minutes of making his debut as a substitute.
Some eye-catching runs in the final half-hour had Ashton Gate fans chanting Palmer’s name as their team moved to within two points of the Championship play-off zone. Later he talked of history repeating itself, having helped Huddersfield Town reach the Premier League during a loan there two seasons ago.
“I can definitely see similarities between that squad and the one I have just joined,” said Palmer. “It is the same sort of group in terms of being young, energetic and enthusiastic. If we keep working hard and don’t get carried away I think we can reach the play-offs.
“There have been some discussions about a permanent move. Would I consider it? One hundred per cent.”
Bolton were leading undeservedly through Will Buckley’s 58th-minute header when City head coach Lee Johnson made a triple change just beyond the hour mark, sending on Palmer, Matty Taylor (above) and Jay Dasilva.
By the 66th minute the match had been transformed, Taylor beating Ben Alnwick at his near post with a low drive for the equaliser and then setting up Palmer to head home.
Bolton boss Phil Parkinson admitted: “Their substitutions changed the game. We rode our luck at times.”
BRISTOL CITY: BOLTON WANDERERS:
MATCH STATS
MOTM ADAM WEBSTER (BRISTOL CITY)