Chris Davies was left reeling at a number of ‘harsh’ decisions against Birmingham in the 1-1 draw with Ipswich on Friday night.
Davies expressed frustration over two refereeing decisions that cost his team a win, a stoppage-time penalty, awarded after Lyndon Dykes was deemed to have handled the ball, allowed George Hirst to level the scoreline.
Earlier, a goal by Kyogo Furuhashi was disallowed due to a foul on Jacob Greaves. Despite the disappointment, Davies was encouraged by Birmingham’s performance in their Championship opener.
Birmingham’s Chris Davies: “I was very, very happy with our performance. I thought we were the better team throughout the game, we were good with the ball but picked our moments to go forward.
“Defensively, we were very strong and aggressive, we didn’t lose that press that worked really well last season and to be the better team – and dominate a match like that against that level of opposition – is really encouraging for me and the players should take a lot of encouragement from it.
“It (late equaliser) does sting, because you’re so far into the game, the game is pretty much won and you’re seeing it out and then something like that happens.
“It’s football, these things happen, we have to take our medicine and move on.”
Davies has been speaking to Sky Sports: “It was a good game, I was really pleased with how we played and we’re disappointed with the penalty and to concede so late is a sore one.
“The penalty is harsh – you can go around all the games this weekend and you won’t see many like that given – over the course of the season you hope you get those ones back your way.
“We didn’t let them settle and the boys were really focused – we were really organised and switched-on – I could see already after the game so many positives.
“We won’t play many teams better than that and we’ve probably been the better side over the game.”
Davies said, per Birmingham Mail: “I thought it was really, really harsh. He’s gone up and obviously his arms are raised – you have to raise your arms to jump – and it’s scraped his fingers on the way down.
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“It’s really harsh. I would be surprised if anyone doesn’t have that opinion. That’s happened now, we just have to take it.
“It’s made a huge impact on the game because we were one-nil up with a couple of minutes to go. That’s football, it can happen.
“We were the better team, we dominated the match, and we deserved to win the game but for misfortune with a decision.
“We were good with the ball, I thought we showed good patience, we pressed well and switched the play well. We had moments around the box and defensively we were really strong – I don’t think they had a shot on target until the penalty.”
On Kyogo Furuhashi’s disallowed goal: “Again, I thought it was harsh. You only have to look at Kyogo to see the size of him compared to the centre-back. For me, that one looked harsh.
“The good news is that is what Kyogo is capable of. He was trying to make the right runs and was disciplined in his performance. I’m really happy with him.”
“That makes it ridiculous that decision” 😤
Chris Davies believes the penalty was ‘really really harsh’ 🔊 pic.twitter.com/7F1zDZVYIM
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) August 8, 2025
Speaking to TownTV, Kieran McKenna said: “It was a hard-fought game with not a lot of quality at times, which can happen on opening night with two teams who are intense. There were a lot of fouls and a lot of niggles and it never really settled.
“We probably had the better chances in the first half but there wasn’t much in it. The first goal is really important and they got it – we hadn’t done enough by that point to deserve to be ahead. It was an evenly-balanced game.
“We improved after the goal and it needed that. There are lots of lessons to take from the night and I’m sure we’ll play better. To go away on a Friday night with where we are with the group, for a game which felt like it has come very early for us, and get a late goal brings great positives.
“If we work in the right way on and off the pitch for the next few weeks then we’ll be even stronger for it. There’s definitely growth for us in terms of rhythm, confidence and connections to be the team we want to be.”
On Hirst: “It’s brilliant for him and important for the team.
“It was a pressure moment for sure, but he stepped up and hopefully it’s the first of many.”
On the travelling fans: “They were fantastic and it was great to see them after the game, with some of the new players seeing the support we have for the first time.
“In Azor’s case he was maybe feeling the atmosphere of English football for the first time and I’m sure he will have enjoyed the support he got from our supporters.
“It was a really big atmosphere for us to come into as a group, so to come through it with something at the end is a positive.”
“We know we have a lot of work to do” 💪
Kieran McKenna says Ipswich are a long way off where they could be this season 📈 pic.twitter.com/XV1IfTyasB
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) August 8, 2025
Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna speaking to Sky Sports: “It was a really tough game. It was always going to be that on the opening night. There wasn’t much in the game; we didn’t impose ourselves.
“It is still early for the group; we improved after the goal. The boys kept going; late goals are good for any successful team.
“Their pressure was good. It is early for our group; we’ll get better if we do the right things. It gives us a base and we’ll play much better. We have work to do.
“It has been a short turnaround. Our squad needs to be stronger; we are a long way off where we could be.”
McKenna on altercation between the Birmingham fan and Jack Taylor: “It’ll be seen and reported and let’s see what happens.
“I think there might of been an incident with the crowd and one of the players, that wasn’t ideal. In terms of the players on the pitch emotions run high at those moments and it’s understandable.”
“The centre-half said it was a rubbish penalty in slightly different terms…”
George Hirst reacts to scoring an injury-time penalty to rescue a point for Ipswich 🔊 pic.twitter.com/ACb0gONAVl
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) August 8, 2025
Here’s how fans reacted with Chris Davies left reeling at ‘harsh’ decisions against Birmingham in the 1-1 draw with Ipswich…
@ClaireGib91: Never a pen… ref was a joke all game tbh. We played them off the park and should have won it. Still unbeaten at home from last season! Atmosphere was amazing! Didn’t hardly hear the tractor boys! Impressed with the new signings and all the team played our way! #bcfc
@aet060585: Ref ruined that game, we deserved that win, solid blues proud of you all, we play like that all season we’ll be hard to beat 🔥💙💙 @BCFC
@Bradley_AJ: The favourites to win the league had one shot on target in the 95th minute and caused no problems so I’d say it was a quality performance. A lot to be excited about for this season after watching that and I can’t wait
@F1JayyUK: Is this ref taking the piss?? Standard of refereeing is horrific as always in the championship #BCFC
@jamiejousiffe: I’m no @BCFC fan, but WTF. Ref has done them over there. Absolute joke @EFL sort this shitshow out. That ref needs to never be on a pitch again.
@prickettboy3: Good too read so many neutrals say it’s a pen. It is. You can criticise the rules all day but under the rules it’s a pen & whilst the ref had a shocker of an evening, he’s done well to see that and been brave enough to give it. #itfc
@Freddieniblett: I thought we were very good, maybe not unbelievable on the eye but we made Ipswich look absolutely bog average… a dodgy pen has robbed us of 3 points, top 6 minimum as far as I’m concerned
@rkhargreaves: Don’t put your hand up near/above your head when you’re not the keeper…it’s quite simple really.
@RCropper_: Kyogo, Stanno, Dimmy, BOS, Klara, Neumann, Paik, Iwata, Anderson & Cochrane were fucking unreal tonight. Kyogo’s disallowed goal gave me goose bumps 😂 he is going to be a fucking menace in the champ. We’re going up, no ifs, buts or maybes. #KRO #BCFC #SOTV
@Brookylad78: Definite pen that. I’d be mad if that wasn’t given for my team
@Jaybcfc8: Ref couldn’t wait to give it
@thegmugroup: The kind of stupid decision we seemed to have got given against us many times when we were last in the Championship
@PearcePear45729: Ref tried making the game all about him, some awful decisions. Wanted his name in lights
