‘I’d be surprised…’ – Birmingham City boss Chris Davies lets loose after Ipswich Town controversy

‘I’d be surprised…’ – Birmingham City boss Chris Davies lets loose after Ipswich Town controversy

Chris Davies Speaks Out After Controversial Draw Between Birmingham City and Ipswich Town

Birmingham City manager Chris Davies didn’t mince words following his team’s dramatic 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town on Friday night.

Davies felt his side were hard done by two contentious refereeing decisions that ultimately denied them a deserved victory in their Championship opener at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park.

The Blues appeared on track to start the new season with three points after a dominant display against one of the promotion favourites. However, deep into stoppage time, Ipswich were awarded a debatable penalty—despite it being their first shot on target all game.

Substitute Lyndon Dykes, who had replaced goalscorer Jay Stansfield late on, was penalised for handball after Ipswich defender Jacob Greaves headed a cross back into the box.

While the ball clearly made contact with Dykes’ hand, his arms were raised in a natural jumping motion, and the distance was minimal—leading to strong protests from the home side.

The penalty decision wasn’t the only controversial moment. Just seven minutes into the match, debutant Kyogo Furuhashi looked to have made a dream start by scoring a sublime lob over Ipswich goalkeeper Alex Palmer from 25 yards. St Andrew’s erupted—only for the goal to be ruled out for a foul. The referee penalised Kyogo for a challenge on Greaves in the build-up, though the contact appeared minimal, and many felt it was a harsh decision.

Davies Disappointed by Late Penalty Call

Davies was visibly upset after the final whistle, particularly by the nature and timing of Ipswich’s equaliser. Known for holding his team accountable when mistakes are made, Davies felt this result was taken out of their hands.

“That was really, really harsh,” he said of the penalty decision. “He’s jumping, and of course his arms are raised—it just grazes his fingers. It’s a big call and I’d be surprised if most people didn’t think it was harsh.”

“Unfortunately, that’s football. It had a huge impact because we were leading with only minutes left. But we have to move on.”

Frustration Over Kyogo’s Disallowed Goal

Davies also expressed disappointment over the disallowed goal early in the match, questioning the decision to penalise Kyogo for what appeared to be a routine physical contest.

“Again, I thought it was harsh,” Davies said. “Just look at Kyogo—he’s not exactly towering over defenders. The size difference between him and the centre-back makes it hard to see how that’s a foul.”

Despite the call, Davies was impressed by Kyogo’s debut performance. “He showed what he’s capable of. His movement, his intelligence, his speed—it was a very encouraging display.”

Positives to Take from the Performance

While the result was hard to swallow, Davies chose to focus on the positives. Birmingham produced a strong, spirited performance, answering critics and showing signs of promise for the season ahead.

“I was proud of the performance and the attitude,” Davies said. “It was all about how we approached the occasion, especially against a side of Ipswich’s quality. That’s what I’ll take away from it.”