Birmingham City sealed a 1-1 draw with Reading in their opening League One match on Saturday evening
Birmingham City’s push for promotion from League One started slowly, earning just a draw on the first day against Reading.
The Blues were lucky to secure a point thanks to a questionable penalty that Alfie May skillfully converted, equalizing Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan’s first-half goal. Despite May’s penalty, which came just before three minutes of added time, Birmingham had opportunities to win the match.
For the majority of the game, Birmingham lacked the energy and intent they showed during pre-season. Although they controlled 74 percent of the possession, Reading appeared more threatening on the counter-attack for most of the match.
There’s work to be done, and patience will be essential.
Birmingham City have added 10 new players to their squad, with five of them starting against Reading. It’s natural to expect some initial difficulties as the team adapts, especially given that our pre-season performances may have raised our expectations.
This team is still in the process of learning to play together and will likely improve as the season progresses. On the other hand, Reading’s starting lineup consisted entirely of players who were with the club last season, benefiting from a full year under head coach Ruben Selles.
While Birmingham’s individual talent will eventually lead to positive results, it may take time for the team to become a consistently winning force. As Davies noted: “We can’t just wait for everything to come together and assume it will take too long. We need to build a core group of players and be very consistent in our approach.”
“My main feeling today is that we’ve made a start, secured a point, and demonstrated good character in our comeback.”
Hansson responds strongly
As anticipated, Siriki Dembele got the nod to start on the left wing, pushing Emil Hansson to the bench. Dembele’s performances in the final two pre-season matches and in training, where Davies closely evaluates his players, earned him the starting role.
However, Dembele’s performance was not what Davies had hoped for. He was inconsistent and ineffective on the left wing, leading to Hansson replacing him at halftime.
In contrast, Hansson made a significant impact. He was direct and influential, consistently seeking to create opportunities whenever he had the ball. It was no surprise that Hansson played a crucial role in getting Blues back into the game by winning a penalty off Lewis Wing’s arm.
Let’s discuss the depth of the squad…
Birmingham City’s strength in depth was evident in the final moments of the game. They had the luxury of bringing on players like Hansson, Luke Harris, Keshi Anderson, Brandon Khela, and Lukas Jutkiewicz, while Reading lacked such quality in their reserves.
The abundance of talent at Davies’ disposal means that Blues will be envied by other managers. It gives Davies the flexibility to make in-game substitutions without weakening the team.
Davies will likely appreciate the advantage of the five-sub rule, unlike many of his League One counterparts. However, the limitation of an 18-man squad may present a challenge for Blues.
But there are challenges…
On Saturday, Tyler Roberts was the 19th player in Blues’ squad. Despite having played in the Premier League two years ago and making a significant impact in League One with Walsall at 18, he didn’t make the cut.
Youngsters George Hall and Romelle Donovan were also left out. Davies opted for academy graduate Brandon Khela instead, valuing his versatility after a strong pre-season where he played various defensive roles despite being a midfielder.
Injured players like Lee Buchanan and Alfie Chang, along with new signing Ayumu Yokoyama, will also need to be accommodated. As the season progresses, Davies will face the challenge of managing a large squad and keeping it harmonious, especially when high-profile players are left out of the matchday squad.