Birmingham boss Garry Monk felt players were fearful in loss to QPR - 7M sport

Birmingham boss Garry Monk felt players were fearful in loss to QPR



Posted Sunday, April 29, 2018 by PA

Birmingham boss Garry Monk felt players were fearful in loss to QPR

Birmingham manager Garry Monk admitted his team played with fear in their 3-1 defeat at QPR.

Rangers came from behind after Che Adams’ goal, meaning Monk’s side will go into the final match of the Sky Bet Championship season with the threat of relegation still hanging over them.

They will go down if they lose at home to promotion-chasing Fulham and results elsewhere go against them.

Monk said: “We knew coming here we had the opportunity to secure our survival and that’s what we came with the intention to do.

“I was surprised in the sense that we played with a little bit of fear of the situation. I haven’t seen that from them.

“We’ve been meeting this challenge head-on, putting in our maximum on the pitch, and today we played with a little bit of fear which means you play within yourself and hope your team-mates are going to do something to get you out of it.

“We haven’t been approaching it like that, so it was quite strange to see it. But that’s what pressure can do. That’s what fear can do at certain times.”

Bright Osayi-Samuel equalised for Rangers and Ilias Chair put them ahead before Matt Smith’s injury-time goal sealed Birmingham’s fate.

Monk is hoping that home advantage will be all-important next Sunday.

He added: “It has been all along. We’ve been playing well there and we have to play how we’ve been playing.

“We’ll go onto that pitch with a full house, all the Blues fans behind us, and we’ll give our absolute maximum and meet it head-on.

“The situation is the same. It’s still in our hands. We’re disappointed but have no time to dwell on it.”

QPR boss Ian Holloway paid tribute to Jamie Mackie and skipper Nedum Onuoha, who will leave the club along with James Perch when their contracts expire this summer.

Both players were given rousing receptions when brought on as second-half substitutes.

Holloway said: “It’s a very emotional day for all of us. I’m so proud of my senior players and what they’ve done to help these younger lads.

“It was always going to be a situation where some of the old guard might have to leave in the end.

“I think the dignity they’ve shown and the way we’ve thanked them has been more than I could have hoped for.

“I want to thank them because this year has been tough but they’ve been wonderful behind the scenes.

“When you know you’ve got wonderful men and you might not be able to keep them at your company, it’s worth saying thanks.

“As Nedum said in his programme notes, nothing lasts forever. But hopefully he’ll remember that [send-off] because I’ll remember him and Jamie and all the people we won’t have next year.

“Can we now move the place forward? It’s a rebuilding process and I’m delighted with the potential we’ve got here.”

Tag:


Attention: Third parties may advertise their products and/or services on our website.7M does not warrant the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of their contents.
Your dealings with such third parties are solely between you and such third parties and we shall not be liable in any way for any loss or damage of any sort incurred by you.