Birmingham City’s groundsman had a nightmare pre-season, having to call in emergency repairs just days before the season started.
The Blues have returned to the Championship following their point-record League One title winning campaign, with Chris Davies’ squad being significantly boosted during the transfer window afterwards.
As a result, Birmingham have a had a solid start to the season, only falling to defeat against Leicester City in the final game before the international break.
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But it turns out Leicester weren’t the first Foxes to wind those at St Andrew’s up this campaign.
Jay Stansfield of Birmingham City celebrates his goal against Ipswich Town
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Foxes ripped up the St Andrew’s pitch less than a week before Ipswich Town opener
It turns out emergency repairs had to be carried out on a section of Birmingham’s pitch due to an unexpected visit from local foxes.
The club’s head groundsman, Chris Long, confirmed foxes got into the stadium and ripped up the turf after being lured in by the scent of blood after Tommy Fogarty suffered a head injury in the rearranged friendly with Solihull Moors.
Speaking to Blues+, he said: “When we played Solihull Moors in the friendly game we had a head injury which left blood on the pitch. On Monday morning, we’re coming through Arthur’s Area there and there was just a huge gaping hole and sand pit.
“Where the head injury was, they obviously got a scent of the blood. My heart dropped considerably because we had obviously got the Forest game on the Saturday. Tidied it up and two days later they came back and dug it up again. We ended up going with a thick plastic carpet with fibres woven into it to replicate a stitch pitch like the one we’ve got and I think, touch wood, we have got over the issue.”
Birmingham’s season opener against Ipswich came just six days after the Forest friendly, but luckily all was fine with the pitch.
Birmingham City wait to see if Demarai Gray is fit for Stoke City
One player who featured in those opening clashes was summer signing and boyhood Blues man Demarai Gray.
Gray has been out of action this international break due to injury, missing Jamaica’s World Cup qualifiers against Bermuda and Trinidad and Tobago as a result – but he still heaped praise on Jordan Gibson for his goal against Bradford City.
It remains to be seen if he is fit for this weekend’s Championship clash at Stoke City.
Birmingham City v Oxford United - Sky Bet Championship
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He plays an important role in Chris Davies’ side, registering two assists in all competitions so far and receiving the most progressive passes (29) out of the whole Blues team.