Birmingham Chris Davies says Middlesbrough offered what he expected them to, even with Rob Edwards not in charge of the game - though he conceded the saga galvanised the team in their 2-1 victory.
There was a raucous atmosphere inside the Riverside on Saturday as Boro won with the backdrop being Edwards’ future. The 48 hours ahead of the game were dominated by uncertainty in the 42-year-old head coach’s future amid Wolves’ interest.
A little under two hours before kick-off, a club statement made clear the disappointment as they granted the Premier League club permission to speak to Edwards, with his assistants Adi Viveash and Harry Watling joined by academy boss Craig Liddle to take charge of the game. Rather than throw up any tactical surprises though, instead, Davies said he could feel how it provided everyone at Boro with an energy lift.
Asked if it was difficult to prepare for Boro, Davies said: “I suppose so, but I think the two shapes they played were the two shapes we’d prepared for. They played three in the end but the first two were the two we prepared for, and their style of play was pretty similar.
“Based on what I’ve seen from them, I think we did really disrupt them. They normally get on the ball and control in midfield I was pleased with the football side but you’re never quite sure how that has impact the club, the last 24 hours.
“ut you can see the fans were galvanised by what’s been happening. And they had something to hang on to after scoring just before half-time.”
Dael Fry and Hayden Hackney scored the goals that earned Boro their victory, though they required fellow Teessider Sol Brynn to make some important saves during the game. Davies felt his side deserved at least a point after. doing more than enough i the game.
"Looking at it overall, I think we deserved something from the match," he said. "We just couldn’t get the last touch, the last finish, but we created enough and had enough possession and territory, everything you’d want in a game. We were the better team I felt in terms of the dominance.
WThe first goal is a set-piece, it’s never nice to concede from a corner. It always feels very preventable. The second goal was really disheartening because it gave them something to hang on to. It was a disappointing goal to concede and the timing of it gave them a lift before half-time.
"We spoke a lot in the lead-up to the match about away mentality. Middlesbrough are one of the best teams in the league and have some very good midfield players who can get on the ball and control the game. But I never felt they did that. I thought we put them under a lot of pressure with our pressing game, we were aggressive and we controlled a lot of it.
"We probably had more chances than the home team. I think that’s one of our best away performances given it’s one of the best teams we’ve played away from home. I’m disappointed we didn’t get anything."