Chris Davies admits particular Birmingham City scenario 'wasn't ideal'

Blues’ head coach was forced to watch the 1-0 win over the Terriers from afar as he served his one-match touchline suspension for picking up three yellow cards early on in the season.

Davies has taken the step to management like a duck to water in terms of results but he’s still getting to grips with the temperament side. The former Tottenham Hotspur and Celtic assistant manager has displayed plenty of passion in the dugout during his first games in charge, particularly when opponents have blatantly time-wasted.

Bookings have racked up as a result, though, and Davies figured out the hard way that touchline bans can have a negative impact. Birmingham still beat Huddersfield - and it was a more comfortable win than the 1-0 scoreline suggests - but Davies couldn’t stand the experience of being so far away from the action.

“It wasn’t very good! I didn’t like it. It wasn’t something I wanted, I was up in the stand in the first half and somewhere else in the second,” Davies told BirminghamWorld in the post-match press conference.

“It wasn’t ideal but the staff did a great job down on the touchline and on the bench. Ultimately it’s down to the players on the pitch to make an impact and they handled it pretty well, but I’m looking forward to getting back on the touchline for the next game!”

Many may wonder exactly how it works when a manager is forced to sit in the stands. Can they talk to the coaches? Are there still team talks as usual? Do they make the substitutions?

Davies, when quizzed on these topics, added: “I’m in constant contact with them (the coaching staff) on the phone when I’m away from the bench, which is pretty handy.

“We’re all aligned. It’s all about being recognisable. We train a certain way and prepare a certain way, we’ve got a style of football that all the coaches are in tune with. We’re all aligned together so it’s not too difficult for them to deliver the same message as me.”