“Reading didn’t earn it” - Birmingham City’s Lee Bowyer’s reaction after 2-1 defeat

Lee Bowyer has criticised his side’s attacking display during Birmingham City’s 2-1 loss to Reading at the Madejski Stadium last night (22 February).

After a tame first-half, Reading went ahead with two goals in six minutes through Lucas Joao and a John Swift penalty.

Blues staged a late rally and gained reward from a Tom McIntyre own goal, but Reading held on for a first win in 11 home matches to move eight points clear of the relegation zone.

The defeat leaves City in 18th place in the Championship, and frustrated Bowyer criticised his team’s performance.

The Blues boss, said: “It was the same old things again. We weren’t ruthless enough in the final third.

“I don’t know how many times we got in and around their goal in the first half – it must have been at least six. We just needed to make the right pass.

“But it kept happening all night long. We just didn’t take care enough. So many passes went across the face of their goal but no one was gambling for the tap-in.

“We were just so poor in that final third tonight and I don’t know why. It’s so frustrating.

“We were on the front foot in the second half and had Reading pinned in. Then we stopped doing that.”

Bowyer added: “It seemed too easy and then we started to complicate the game. And then we get caught twice in the middle of the park.

“They go bang, bang – a goal and then a penalty.

“Reading didn’t earn it tonight, we gifted it to them. That has happened again, we gave it to them.”

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