Chris Davies admits Birmingham City’s 10 changes contributed to their defeat to Port Vale – but he doesn’t want to use it as an excuse.
Phil Neumann was the only player to keep his place from Saturday’s victory over Oxford United and Blues suffered a shock at the hands of winless League One side Vale.
Jaheim Headley netted the only goal of the game shortly before half-time and Blues never threatened to muster up a response.
Reflecting on his third home defeat as Blues manager, Davies said: “I think we suffered tonight because ultimately we couldn’t create enough chances with all the possession and dominance we had.
“They scored a goal which was really poor from our point of view, but we just couldn’t find our normal rhythm and intensity with the ball to create enough pressure and chances which we have done so many times here. It’s cost us the game.”
Davies handed new signings Marvin Ducksch, Kanya Fujimoto and Lewis Koumas their debuts against Vale and rested several of his big guns ahead of Friday’s Championship clash with Leicester City.
The result was a disjointed performance.
Davies added: “That’s quite clearly one of the main catalysts for being less fluid. We had a lot of changes there and a lot of new players come in, even the ones that have been here haven’t had a lot of football, some of them.
“It’s not an excuse and I certainly don’t expect the players to be using it as an excuse but we definitely lacked our normal rhythm and fluidity.
“With three games in a week, as we’ve had this week, it was important that we tried to freshen up and have enough energy for what’s ahead.”
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