‘Wrong decision’ leaves Birmingham City boss furious

Boss Garry Monk believes Birmingham were the victims of an injustice as his 10 men scrapped for a hard-earned point at free-scoring Brentford.

The Blues chief was sent to the stands after reacting when Maikel Kieftenbeld saw red for what Monk insisted was little more than a “coming-together” with Neal Maupay in front of the dugouts at Griffin Park.

“It happened right in front of me and it was completely the wrong decision,” Monk said. “I thought the opposition player would be booked for feigning injury so to see a red card was a complete shock.

“After 23 years in football I know something when I see it, but I don’t want to talk about that because the main part is my players who showed unbelievable character against the second highest scorers in the league.”

Josh McEachran’s first senior goal cancelled out Birmingham defender Michael Morrison’s opener in a game where the visitors’ defence showed great resilience.

Monk said: “Brentford are a fantastic team but we more than matched them. We took control of the first half and took the lead and their goal came against the run of play. To come here and weather the first 15 minutes and then defend like we did with 10 men makes it a very good point for us.”

Monk says he will appeal the Kieftenbeld sending-off, awarded after the fourth official’s intervention, “because it was 100 per cent not a red card”.

“It was a coming-together that didn’t warrant the reaction it got, but the main part is what the players did before and after that,” Monk said.