Boss reveals Birmingham defender apologised for QPR goal

Birmingham boss Gary Rowett bemoaned the defensive lapse which meant his side had to settle for a point against QPR.

The Blues maintained their unbeaten away league record this season by drawing 1-1 at Loftus Road, where Lukas Jutkiewicz’s 23rd-minute goal put them ahead.

Rangers levelled six minutes before half-time when Steven Caulker got away from Ryan Shotton to head home Tjaronn Chery’s right-wing corner.

Rowett said: “‘Shots’ lost his man. He apologised to the other lads at half-time. He just switched off for a second and didn’t get tight.

“We knew QPR, given that they’re under pressure after recent results, might go a little bit more direct and put balls in to make us defend.

“That’s what they did and they made a really aggressive start, but we settled into the game very well.

“I felt we were fairly comfortable, and we scored, but it was very disappointing that we then allowed them to get into an area to get a corner and then score.”

Rangers, recently beaten 6-0 at home by Newcastle and now having one just one of their last seven games, were much improved after the interval.

Rowett admitted: “In the second half we had to weather it a bit. It was a combination of QPR’s desperation to get that win they’re looking for and us being poor.

“There was a little bit of pressure we had to deal with but sometimes you have to do that away from home.”