Birmingham City’s 3-0 loss to promotion rivals Millwall at The Den was a stark reminder of the unforgiving nature of the Championship, according to manager Chris Davies. The Blues were comprehensively outplayed in a tough encounter where nearly everything went against them.
Davies openly acknowledged his team were clearly second best on the night. Millwall’s opening goal, a spectacular strike from Femi Azeez, set the tone early, followed by further goals from Tristan Crama and Jake Cooper. The heavy defeat was compounded by Jhon Solis receiving a red card in the second half, further deepening Birmingham’s woes.
“We didn’t do enough to earn anything from that match,” Davies admitted. “Millwall’s direct style—long balls, throw-ins, and free-kicks—saw us second best more often than not. When that happens, you’re unlikely to get a result.”
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Describing the first goal as perhaps the best he’s witnessed all season, Davies lamented the sloppy error that led to the second, making the uphill battle even tougher. “We had some decent moments moving the ball forward, but we struggled with the bouncing balls, and that cost us.”
At halftime, Davies hoped to keep the scoreline manageable to mount a comeback. Instead, an early second-half set-piece goal and the subsequent red card to Solis sealed their fate. Despite the setbacks, Davies praised his players’ resilience, noting, “We didn’t buckle. We stayed resolute to keep the score at 3-0.”
He also highlighted the defeat as a lesson on the rigors of the league: “It was a timely reminder for the players about how tough this league is and the effort required to earn every point.”
Regarding Solis, who was sent off for a second bookable offense following a clumsy challenge in midfield, Davies expressed understanding and confidence in the young player’s growth. “He’s been impressive, playing more than expected. He’s new to the league, and you see the support he has from our fans. He must be cautious when on a yellow card, but he’ll learn from this experience. That’s part of his development.”
Solis will miss the upcoming match against Middlesbrough due to the suspension from this red card.