Birmingham City manager Chris Davies has acknowledged that Marvin Ducksch may have faced a tough challenge at Middlesbrough, as the striker couldn’t replicate his impressive form from recent home games.
Ducksch, recently returned to full fitness, played a key role in Birmingham’s consecutive wins over Portsmouth and Millwall, earning his place in the starting line-up for a third straight match – a first this season for Davies. However, at Riverside Stadium, the German forward found it difficult to influence the game.
“The opposition shifted to a back five early on after an injury to Dael Fry, which disrupted our ability to find and link up with Marvin,” Davies explained. “He had some moments with the ball but couldn’t really get into the flow of the match. It was his third game in a week, and although he tried hard, the team couldn’t provide the service he needed.”
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Despite the setback, Davies praised Ducksch for his determination and fitness progress. “He’s had a really good week getting back to full fitness, which is vital for us because he is a very good player,” Davies added.
Ducksch was substituted before the hour mark, making way for Kyogo Furuhashi as Birmingham sought to change the rhythm of the game. The team now faces a two-week break until their next Championship clash against Norwich City on November 22.