FA Cup: Gary Rowett pleased with Birmingham's comeback at Blyth Spartans
Saturday 3 January 2015 20:19, UK
Birmingham City boss Gary Rowett admits he was relying on experience to shine through at non-league Blyth to get them past a potential FA Cup banana skin.
The Sky Bet Championship club had been overwhelming favourites to ease past the Northern Premier League outfit, but found themselves two goals down at half-time against a side ranked 120 places below them.
But while many managers would have read the riot act to their players during the interval, the Blues manager decided to keep his cool as his side eventually ran out 3-2 winners on Saturday.
"I hoped our experience would tell and I didn't need to give them a rocket at half time,” Rowett said. “I didn't throw anything and I was quite placid.
“To be honest, the players gave themselves a rocket and you saw the result.
"We had a goal chalked off and Zigic missed a simple chance so you could argue we might have been two goals ahead, but their goals were good goals from their point of view.
“I thought they were absolutely brilliant and this is what the FA Cup is about - a team from down the non-league pyramid having a day like this.”
Lee Novak sparked Birmingham's revival before two goals in as many minutes by Wes Thomas gave the Blues victory, much to the disappointment of Blyth boss Tom Wade.
"I thought we deserved to win,” Wade said. “But they had 12 minutes of total dominance and that made the difference in the end."
"Obviously we're disappointed but if someone had said before the game we were going to lose 3-2 and have a chance in the final minute we might have taken it.
"It's a proud day for Blyth as a club and a town and days like today just underline to me how much of a pleasure it is being manager of such a great club.”
The part-timers had been given genuine hope of causing an upset thanks to a brace from Robert Dale - who now has to return to his day job of working in a nearby pub.
"I am due to open up at half past eleven on Sunday morning,” the striker said.
"I asked the gaffer if I could do a shorter shift because I don't know what mood I will be in today and after a couple of goals I am planning to have a good night!"
