Birmingham City referee 'got that one wrong' amid Wembley and Bolton updates
Birmingham City head to Bolton Wanderers this evening looking to extend their unbeaten run to 19 League One matches – and take another step closer to promotion to the Championship.
Victory tonight would put them 15 points clear of second-placed Wycombe Wanderers, depending on their result against Burton Albion, and 17 ahead of Wrexham who travel to Huddersfield United.
However, it will not be easy with Bolton fourth in the form table over the last eight games and with a solid home record.
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Steven Schumacher’s men are currently seventh and bang in the play-off hunt.
Trotters team news
Bolton could have defender Gethin Jones back in their squad to face Blues, while Schumacher is hopeful that strike duo Victor Adeboyejo and Kion Etete may still have a part to play in the run-in.
According to the Bolton website Adeboyejo saw a specialist on Monday for a further opinion on his knee injury, while loan man Etete is stepping up his rehabilitation from a thigh injury and could feature by the end of the month.
Seeing red
Birmingham City’s victory over Wycombe seemed to be going quite smoothly until defender Xavier Simons was sent off just before half-time.
The midfielder scythed down Ethan Laird after the right back escaped to the byeline, a tackle that saw Ben Toner wield a straight red card.
However, former FIFA referee Keith Hackett believes Toner made an error.
“It’s a reckless challenge but for me it doesn’t fulfil the requirements for serious foul play so the referee’s got it wrong,” Hackett told Football Insider.
“It’s a yellow for (being) reckless, it’s not serious foul play. If it was serious foul play he’d have to have excessive force.
“There’s a bit of that there but there’s no malice, there’s no brutality in that challenge. He’s made a challenge for the ball and he’s taken the man. Reckless.
“Yellow card, absolute nailed on yellow, he’s got that one wrong! If I were his club I’d appeal. He might not get off because you’re dependent on who’s on the panel.
“I think if a player looks at that and he’s on the panel he’s going to say that’s a yellow and not a red.”
Wembley Parking
Birmingham City supporter group Blues Trust have posted Wembley parking information on their website.
Blues face Peterborough United at the national stadium on Sunday, April 13, with tens of thousands of Bluenoses heading from all points of the globe. The Trust have informed fans of parking available at Wealdstone FC.
No doubts
Brandon Khela has been praised after finally breaking into the Bradford City line-up after his January loan move
The midfielder has had to wait nearly two months for his chance to play for the League Two outfit. The door finally opened the weekend before last and he has now started the last two games.
The City boss said: “Brandon’s a really good player who will do good things in his career and we’re delighted to have him,” Bantams boss Graham Alexander told the Telegraph and Argus.
“He has managed his frustration really well and how he behaves and acts. I’ve got no doubts about where he’s going to go in his career, so we’re delighted to have him right now.
“I had no qualms putting him into what I knew would be a tough game because of how he’s been and how he played on Saturday. He’s had to be patient but he’s another good player to be able to call upon.”
