Dave Challinor allays Birmingham City fears as Chris Davies' team loses League One leadership
Dave Challinor insists Birmingham City are still ‘the best team in the league’ despite holding Blues to a draw and costing them their place at the top of the table.
Blues left Edgeley Park slightly grateful to have held on to a 1-1 draw and after a second half examination in which their promotion credentials were severely tested.
Having taken an early lead through Aflie May, they were deservedly pegged back by a Macauley Southam-Hales equaliser. The same player than hit the post before Blues needed Christoph Klarer to prevent Kyle Wootton from rolling into an empty net.
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Wycombe’s dramatic win over Exeter saw them leapfrog Blues at the summit, although Chris Davies’ men still have a game in hand.
As for Challinor, he was impressed with his side’s efforts. “I’m delighted with our performance against, in my opinion, the best team in the league,” he said. “I’d question whether there was a foul on the edge of the box but what a brilliant response. Today was a massive test of our belief, seeing what we could do in the game.
“From the off we probably lacked a little bit there and doubted ourselves. And I said, if you’re going to challenge or change people’s beliefs then you have to go and be positive. And we battled and tackled, and made people think we’re up for it.
“We should have won the game but we’ve got more from the game and that second 45 minutes that, for me, is far more valuable than extra two points.
“We’ve performed really well in our last two games and not got what we’ve deserved in terms of our points return. You see the players give everything they’ve got and belief around the stadium increased. And that’s credit to the players, and the supporters for really jumping along with it.
“The atmosphere off the pitch in the stands is guided by what we do on the pitch, and we have to be in control of that. If we can reach the level we had in that second half on a consistent basis, then we’ll be absolutely fine.”
