Friday September 03, 2021 |
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BIRMINGHAM have immediately turned their attentions to Wednesday’s big home meeting with Redcar after being pegged back to a 45-45 draw at Edinburgh.
The two points gained, despite being 10-points ahead at one stage, help their cause in making a late push for a play-off place with six of the 11 clubs qualifying.
And victory against the Teesside outfit on Wednesday will be crucial to keep their bid on track.
But boss Laurence Rogers says the result felt more like a defeat and claims his team were robbed by a Heat 15 exclusion by referee Jim McGregor.
“To put it simply we were robbed,” he said. “Erik Riss was thrown out of Heat 15 when people I spoke to, Edinburgh fans and indeed another referee in attendance said it should have been all four back.
“Everyone was completely stunned by the decision and it feels like a defeat.
“I’m still trying to work out how he came to that conclusion now.
“It means we need everyone down at Perry Barr on Wednesday, we have to beat Redcar to keep our run going.”
Chris Harris was the last heat hero for the Perry Barr men as he claimed second place to salvage a draw when the Monarchs were on a 5-1 which would have stolen victory for the home side.
There was controversy with a ragged start in heat 13 being allowed to go and then came the tense decider.
Birmingham led by two points going in to the last heat. Masters and Pickering gated ahead but Chris Harris cleverly went straight for the outside to grab second and force a draw.
EDINBURGH 45: Sam Masters 15+1, Josh Pickering 15+1, Drew Kemp 10+2, Kye Thomson 4+1, Anders Rowe 1, Archie Freeman 0, Richie Worrall r/r.
BIRMINGHAM 45: Chris Harris 10+1, Jack Thomas 10+1, Erik Riss 9+1, Paco Castagna 8+3, Ashley Morris 8+1, James Shanes 0, Valentin Grobauer r/r.
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