Birmingham City are in a rut away from home after winning just two of their dozen matches on the road
Christoph Klarer(Image: Getty Images)
Christoph Klarer has told his Birmingham City team-mates they need to be ‘stronger’ and has apologised for the team’s performance in the 3-0 loss at Sheffield United.
Blues have shown real frailty on the road this season, managing just two wins and eight points from 12 games.
However, the feeling at the weekend was the self-inflicted nature of the reverse at Bramall Lane was a new low for a side that is so strong on home turf.
Speaking to Blues TV after the game, which included a horror set-piece goal, a red card and a gift to put the Blades 2-0 up inside the first half hour, the captain did not hide away from Blues’ shortcomings
“We can’t deny that we haven’t been good enough away from home, we put a lot of pressure on us to be perfect at home and when we can’t do that it puts us under pressure as a team,” the defender said.
“We need to improve, we need to improve quick. We need to be stronger, mentally and physically away from home to try and turn it round.
“Today is going to hurt for a few days and we need to definitely be better against Derby.
“It’s disappointing for us, it really hurts us in the changing room to see that many people travel every few days and to send them home disappointed after we couldn’t win or give them a result.
“We apologise as a team and we will try to be better in the New Year, for sure.”
That echoes Chris Davies’ criticism at the weekend, with the manager saying: “They are incredible fans, they travel long and far to support the team, the away end is always packed and unfortunately this season we just haven’t given them enough joy.
“I am thankful to them, the vast majority are really supportive clapping the boys off you can’t really ask for better fans. It’s a difficult day for us all
“We have to stay together, that’s what football clubs have to do, if you are just going to be together in the good, not the bad, then it is not going to get you very far.
“We have to stick together. We have got three home games in the next four let’s see if we can climb this table.”
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