Birmingham City captain Christoph Klarer has issued a frank apology to the club's supporters and demanded immediate improvement after a dismal 3-0 away defeat to Sheffield United.
A New Low on the Road
The heavy loss at Bramall Lane on the weekend highlighted a severe and persistent problem for Chris Davies's side: their chronic frailty away from St Andrew's. The defeat was characterised by self-inflicted wounds, including a calamitous set-piece goal conceded, a red card, and a defensive gift that allowed the Blades to race into a 2-0 lead inside the first half an hour.
This result leaves Birmingham with a deeply concerning away record for the campaign. From 12 matches on the road, they have managed just two victories, accumulating a mere eight points. The contrast with their strong home form has placed significant pressure on the squad.
Klarer's Honest Assessment
Speaking to Blues TV after the final whistle, defender Klarer did not shy away from the team's shortcomings. He acknowledged the collective failure and the hurt felt within the dressing room, particularly for the thousands of fans who make long journeys to follow the team.
"We can’t deny that we haven’t been good enough away from home," Klarer stated. "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."
He called for a rapid response, emphasising the need for greater resilience. "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."
Directly addressing the supporters, the captain added: "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... We apologise as a team and we will try to be better in the New Year, for sure."
Manager Echoes Captain's Sentiments
Klarer's comments were strongly echoed by manager Chris Davies, who praised the unwavering support of the travelling fans while lamenting the team's inability to reward them. "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," Davies said.
With the festive period offering a chance to reset, Davies stressed the importance of unity. "We have to stay together, that’s what football clubs have to do... We have got three home games in the next four let’s see if we can climb this table."
The immediate focus for Birmingham is their upcoming fixture against Derby County, where Klarer has insisted the team "need to definitely be better." The challenge of fixing their away-day blues, however, will define their season.
