Birmingham City manager Chris Davies was left to rue a pivotal missed opportunity from striker Kyogo Furuhashi as his side's struggles continued with a 3-1 defeat away to Southampton in the Championship.
A Golden Chance Goes Begging
Introduced as a 59th-minute substitute at St Mary's, the Japanese forward was presented with a golden opportunity to spark a late comeback. With the score at 2-1, a header from teammate Jack Robinson struck the post and fell perfectly to Kyogo, just six yards from an unguarded net with Saints goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu on the ground. However, the summer signing could not convert, squandering the chance to level the match.
"It's a big moment, no doubt," Davies admitted in his post-match reaction. "He knows that. It's come back to him and if that goes in you've got another 20 minutes with the goal deficit. It's a big moment and there were a few around their goal that we couldn't quite convert."
Drought and Defensive Lapses Persist
The costly miss means Kyogo has now failed to score in any of his 16 Championship appearances this season, extending a frustrating goal drought for the high-profile acquisition. Yet, Davies pointed to a more systemic issue that has plagued his team's campaign: a consistently slow start to matches.
For the ninth time this season, Birmingham conceded the first goal, with eight of those concessions coming in the first half. Southampton's Finn Azaz and Adam Armstrong capitalised on a sluggish Blues opening, putting the hosts 2-0 up inside just 24 minutes. Jordan James pulled one back for Birmingham before the break, but the damage was already done.
"We've just had slow starts and it's cost us," Davies analysed. "Bristol City was another one where we've conceded in the first half and there's a bit to do to come back. When there's one goal in it the game is alive and you can take something with a point but when there's a two-goal margin it becomes a lot harder."
Looking Ahead
The result leaves Birmingham City with ongoing questions at both ends of the pitch. While the search for a solution to Kyogo's barren run in front of goal is urgent, addressing the team's persistent habit of giving away early advantages is equally critical for Davies. The manager's task is now to reignite his striker's confidence and instil greater resilience from the first whistle if Birmingham are to reverse their fortunes in the league.
