Birmingham City manager Chris Davies has delivered a frank assessment of his team's disciplinary issues after midfielder Tommy Doyle received the first red card of his professional career.
Doyle's Costly Dismissal at Bramall Lane
The pivotal moment came in the 18th minute of Birmingham's Championship clash away at Sheffield United. With Blues already trailing 1-0, Doyle was sent off for a rash challenge on Blades midfielder Gustavo Hamer.
The dismissal effectively ended any realistic hope of a comeback, with Sheffield United going on to secure a 3-0 victory. This result marked Birmingham's eighth away league defeat of the season.
"No complaints on the red card and he's accepted responsibility for it," said Davies in his post-match comments. "That's not what I want from this team. That's not the sort of team we are and this can cost you and it did today."
A Growing Problem for Blues
This incident is not an isolated one for Birmingham City this campaign. Doyle's red card is the third the team has received in the league this season.
Defender Jack Robinson has been dismissed twice previously, against Coventry City and Hull City. This unwanted record means no team in the Championship has been shown more red cards than Blues in the 2025/26 season so far.
Davies openly acknowledged the pattern, highlighting how the timing and location of the offences have compounded the problem. "Ill-discipline has cost us," he admitted. "We've had three red cards this season from memory and two of them in some of the hardest away venues you could get and early in games."
Festive Fixture Ban for Doyle
The immediate consequence for Tommy Doyle is a suspension that will rule him out of Birmingham City's crucial festive period fixtures.
The midfielder will miss the upcoming matches against:
- Derby County
- Southampton
- Watford
His absence will be a significant blow to Davies' plans as Blues look to navigate a packed schedule and improve their league position.
For Davies, the task is clear: he must address this disciplinary trend swiftly if Birmingham are to turn their season around and climb the Championship table.
