Birmingham boss Gianfranco Zola comments on Newcastle’s promotion hopes following stalemate

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Birmingham City drew 0-0 with Newcastle United at St Andrew’s on Saturday, but other results in the Championship very much went Newcastle’s way.

Birmingham City manager Gianfranco Zola (L) and Newcastle United Manager Rafael Benitez

Birmingham City boss Gianfranco Zola has issued an emphatic response when asked about Newcastle United’s promotion hopes following their stalemate on Saturday, the Chronicle reports.

The Magpies missed the chance to move onto 80 points at the top of the Championship as they were held by the Blues, who continue to look to be in a spot of bother with a relegation scrap happening just below them.

But despite Birmingham holding Newcastle to a goalless draw at St Andrew’s, Zola was quite certain when he was discussing the Magpies’ chances of securing a return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

“They will go up,” he said, as reported by the Chronicle.

“They have quality and a very good coach; they have everything you need.

Newcastle United’s Matt Ritchie

“When I look at their team, I think they will go up 100 per cent, for sure.

“I hope that too because they are a good side.”

Although Rafa Benitez would have been disappointed with his side’s result – and their recent form in general – the results around them made it a very good weekend for Newcastle going into the international break.

Newcastle United Manager Rafael Benitez

Huddersfield were thrashed 4-0 by Bristol City – who sit one place below Birmingham – on Friday night, while Brighton missed a great chance to go top as they were beaten 2-0 by play-off contenders Leeds.

The Terriers still boast a game in hand over the top two, and can move to within four points of the summit should they win that, but it certainly appears that Newcastle are closing in on securing a top flight return.

And in turn, that will also give Birmingham plenty of confidence as they try to avoid falling further down the table as Zola will be reminding his side that they held one of the division’s best to a draw.