Rowett blames intense training for Hibs defeat

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Birmingham City looked lethargic in their 1-0 defeat to the Scottish second tier side.

Gary Rowett has blamed training for his side’s lacklustre display against Hibs

Birmingham City manager Gary Rowett has told Blue’s TV that his side’s intense pre-season training is most likely to be responsible for their disappointing 1-0 defeat to Hibernian on Sunday.

The Blues looked lethargic in their clash at Easter Road with Neil Lennon’s side, as despite having most of the ball during the game they failed to move it with any kind of rhythm or tempo.

It took Rowett’s side 44 minutes to register their first effort on goal as chances were at a premium, especially during the first period.

Hibernian ultimately won the day through James Keatings’ well taken strike just after the hour mark.

And for Rowett, the lack of energy in the side can be attributed to the squad’s training, rather than an off day for his players.

Birmingham lost 1-0 to Hibs in Edinburgh

“I don’t think the defeat is necessarily the issue, more the disappointing performance,” Gary Rowett told BluesTV.

“We had a lot of the ball, moved the ball too slowly for my liking at times and I think it’s like anything, if a teams going to let you have the ball, then you’re going to have to move the ball and really stretch them.

“Too many times we moved it slowly, we didn’t really get enough penetrating runs behind or passes behind.

“When we did pass it I thought our quality was poor and I think the overall feeling of it was that most of the players were poor today, which in someways gives me probably more solace than four or five being poor.

“It shows some of the work we’re doing in training are making the legs heavy and perhaps not feeling sharp at the minute.”

James Keatings, left, scored for Hibs

Birmingham kick off their Championship campaign against Cardiff City at St Andrews on August 6; the side they rounded off last season’s campaign against.

But before the Blues take on the Bluebirds, Rowett’s men still have to play three more pre-season friendlies over the next couple of weeks, including fixtures against Port Vale, Roda JC from Holland and Kidderminster Harriers.