Birmingham City Coach Supports Luis Vazquez After Viral Miss
Chris Davies is not about to hang Luis Vazquez out to dry over one miss – no matter how many times it’s replayed online.
The Birmingham City head coach has doubled down on his belief in the Argentine striker after that extraordinary late chance went begging in the 2-1 win at Derby County, a moment that social media gleefully turned into a meme and lumped alongside some of football’s most infamous sitters, from Roger Davies to Ronny Rosenthal.
To Davies, it was exactly what he called it: “a freak”.
“He could do that 100 times and score 100 goals,” he told BBC Radio WM, brushing away the hysteria. “It can only make him stronger.”
Vazquez, still waiting for his first league start for Blues, had the goal at his mercy at Pride Park. Score, and he’s off the mark in the Championship, the narrative flips, and the travelling fans probably serenade him all the way back up the M1. Instead, the clip went viral.
Inside the camp, the tone is very different.
“He’s a tough cookie. He’s shown no signs of fragility,” Davies said. “I made a point to talk to him straight after the game last Saturday. And, when he scored a good goal in training this week, he got a big cheer from the lads.”
The desire is not in question. If anything, it’s burning too bright.
“He’s so desperate to score,” Davies admitted. “And we so want him to score. As soon as that first one goes in, it will all be forgotten about.”
For now, Vazquez remains the impact option from the bench, waiting for the moment that turns a meme into a memory.
Away grit, home frustration
While one striker’s miss has dominated the online conversation, Davies has been looking at a bigger picture that is far from bleak.
Seven points from a possible 12 on the road – at Sheffield United, Wrexham, Norwich City and Derby County – represents a solid haul, especially with Norwich the only defeat in that sequence. Blues have shown they can dig in and come away from difficult grounds with something.
The nagging issue sits closer to home.
St Andrew’s has yet to see a league win this season. Birmingham have drawn all three of their home fixtures so far: 2-2 with Bristol City, 1-1 against Southampton and 2-2 versus Wolves. Goals are flowing, but so is frustration.
Davies, though, sounds more encouraged than exasperated, particularly given the warnings he received before a ball was kicked.
He has been told repeatedly that Birmingham’s opening run of fixtures was as demanding as anything in the Championship. Seven games in, he feels the numbers back up his belief that his team have evolved.
“We’ve got the same amount of points as we did this time last season, but we’re a better team,” he said. “We’re more of an attacking threat, but we also look a bit more solid and more of a team.”
There is no attempt to paint it as perfection. Just a conviction that the foundations are stronger.
“There’s still room for improvement in a few areas, but we can’t say we’re not pleased with the start we’ve made, given the challenge we had.”
What Davies keeps returning to is something he regards as non‑negotiable.
“Our love of defending is clear to see. It’s as good as scoring a goal,” he said. “That takes you a long way. So much gets talked about systems but you can’t get away from commitment.”
Middlesbrough’s visit to St Andrew’s on Saturday now arrives with a double edge: the chance to end the home hoodoo and the opportunity, perhaps, for Luis Vazquez to turn that viral miss into the first step of a very different story.
