Birmingham manager Chris Davies criticised the officials for missing Stoke “throwing players to the ground” in the 1-1 Sky Bet Championship draw at St. Andrew’s.
Scorer Tomoki Iwata had an effort ruled out for a marginal foul by Marvin Ducksch, while Davies claimed there could have been a penalty for challenges on either Ibrahim Osman or August Priske.
“If that’s a foul, what Ducksch has done there, then what their full-backs were doing to Priske… I don’t know what this is because they were throwing him to the ground every time he was trying to run forwards,” said Davies.
“Ducksch just got his body in there so based on consistency, no, (it) definitely should not have been disallowed.”
Regarding the treatment of substitute Priske, Davies added: “The things that were happening to him in the game, that’s not English football or the Championship.
“They are just blatant fouls. The Championship is physical but between the referee and the fourth official, they have to spot if a player is obstructing another or throwing a player to the ground.”
Davies believes his side deserved a point.
Iwata headed home on 42 minutes after Jay Stansfield nodded back Tommy Doyle’s deep inswinging corner.
For Stoke’s 71st-minute equaliser, Aaron Cresswell’s corner hit Phil Neumann and went into the net from close range after Steven Nzonzi flicked on.
“We grew into the game and scored a good goal,” Davies said. “We started the second half really well and we really needed to score that second goal when we were on top, or one of these penalty calls or fouls to be given.”
Stoke manager Mark Robins insisted his depleted side can make the play-offs.
The Potters made it seven points out of the last nine on the road despite missing 12 players.
Stoke forced three excellent chances in the first half, including hitting the woodwork.
“We have to hang on to the coat-tails of the teams above us until we can get players back, but if we can, we can attack the top six,” said Robins.
“We are more than a match for anyone in this division. I still think we can get in the top six but we need our players back quickly.”
Robins was full of praise for his threadbare team.
“We have 12 players out and two more dropped out on the day (Ben Wilmot and Bosun Lawal), so we were down to the bare bones,” he added.
“We have no fit full-backs and two left-backs who can’t last 90 minutes, which makes it very difficult tactically.
“Sorba Thomas came to see me offering to play up front, then threw his hat in the ring to play right-back.
“But in the first 25 minutes I thought there was only going to be one winner and if we’d have scored one, it would have given us the confidence.”
Stansfield missed a clear opportunity for Blues, as well as the hosts having two penalty appeals turned down and the disallowed Iwata effort.
Stoke’s three big first-half chances came through nine-goal dangerman Thomas, Tomas Rigo hitting the post and Tatsuki Seko, while Nzonzi glanced just over at the death.
For the disallowed effort, Iwata tapped home Stansfield’s cross but referee James Bell penalised Ducksch.
