Sheffield Wednesday vs Birmingham City. Sky Bet Championship.
HillsboroughAttendance22,059.
Report, highlights and manager reaction from the Sky Bet Championship clash at Hillsborough
Wednesday 27 November 2019 23:31, UK
Garry Monk was unable to get one over former colleague Pep Clotet as Sheffield Wednesday and Birmingham played out a 1-1 Sky Bet Championship draw at Hillsborough.
Monk had revealed in his pre-match press conference that he is no longer on speaking terms with former assistant Clotet, who took over from Monk as interim head coach at St Andrews when the latter was sacked in June.
Spaniard Clotet had previously worked with Monk at Swansea and Leeds before the duo teamed up again at Birmingham in March 2018 - and the Blues had responded to Monk's comments with a tweet suggesting their former manager lacked class.
Alvaro Gimenez opened the scoring after 48 minutes but Kadeem Harris equalised late on to earn the hosts a point.
The home side started strongly and Barry Bannan fired over from 20 yards with the game's first opening before Steven Fletcher volleyed across the face of Connal Trueman's goal after the ball fell kindly for him in the box.
Jeremie Bela created Birmingham's first chance after 14 minutes but skewed his shot wide after a mazy run.
Fletcher wasted a golden opportunity in the 17th minute when his heavy touch cost him a clear sight of goal after excellent build-up play from Massimo Luongo and Morgan Fox.
Kieran Lee was denied by Trueman after 33 minutes as the hosts continued to create the better openings. Fox and Luongo were again involved, with the latter playing in his midfield partner, who shot straight at the 'keeper.
Moses Odubajo rattled the crossbar with a powerful effort from distance three minutes before half-time, but the Owls were quickly made to pay for their profligacy after the break.
Adam Reach gave the ball away and Bela's low cross from the right was turned in by Gimenez.
Harris wasted a glorious chance to equalise when he fired into the side-netting, but at the other end Jude Bellingham and Fran Villalba fired wide as the Blues continued to cause problems on the break.
Substitute Fernando Forestieri curled narrowly wide of the far post after cutting in from the left after 62 minutes and Harris saw an effort deflect over off Kristian Pedersen.
Harris equalised nine minutes from time after Birmingham's defence stood off and he fired low into the corner after being allowed to run to the edge of the box unchallenged.
Tom Lees headed a Bannan free-kick straight at Trueman as the hosts pressed for a winner, and the Blues 'keeper had to pull off a fine save moments later to keep out Atdhe Nuhiu.
In a frenetic finish, Blues pair Lukas Jutkiewicz and Marc Roberts both cleared off their own line from corners but Wednesday could not find a winner.
Sheffield Wednesday's Garry Monk: "I wasn't making accusations, I was speaking facts. That's what it is. I wish it wasn't true. I have to stay consistent and true to myself. Ask anyone who's ever worked with me: I'm honest and open so why shouldn't I stay true to myself?
"I had nothing to gain from that. I understand the reaction. I know those [Birmingham] fans very well, I know how passionate they are for that club. Of course, I could not answer it and divert from it and not get involved in it. I get that. But ask anyone I've worked with or played with or managed, that's who I am. Why shouldn't I be open and honest? I'm speaking facts."
Asked if he could elaborate on why he was angry with Clotet, Monk added: "It's difficult for me to just say that. Not because I don't want to but I want to respect those fans. I can't respect - it's a personal situation.
"It's nothing against that club, it's someone I invested a hell of a lot of time with and classed as a friend. He chose to do a different thing in the worst possible way and that cuts deep. I don't respect that - you don't respect me, so why should I respect you? That's the reason I didn't shake his hand."
Birmingham's Pep Clotet: "At the end of the day I'm speaking on behalf of my club, so I have to be respectful of everything I say. We had five fantastic years. I think he grew thanks to my experience and he helped me a lot as well. Everyone knows I've worked for four different clubs and they all know my values - I put the manager's interests before mine and the club's interests before mine. With Garry, all those five years together, I put his interests in front of mine.
"I have nothing to say because everything that we lived together was very positive and I hope when we speak to the media we act professionally and we should be speaking about facts. I wanted to ask him why he said that and I wanted my handshake - one thing I love from British football - whatever the rivalry, whatever the game or derby, manners are on top of everything. When I try to talk to him and give him my hand, I give him the hand of Birmingham City."
