Chris Davies faces a tough decision regarding Birmingham City following three significant errors.
After four games in the League One season, Bailey Peacock-Farrell’s position is reportedly under scrutiny.
The goalkeeper has had a rough start, with mistakes leading to goals in Birmingham City’s last two matches. Peacock-Farrell was caught out while attempting to play out from the back against Leyton Orient, which allowed Ethan Galbraith to score, and Thelo Aasgaard’s shot managed to slip through his hands in the game against Wigan Athletic.
Despite these issues, Birmingham City won both matches 2-1, which helped avoid further embarrassment for Peacock-Farrell. Blues manager Chris Davies defended him after the Orient game, praising his commitment to a possession-based style of play.
“It requires bravery to play this way,” Davies stated. “Bailey Peacock-Farrell has shown remarkable composure, as has Ryan Allsop when he’s played, along with the centre-backs.”
Regarding Allsop, if Birmingham City’s backup goalkeeper hadn’t been vying for a place in the Championship play-offs last season, there might be more leniency towards Peacock-Farrell’s recent performances.
The reality is that the Blues have a solid alternative in Allsop, who is particularly skilled with his feet. He demonstrated his ability in possession against Charlton, Fulham, and Walsall, although he attempted a few risky passes that didn’t pay off in last week’s Bristol Street Motors Trophy match against Walsall.
While handling is crucial, Blues’ goalkeepers also need to be proficient with their feet. Allsop excels in this area more than Peacock-Farrell.
A recent error in play led to a goal and a defeat for Northern Ireland against Bulgaria on Monday. Mistakes in three out of four games are likely impacting Peacock-Farrell’s confidence.
Peacock-Farrell has been preferred over Allsop due to his goalkeeping skills, which makes the mistake against Wigan a significant concern for Davies. If Peacock-Farrell is not effectively keeping the ball out of the net, it becomes challenging to justify keeping him as the first-choice keeper. His save percentage has dropped to 61.5%, placing him 18th among League One goalkeepers according to FBREF.
Davies has shown a decisive approach in his brief time as Blues manager and will likely make a change if the errors continue. Peacock-Farrell must minimize his mistakes to maintain his position as the team’s number one goalkeeper.
