Chris Davies disagrees after Richie Wellens insists his side were on wrong side of decisions

Birmingham boss Chris Davies disagrees after Richie Wellens insists his Leyton Orient side were on the wrong side of decisions.

Richie Wellens criticised two key refereeing decisions that he believes unfairly swung the match in Birmingham’s favour.

The first was the early sending-off of Orient’s Jack Currie in the 12th minute for a challenge on Tomoki Iwata, which Wellens argued was not a red-card offence, stating that Currie had made contact with the ball first.

The second contentious call came with Birmingham’s opening goal by Taylor Gardner-Hickman, which Wellens felt was preceded by a foul that went unnoticed by the officials.

The result means Birmingham go 9 points clear at the top of the League One table, with 73 points from 31 games played, while Orient are sixth with 53 points from 33 played.

Jack Currie has been sent off in the 12th minute :/

A yellow card challenge at worst, Orient have their work cut out for them now. 😟#LOFC #OneOrient @OrientOutlook pic.twitter.com/lP8XxkkLcz

— TheLeytonOrientWay | Luke (@theOrientway) February 25, 2025

Wellens said on Currie’s red card and a foul in the build-up to Gardner-Hickman’s opening goal, per Birmingham Mail: “I don’t understand how there’s hardly any Premier League games today, and there’s hardly any Championship games, why can’t we have a referee from that level? It’s a big ground, a big stadium, big supporter base.

“It’s a pull on Sweeney for the first one, so then Sweens pulls him back. He’s about to give a penalty and then they score.”

Wellens then told reporters to ask him about the sending off: “Wow. I won’t mention anything to do with the referee’s performance today. In my opinion, it wasn’t a sending off. Jack kicked the ball first.

“Like I say, the Premier League refs aren’t going to come down, but why can’t we get a Championship referee who is used to this environment?”

“I’m gutted for our supporters because they’ve had a horrific schedule,” Wellens added. “They’ve paid to go to Wrexham, they’ve paid to go to Bolton, they’ve paid to come here. Thanks to the EFL for rearranging that game, it’s a brutal set of fixtures.

“I’m gutted we never saw how good our players are. I thought we were on top and the decision is game changing. If there’s a team you don’t want to go up against in this league down to 10 men it’s this team because they are patient and spread you the full width of the pitch.”

Richie Wellens questions the quality of tonight’s referee vs. Birmingham City after Jack Currie’s red card.👇

🗣️ “I was told not to mention the referee or else I’d get fined again…in my opinion it wasn’t a sending off…why can’t we get a Championship referee?”#LOFC #OneOrient pic.twitter.com/f2RDF6Yaeh

— TheLeytonOrientWay | Luke (@theOrientway) February 25, 2025

Davies said, per Birmingham Mail: “It was always going to be a tricky test for us, first 10 to 15 minutes was a bit scrappy, then obviously the red card put them down to 10 men and they went very defensive at that point – a 5-3-1 shape, a really low block.

“It was a mental game really. We are set up well to attack the low blocks, with the width we have and the way we circulate the ball, but it was about not getting frustrated and playing with enough urgency and intent.

“Keep going and keep going, and eventually the first goal comes and it settled us down.”

Davies agreed with the ruling of referee Martin Woods: “It was a definite red card. He’s come off the ground, studs up, Tomoki (Iwata) is just lucky he hasn’t injured him badly there.

“If that’s in the Premier League or there’s VAR, it’s a sending off. I’ve seen them in the Premier League myself lots of times.”

Chris Davies disagrees after Richie Wellens insists his side were on wrong side of decisions. This is how fans reacted…

@nozt79: @OrientOutlook Never a red, the ref gave into pressure. You need refs with backbone and consistency which is definitely not in League 1. The incompetency is absolutely disgraceful 😡

@E10__mess: How about you get someone from @EFL and @FA_PGMOL on one of your shows, get them to explain and hear the voices of supporters fed up of fixture congestion along with inconsistent/incompetent officials ruining the game? I’d love to give them my POV and vent my frustrations!

@PeterBr27295261: Because you’re a league one team, Richie, just like us. Red card- ref saw it, took his time, saw that the injured player was ok, then produced the card. And you know full well that if it had been the other way, you’d be screaming for a red.

@aptchamadeu: ref done Orient dirty never a red that definitely a yellow card. #lofc

@iansnakeevans: Off the floor jumps into the challenge definite red

@EJBCFC_: The audacity

@kro1875: All managers make me laugh, why did Curry leave the ground and lunge in, he could have pulled out of the challenge. In the laws of the game it does not matter if he got the ball. He was endangering an opponent and if he wants a foul for the 2nd well

@daniels9119: Surprise surprise players putting the ref under pressure never a red

@deanrogers25: That’s a really harsh call. He’d won and played the ball before the City player comes in at an angle. Probably a foul as he’s over stretched but greatest risk was like to himself.

@daniels9119: Can thank Alfie May for helping the ref make the decision. Thought players weren’t allowed to surround the ref

@Thomas_2791: I don’t think it was a red but not sure why he thinks they should have a championship ref for a league one fixture. Championship refs have been terrible all year but that doesn’t entitle us to Premier League refs.

@mickyh01: It’s of those if against you its a red, if not it isn’t. It’s a defo red, he left the floor with an out of control lunge. These days that’s a red

@Andyjack83: Off the floor studs up it’s dangerous play and a red in the laws of today

@CraigDHoare: He’s off the ground ..not in control and caught Iwata studs up on the ankle.. it’s a red all day long.

@YiAlwaysGetInTr: A straight red all night long @EFL for me. Don’t rescind this if they appeal #cafc plz coyr

@Mtpfc7: Never ever is that a red another shocking decision in no way did he endanger the opponent

@mckeown_mr: Blues fan here… I dont personally think it is. I’d say a yellow card and a chat. I’ve seen worse. Look dont get me wrong, ill take it but if it were against us I’d be miffed.

@MisterGLS: Plays the ball. The other guy running into his foot afterwards maybe makes it a yellow, but even that’s a stretch isn’t it

@MJones1875: Slow it down, both feet leave the ground, and as soon as you do that, the ref has every right to show a red card. You may feel hard done by, but by the letter of the law (which the refs don’t usually follow), it is red.

@LofcLoza: Currie is 1st to the ball by a country mile, the ball is in front of both players (not dangerous challenge from behind). The Birmingham player runs in and is side on sees what Currie is doing but still goes in for it too, send off the ref 🔴

Richie Wellens is as thick as whale spunk. Sent his players out to get physical.

Currie leaves the ground with studs high and catches Iwata on the ankle, it’s a fucking red every day of the week.

The pity is his lot can actually play but he didn’t trust them enough. Manc twat pic.twitter.com/HGulylC2vV

— Blues Badger (@badgers_back) February 26, 2025