Keith Hackett reacts to Bobby Thomas incident in Coventry loss vs Birmingham: ‘He deserved it’
Keith Hackett believes that Coventry City defender Bobby Thomas was rightly sent off for striking Birmingham’s Phil Neumann in their 3-2 loss on Sunday.
The former PGMOL general manager and ex-FIFA referee has exclusively told Football Insider that Thomas‘ action towards his opposite number saw him deservedly shown red by referee James Linington in their heated Championship clash.
Second-tier table toppers Coventry made the short trip to St Andrew’s on Sunday as they aimed to get back to winning ways following a loss to Ipswich Town and a draw against Charlton Athletic.
Chris Davies has been under pressure at Birmingham in recent times, but his mid-table side held the edge over their Midlands rivals and came away with a vital 3-2 win on home turf.
The game was not without controversy, especially in the closing stages, as key Sky Blues defender Thomas received his marching orders for an altercation with Neumann.
Hackett backs Linington as Thomas faces three-match ban for Birmingham red
Football Insider revealed that Thomas was wanted by Brentford ahead of this season, and he has continued to be a key man for Frank Lampard‘s side this term, with 22 league starts so far.
He will now be forced to sit out of their upcoming games against Stoke City, Leicester City and Millwall, after Linington brandished a straight red card for violent conduct in the 95th minute of Sunday’s game.
Thomas was seen to have kicked out at Blues defender Neumann after a cross had been cleared out of the hosts’ penalty area, while he also raised his left hand and seemingly caught him on the back of the head.
Thomas had no complaints with the red despite Neumann’s theatrics as he quickly ran off the pitch, and ex-PGMOL chief Hackett believes he was rightly sent off.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, he said: “When a player raises his hands on an opponent and attempts to strike him, then he deserves to get sent off.
“I am not surprised that the Coventry City player made no attempt to verbally appeal to the referee. It looks like a correct red card for me.”
Coventry’s promotion chances have decreased after Birmingham loss amid poor form
Coventry have led the Championship for the majority of the 2025-26 campaign, but look to be in danger of a catastrophic fall-off in the months to come if their current form continues.
Their loss at St Andrew’s means that Lampard’s side have won just two of their last eight games, and are now eight points ahead of third-placed Ipswich, who have a game in hand.
Opta’s supercomputer has previously backed Coventry for automatic promotion, with a 100 per cent chance of finishing in the top two, but that figure has now decreased somewhat to 89.40 per cent.
The odds are still heavily stacked in their favour, but being without Thomas is set to serve as a huge blow to their chances of three points in upcoming league clashes against rivals Leicester and promotion-chasing Millwall.