Credit: Getty, Sky Sports

Oliver Walton

Wed 11 March 2026 21:48, UK

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Birmingham City felt they should have had a penalty in the opening stages of their 1-0 win against QPR in the Championship on Wednesday night.

Chris Davies’ side went ahead at St Andrew’s inside the first six minutes as Patrick Roberts turned Ibrahim Osman’s cross past Joe Walsh.

They continued to push to extend their lead early on, and felt like they should have had a penalty in the eighth minute as Hoops defender Ronnie Edwards seemed to handle the ball in his own box.

Referee Anthony Backhouse quickly turned Blues’ ferocious protests away, and play continued as the home side held on to secure three precious points in their quest to finish in the top six of the second tier.

Birmingham’s players and fans certainly felt hard done by after the penalty call, but it was the correct one to make, according to former PGMOL chief and FIFA referee Keith Hackett.

Keith Hackett reveals his thoughts on Birmingham penalty shout vs QPR

Birmingham fashioned an opportunity on the edge of QPR’s area as Jay Stansfield tried to set Paik Seung-ho up for a shot but his effort was immediately blocked by the sliding Edwards.

Replays showed that, while Edwards did handle the ball and stop the shot with his arm, it was the one he was using to break his fall.

Former PGMOL boss Keith Hackett has told Football Insider that this is the reason why the referee decided against giving the hosts a penalty in this instance.

He said: “No penalty kick here. The player’s hand/arm was in contact with the ground.

“In this situation it is not handball. Referee Backhouse has made the correct decision.”

Birmingham still have a real chance of finishing in the play-offs after QPR win

Blues now sit 10th in the Championship after their first win since 21 February pushed them back into promotion contention.

They are five points behind sixth-placed Wrexham as it stands, and will still be holding out hope of making the play-off places this season.

They are already planning for the summer, after sources told Football Insider that Birmingham are eyeing a move for Nick Shinton alongside Norwich and Swansea as he impresses in goal for Belgian side Beerschot this season.

Finishing above both of those sides would give them a great chance of landing his signature, especially with James Beadle set to return to Brighton at the end of his loan spell.