Roy Hodgson, manager of Bristol City, said: “I’m better off keeping my powder dry on that and who knows. I might react to something one day, but I might not.”
Two first half goals from Phil Neumann and Jhon Solís did the damage. As the Bristol City were undone by a poor defensive display at St Andrew’s.
Although a late penalty dispatched by Tomi Horvat gave them hope. Birmingham City held on to win 2-1 in the penultimate game of the Championship season.
After the match Hodgson said: “I thought we started the game very well. Of course we found ourselves 2-0 down.”
It was a less exciting second half with no chances taken until the 82nd minute.
Hodgson was complimentary about the home sides performance in the final 45, saying: “I thought Birmingham utilised the fact that they were two goals up, they played strongly, they were a strong team, they were very good at pressing.”
City lost the physical battle at both sides of the pitch, conceding from a set piece while Neumann and Christoph Klarer both won over half their areal duels, however there is not much City can do about it with injuries to Rob Atkinson, Luke McNally, and Rob Dickie.
Hodgson said: “when I came, there were no centre backs because the three that played were all injured. But we did manage to get him [Dickie] back just in time for the last couple of games.
“We are going to get caught out, I’m afraid, against strong physical sides with big centre-backs and big centre-forwards because we find them hard to mark.”
The veteran manager had a mixed run in his second spell at the club. He came into the club and went unbeaten in three games, with two wins and a draw. However, since the draw against QPR the former England manager has two losses and a draw.
Hodgson said: “I have enjoyed the challenge that was presented to me. I’m really glad I took it on because working with this team has rejuvenated me a little bit and given me a lot of enjoyment, so I’m pretty sure I’ll miss it.
“On the other hand, I’ve been conditioned from the start. This is what it’s going to be, and this is my role.
Although wary of his previous statements, Hodgson could not confirm his retirement when his contract ends in two weeks.
He said: “I’ve made a bit of a fool of myself two or three times already. I’ve never been putting my CV out to clubs anyway.
“I’ve been fortunate, I suppose, that one or two jobs have found me that I felt I’m able to do and have broken my retirement promise to my wife and come back and taken them. So, who knows.
“I’m not going to go searching for jobs, and I don’t really want people to necessarily come searching for me.”
It was clear that Hodgson was not too happy with how the game has adapted over 50 years in management.
The 78-year-old said: “I’ve learnt that it would be harder for me to be on the touchline all the time with the new rule or tolerance for people being pushed and fouled from behind as I see all the time.
“Now I don’t know what a foul is now when balls are being played up to front players and they’re bundled out of the way.
“I’ve learnt that if I was to come back in football, I have to be geared up to accept it. Now it seems to me just get as tight as you possibly can [to the attacker], get in there, have a fight.
Next up for Bristol City is a home game to round off their season to Stoke City.
Roy Hodgson has played the Potters ten times in career winning four of them and drawing two. He’ll look to round off with a win to end the Robins season and possibly his career in management as well.
