BIRMINGHAM goalkeeper James Beadle played over 70 minutes with a swollen eye after a nasty collision with his own defender.
The England Under-21 stopper conceded three times (twice after the injury) in defeat to Middlesbrough at St Andrews on Monday.
He was deemed fine to stay on the field after sliding head first into centre-back Jonathan Panzo.
The incident, Beadle’s face going into Panzo’s body at full force, happened 20 minutes in and left both players on the floor needing treatment.
Panzo held his body in pain and Beadle lay flat on his back, hands up in the air, eyes close.
By the time Beadle was up, a huge lump had already started to form around his right eye.
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He was seen grimacing as a physio held his head whilst sat on the grass.
A dark red patch was also visible and only got worse throughout the game as Beadle’s face responded to the impact.
By full-time the swelling had almost covered one side of his eye but no substitution was called for.
During the match he played several errant passes, putting his team-mates in trouble.
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Fans weren’t happy with the decision to let him stay on.
One wrote on X: “He should have been taken off, absolutely nuts by the club to continue playing him with a clear head injury.
“Surprised the ref didn’t step in.”
Another added: “He shouldn’t have been allowed to continue for his own sake.
A third said: “Absolutely disgraceful how this lad has been treated”.
Someone else put: “Should have been subbed at HT. For his safety and the team. You could tell he wasn’t right.”
Beadle’s first poor pass was straight to Boro forward David Strelec but a poor touch allowed Blues captain Christoph Klarer to step in and recover.
Later before the break Beadle misplaced a back pass from Panzo that went straight out of play.
The bobbling ball pinged off his foot and for a Boro throw with Panzo frustrated at his ‘keeper.
In the second half he was rushed into a clearance by a short pass from Panzo, involved again.
Beadle swung his left boot at it but only kicked it into Tommy Conway, who was pressing.
Had the striker not jumped and turned his body to block the kick, it might easily have gone in rather than trickling back to Beadle.
Tom Brady‘s side lost their second Championship game in a row and remain locked in mid-table, eight points off the playoffs and 15 above the relegation zone.
Former Newcastle left-back Matt Targett scored twice for the promotion chasing visitors.
He put his team ahead after just 13 minutes, springing an offside trap and converted past Beadle from close range.
His second was arriving at the back post six minutes after the Beadle injury, sliding underneath the on-loan Brighton man with his shot.
Marvin Ducksch got one back for Birmingham at the start of the second half but Strelec found a third with a well-placed header to seal the win.
Beadle did not make a save during the match.