Defender boost for Birmingham City
“It just makes me all the more determined to get back fit as soon as possible and do well for the club in the Premier League.”
Ridgewell, who was one of the best and most consistent defenders in the Championship, underpinning the division’s best backline, admitted that he still doesn’t remember too much about the tackle that put him out of action.
People have been split on it: some say it was an accident, others feel it was late and deserved punishment. A free-kick was awarded but Mackie was not booked.
Ridgewell recalled: “I was going to hook the ball back into the box, I took a touch and then I got caught as their lad tried to close the ball down.
“It wasn’t high but whether he was ever going to make the ball, it was difficult to say.
“When contact was made I remember thinking ‘whooah’ but I tried to get back up thinking I could run it off. It was sore but I thought I’d be fine.
“When I got on my feet it was obvious the bone wasn’t connected and I collapsed.
“The gaffer and other people spoke about it afterwards and there was no blame attached. But some other people have said to me it was bad. It kind of got brushed under the carpet and classed as one of those things because of what else happened in the game and the fact we were going for promotion.”
Maik Taylor had been controversially sent-off by referee Mike Oliver not long before Ridgewell’s mishap and Blues had to mount a stirring comeback to equalise.
