BIRMINGHAM (DF) -- Bolton forward Kevin Davies took time out of celebrating his team's 3-2 FA Cup quarterfinal victory at St. Andrews on Saturday to thank Birmingham central defender Curtis Davies for his part in all three Bolton goals-- an effort which assured the Wanderers a trip to Wembley in April.
"We couldn't have done it without him," said the elder Davies of the younger Davies. "His dreadful defending gave us the opportunities we needed and we took full advantage. Should we win the FA Cup, I'll be sure to send him a bottle of whatever he drinks before games."
Thrust into the spotlight following an injury to Roger Johnson, Curtis Davies, making only his second appearance for the Blues, looked out of place in a ragged, hastily assembled back four and was caught out badly for Bolton's first goal. Davies then bundled over Kevin Davies for a penalty and Bolton's second, and was caught out of position again for Bolton's eventual winner.
Sources close to Birmingham manager Alex McLeish feel Davies could already be on his way out of St. Andrews, despite having only joined the club in January. Once Johnson and his first choice partner Scott Dann return to full fitness, Davies, they say, will be surplus to requirements, if he's not already.
"Yeah, Alex doesn't really rate him at all," claimed one of the sources. "He was only playing because we're in crisis mode with all the injuries. Had Nikola [Zigic] been fit, I'm sure he would have been picked ahead of Curtis in central defense."
"I don't know why he played the way he did today. Maybe he felt bad that we've been hogging all the trips to Wembley lately, maybe he felt it was his duty to give Bolton and their supporters a chance to experience the Wembley atmosphere."
"Honestly, I think we're just a stepping stone," continued the source. "I think he has a dream of playing poorly for all the big clubs in Birmingham. He's been at West Brom, Aston Villa, and us. I'm sure he'll move on to Wolves in the summer and help them fall even further down the ladder."
