"Incredible" - Birmingham City manager Chris Davies speaks out on Newcastle United flashpoint | OneFootball

Birmingham City were eliminated from the FA Cup by Newcastle United on Saturday evening

Chris Davies has praised Tomoki Iwata’s strike against Premier League side Newcastle United in Birmingham City’s FA Cup elimination.

The Blues lost 3-2 in an entertaining cup tie at St. Andrew’s, losing to the EFL Cup finalists after an 82nd minute goal from Joe Willock.

Willock and Callum Wilson had put the Magpies ahead after Birmingham scored the opening goal of the game through Ethan Laird in the first minute.

But it was Iwata’s standout goal that levelled the scores again just a few moments before half-time, to bring the teams into the break at 2-2.

Chris Davies heaps praise on Tomoki Iwata goal despite Birmingham City defeat

Davies has praised Iwata’s ability to score goals like the one he managed against Newcastle, claiming the ball reached a speed of 73 miles per hour on its way into the net.

He has also highlighted the impact the goal had on the team, giving everyone a lift just before half-time.

“It was as good of a goal that you’ll see anywhere,” Davies said, via Birmingham World.

“I’ve seen a lot of top goals live but that’s right up there for me, it was an incredible strike.

“Someone said it was 73 miles per hour!

“When it comes down to him you urge him to shoot but to connect like that, the ‘keeper had no chance.

“It was a brilliant goal and good as well because we’d just gone 2-1 down, so it gave everyone a lift that we could bounce back.

“We know Tomoki can hit them like that.”

Birmingham City league position

With Birmingham now out of the FA Cup, their focus will be on securing automatic promotion to the Championship.

Davies’ side are sitting in a relatively comfortable position in the table, four points clear at the top with two games in hand.

Next up for the Blues is a home clash against Cambridge United on February 11.

Tomoki Iwata strike created memorable moment and Birmingham City confidence will be even higher

Birmingham lost the game to Newcastle, but should take plenty of encouragement from their performance.

The Iwata strike was the main highlight, but they went toe-to-toe with Eddie Howe’s team over the course of 90 minutes and were unlucky to see their initial lead cut back by Willock’s controversial goal.

Davies will be pleased with how his team fared against top flight opposition, with the club’s sights firmly set on returning to the Premier League in the near future.

The defeat does mean they can put everything behind the League One campaign now, with the team sitting in a great position to clinch the title.