Birmingham City manager Gary Rowett has accused Chelsea loanee Nathaniel Chalobah of punching Diego Fabbrini in the face as his side beat Reading 1-0.

Fabbrini was forced to leave the Madejski Stadium pitch after only 34 minutes after a face mask protecting his broken nose cracked.

Rowett believes that Chalobah was the man responsible for Fabbrini's misfortune after the Watford loanee did him earlier in the clash.

Rowett said: "It looked to me like Chalobah threw a little punch and he has cracked Diego's mask right down the middle.

"He did a little trick on Chalobah early in the match and I don't think he was too happy with that. You know when you have got a mask on people are going to target that."