Birmingham City 4 - 1 Blackburn Rovers - McLeish proud of players but big win not enough to keep Birmingham in top flight

Published on Sunday 11 May 2008 22:33

BIRMINGHAM City manager Alex McLeish has spoken of his pride at the way his team finished the Premier League campaign, despite their relegation to the Coca Cola Championship.

"I'm very proud of the players' response today," said the former Scotland manager following the 4-1 defeat of Blackburn Rovers at St Andrews. "They produced an outstanding performance. All they could do was win but results did not go for us elsewhere.

"We have missed out by one point. The players have punched above their weight many times this season, and they did it again today. We've only lost one of 13 home games since I've been here but we haven't won enough of them and that has cost us.

"Also there have been teams like Wigan and Bolton, who were underachieving, but new managers, Steve Bruce and Gary Megson, have got them going. People ask if I could have kept us up had I been here for the whole season. But that is just conjecture.

"I now aim to bring in some more players. I've now got the chance to put my own stamp on the club."

David Murphy gave Birmingham hope in the 31st minute with his first goal since his 1.5 million move from Hibs in January.

Mauro Zarate took a quick free-kick and left-back Murphy was allowed to run forward to the edge of the box almost unopposed and his low shot looked to be covered by Brad Friedel.

But he inexplicably allowed the ball to go underneath his body and into the corner of the net. Olivier Kapo could have doubled City's lead three minutes later when he raced on to a pass from Mikael Forssell but his low drive hit the left leg of Friedel.

Stephen Kelly came to Birmingham's rescue when he cleared off the line from Brett Emerton after the midfielder had skipped past Maik Taylor, who had coming racing of his line.

Blackburn started the second half on the offensive and Taylor did well to save at the feet of Jason Roberts after good play by Stephen Warnock.

But after 49 minutes Morten Gamst Pedersen brought Rovers back on level terms. Damien Johnson was dispossessed by Johann Vogel and released Roberts, who had two fierce drives blocked by Taylor but the ball broke across the face of goal to Pedersen who made no mistake.

Blues substitute Cameron Jerome was guilty of a glaring miss from close range when he shot over with the goal at his mercy from a Murphy cross.

But the England Under-21 international made amends in the 73rd minute when he converted a centre from Larsson and then coolly slotted the ball past Friedel for his second.

Fabrice Muamba headed in an injury-time cross from Medhi Nafti for the fourth but it mattered little.

David Gold is to consider his position as Birmingham chairman as the fans turned on the club's board of directors.

Gold was visibly shaken by the abuse he received from a section of supporters, once it became clear the victory would be in vain. The 70-year-old also admitted concern over the safety of co-owner David Sullivan's two young sons, David Jr and Jack.

"I'm a bit stressed by the reaction of the fans," he said. "I can understand the disappointment of relegation. We have been there on a number of occasions, going back to relegation from the old third division. But never in my time at the club have I seen that sort of abuse from fans. You could see the hate in the eyes of the people sat in front of us. It was a venomous verbal attack.

"It was as unpleasant as it has been during my 15 years with the club.

"For a moment we also felt that David Sullivan's two sons were in danger and we had to get them out of the way.

"I'm very disappointed. What I have to ask is, is it hundreds of fans, thousands of fans or the majority? If it is the majority I will be left with no alternative but to resign as chairman."