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Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish: 'We got a little bit of luck' for Lee Bowyer's controversial leveller but deserved draw
Scot demands more goals in second half of season
28 Dec 2010 23:31:00
By Matt Monaghan at St Andrew's
Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish believed his side merited "a little bit of luck" for Lee Bowyer's controversial equaliser against Manchester United.
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Speaking to reporters after the match, McLeish was convinced Birmingham "got a reward for perseverance, for good concentration" with the call.
"I felt overall, in the grand scheme of things, we deserved a draw. We got a reward for perseverance, for good concentration, and the tactical awareness of the players' was great," the 51-year-old said.
"I thought they adhered to everything I asked them to do."
He continued: "We got a little bit of luck with it, but, for all the bad luck we've had this season, I think we deserved it.
"I didn't think it was a deliberate handball. Sir Alex felt he was over-robust in the challenge and it could have been a free-kick.
"If the ball was just a couple feet higher, it would have been a clear header. There were five or six players in there together going for the ball, so we got the break and I'm glad we could take that."
The result saw Birmingham climb out of the relegation zone and into 16th place. McLeish blamed a lack of killer instinct for the fact his side are battling the drop even though they haven't lost to top-six opposition in 18 months.
He stated: "We've not scored enough goals. I think that's the bottom line.
"I heard [Everton manager] David Moyes talking about it the other night as the reason why Everton are now in the position they're in as they've not scored enough goals.
"And we've probably conceded more sloppy goals this season than at this stage last season. But, we can put that right in the second half of the season.
"We've nobody to blame but ourselves. Ultimately, I've told the players you can't look for other results to go for you, you've got to do it yourself."
Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish believed his side merited "a little bit of luck" for Lee Bowyer's controversial equaliser against Manchester United.
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- Red Devils reclaim top spot despite Bowyer's last-minute equaliser
- Player Ratings: Birmingham 1-1 Manchester United
Speaking to reporters after the match, McLeish was convinced Birmingham "got a reward for perseverance, for good concentration" with the call.
"I felt overall, in the grand scheme of things, we deserved a draw. We got a reward for perseverance, for good concentration, and the tactical awareness of the players' was great," the 51-year-old said.
"I thought they adhered to everything I asked them to do."
He continued: "We got a little bit of luck with it, but, for all the bad luck we've had this season, I think we deserved it.
"I didn't think it was a deliberate handball. Sir Alex felt he was over-robust in the challenge and it could have been a free-kick.
"If the ball was just a couple feet higher, it would have been a clear header. There were five or six players in there together going for the ball, so we got the break and I'm glad we could take that."
The result saw Birmingham climb out of the relegation zone and into 16th place. McLeish blamed a lack of killer instinct for the fact his side are battling the drop even though they haven't lost to top-six opposition in 18 months.
He stated: "We've not scored enough goals. I think that's the bottom line.
"I heard [Everton manager] David Moyes talking about it the other night as the reason why Everton are now in the position they're in as they've not scored enough goals.
"And we've probably conceded more sloppy goals this season than at this stage last season. But, we can put that right in the second half of the season.
"We've nobody to blame but ourselves. Ultimately, I've told the players you can't look for other results to go for you, you've got to do it yourself."
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provides the best breaking news online and our football fan community is unmatched worldwide. Never miss a thing again!| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
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| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
|
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