McLeish rues poor marking

Jaidi errors cost the Blues dear

By Ben Collins   Last updated: 22nd March 2008

Alex McLeish Birmingham

McLeish: Felt Blues deserved more

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Birmingham manager Alex McLeish felt his side deserved at least a draw at Reading rather than going down 2-1 against their relegation rivals.

Mauro Zarate was handed just his second league start after James McFadden was ruled out with a knee injury and the young Argentinian striker struck a 64th-minute equaliser to cancel out Andre Bikey's 31st-minute opener for Reading.

The Royals' goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann made a fine save to prevent Mikael Forssell putting the Blues in front in the 70th minute, and with 12 minutes remaining, Bikey popped up again to head home the winner.

Birmingham have now claimed just two points from their last eight away games in the league and are now just a point above third-bottom Bolton, while Sunderland climbed above the Blues after pulling off a surprise win at Aston Villa.

"We've got to pull out results like that as well and I thought we were capable of doing something here today," said McLeish.

Missed chances

"I said before the game it's time we won again away from home and we certainly made enough chances to do that.

"I'm disappointed to lose goals in the manner we did, with individual errors costing us a wee bit," he added.

"At the other end we wasted some chances and I think Mikael Forssell was extremely unlikely when his shot caught Hahnemann's heel but credit to the goalie for being there. On another day we would have won that game.

"Had that gone in it would have put us 2-1 up and we'd have been talking in a different vein now but that's football."

Both Reading goals came from free-kicks, with Bikey losing his marker Radhi Jaidi on each occasion to head home from close range.

McLeish revealed that the Tunisia international accepts responsibility for both goals, although Birmingham's preparations were dealt a blow when in-form striker McFadden was ruled out.

McFadden blow

"It was a huge loss for us," said McLeish. "James has been in excellent form, he's brought something to the team and inspired other players.

"But it's a chance for other players to stand up and I thought there were one or two good performances.

"Mikael started well then faded a bit but came strong again in the second half, laying on the goal for Zarate, who was quite bright also.

"But it's the set-pieces that cost us and we're desperately disappointed to be leaving here with nothing," he added.

"Bikey got away from his marker and we'll look at how he did that, but I know Radhi is very disappointed with himself.

"He's an international with 90-odd caps and he knows that in those situations, we all must do better."