McLeish laments lost points

Blues boss urges belief despite home despair

By Ben Collins   Last updated: 9th May 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

McLeish laments lost points

McLeish: Urged Blues belief

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Birmingham manager Alex McLeish admits the lack of a winning edge at home could cost the club its Premier League status.

The Blues have lost just once at St Andrews since McLeish took charge in November - 1-0 to Chelsea in January - but seven of their other 10 home games under McLeish have been draws.

McLeish's men have failed to clinch maximum points against fellow strugglers Derby, Fulham and Reading, and they recently surrendered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Liverpool.

The Blues host Blackburn on the final day and need to better either Fulham or Reading's result to secure safety, but McLeish insists they should be confident of getting the result they need.

"I think the bottom line is if we had won more home games, we would be safe," he said.

"That's how you stay in the Premier League. If you then win your away games, you climb the league.

Missed opportunities

"We haven't won nearly enough home matches. We certainly had the opportunities and we've certainly had the performances that mean we should have won more than we have done.

"But seven draws out of 11, three wins and one defeat, is something that sees us fighting where we are rather than being out of sight of the bottom three.

"I think it is all about confidence. I don't think you could ever accuse any of the players of not fighting or trying.

"That is the key. If I had a jar full of confidence, could open it and give some to the players then I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you with us in our current position.

"They've got to have the belief and the evidence is there for them to look at from the games we have played at home. That should give them the belief."

Reading travel to doomed Derby, who are yet to win under Paul Jewell, and McLeish revealed he asked the Rams boss for a helping hand at a media function during the week.

Fighting spirit

"I said to Paul, 'You've got to win one, come on, you have to via the law of averages!'" admitted McLeish.

"Paul Jewell is a proud guy and Derby are a handful on their own pitch. I would imagine any team Paul Jewell is in charge of will show plenty of fight and that will be the case on Sunday against Reading.

"Our challenge is to win our game and that is not going to be easy against a very slick Blackburn side. Mark Hughes has done a great job there.

"We've got to beat Blackburn and then at the end of the game we will be facing the fine line of euphoria or being very down depending on what happens elsewhere.

"It is not all over. That was the message I gave to the players after the Fulham match. That was the pick-me-up for everyone after what was not a very good performance on the day."