McLeish hails Phillips

Birmingham make it two Championship wins in a row thanks to veteran

Last updated: 16th August 2008

Alex McLeish Birmingham City

McLeish: Hailed Phillips

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Super-sub Kevin Phillips earned the praise of Birmingham boss Alex McLeish after he stepped off the bench for the second time in a week to score the winner.

After his late goal defeated Sheffield United in City's Championship opener, the veteran scored with 13 minutes to go to settle the tie at Southampton.

His strike came after Chris Perry netted his first goal for the Saints since joining from Luton last season, which was then cancelled out by Garry O'Connor.

McLeish afterwards hailed Phillips for his match-winning contribution.

He said: "Kevin is a fabulous striker and there is no-one better than him at scoring goals like that.

"He has the ability to score whenever he is on the pitch and you know that if he gets just one chance then he will bury it.

"I thought Southampton were the better side in the first half but we were much the better side in the second. Southampton deserved to go into the break 1-0 up but I am pleased with our performance in the second half.

"We created a lot of chances and I felt we fully deserved our victory and all three points and I am really pleased with the way we performed."

Poortvliet philosophical

Southampton boss Jan Poortvliet felt his team deserved something from the game with all the possession they had.

Poortvliet said: "The goals we conceded were not necessary and they were quite scrappy.

"We have to continue playing the good football that we have been playing and then I am sure the results will then come for us.

"I think the players were tired after playing three games in one week and I had to take off Stern John after an hour because his legs had gone after he hadn't played much in pre-season."