McLeish: Blues were not good enough at Sunderland

Jan 30 2008 By Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

ALEX McLeish criticised Blues' slack defending that led to 'soft' goals for Sunderland.

Daryl Murphy's 15th-minute strike that tipped the game the Black Cats' way should have been avoided.

"First half there was nothing in it until we conceded a soft goal, which was a little bit galling," the manager said.

"We work all week to try and prevent things like that but the players have got to cross the white line and handle things themselves.

"We know Kenwyne Jones can win a lot in the air, he's such a great contender when you stick the high ball in, but it's the second ball.

"We had plenty of bodies in there and Daryl Murphy was not picked up.

"To lose the goal, not matching the second ball, it wasn't good enough.

"We did emphasise in training the second ball and making sure it was covered."

Sunderland showed eagerness to hunt Blues down, press and hustle. Blues didn't respond in kind.

"I don't think there was a lack of urgency," said McLeish.

"Decision making was not at it's best and when there's a mistake in the 15th minute, it has you chasing the game.

"Cameron Jerome had a chance at the end of the first half but Craig Gordon made a decent save.

"At half-time we were still only a goal down and we could have got back in it.

"But we gifted them the second goal and after that I thought we really looked as if we lacked a bit of confidence."

Blues lost their discipline too much for McLeish's liking.

He added: "We started to chase the game and could have lost more goals because of leaving big holes at the back.

"I didn't want to see that because at the end of the day we can still go forward with discipline, get a goal and still be in it.

"We were leaving ourselves very exposed."