Carsley praises McLeish for spurring Blues players on to promotion

May 5 2009 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

By moving back home, Brummie Carsley soon realised he had put extra pressure on himself.

“Just a bit, yes,’ he said. ‘‘It’s different because when I was at Everton I could drive back down the M6 and no one was worried about Everton or what we were doing in the league.

“I don’t think I realised what I was letting myself in for because it seems that everyone supports Blues.

“Everyone wants to know what’s going on at the club, how we’re doing and results get scrutinised, and things like that.

“On the other hand, it’s been unbelievable, as a local lad, to help get the club back up into the Premier League.”

Carsley, meanwhile, paid tribute to the impact Keith Fahey has had since joining from St Patrick’s Athletic in Dublin in January. The midfielder cemented his place on the left of midfield during the run-in and scored the breakthrough goal at Reading.

“He’s been brilliant,” said Carsley.

‘‘When Keith came in there were a few raised eyebrows – a League of Ireland player in a team that was going for the Premier League and all that.

“But he has done more than his fair share, he has been fantastic.”