Birmingham City just need the final touch – Parnaby

Sep 15 2009 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

Parnaby was used as a makeshift left-back and midfielder Teemu Tainio made his debut at right-back.

It was hardly an ideal scenario for Blues but both acquitted themselves well under the circumstances.

The pair had to face James Milner and Ashley Young respectively, not the easiest of tasks.

Parnaby said: “I never felt I was too much under pressure really. I felt comfortable most of the game. I think Teemu felt the same.

“We did quite a lot of work going the other way, which is what the manager wants us to do.

“We’ve got to try and be attacking full-backs as well as just sitting in and defending, you have got to do everything in the modern game.”

Parnaby said the Finn had impressed him, and both of them were happy to do jobs due to the injuries.

“Teemu’s experienced enough to cope there at right-back,’’ he added.

‘‘He’s an international player. I have played there plenty of times, I should be clever enough now to play there.

“Players will be asked to fill in at times when they are out of position. I am just happy to play for Birmingham and I’m chuffed to be involved.”

Parnaby added that Blues would look to fine tune at Hull.

“It’s just the final ball, the final touch,” he said, reflecting again on the Villa tussle.

“There were plenty of times when we looked like we were going to create good chances, it just never fell our way.

“There was lots of good movement, lots of good crosses going in.

“We never got that one really good opportunity to put away, it was a lot of half chances wasn’t it?”