Revealed: How injuries are forcing Alex McLeish to switch formations

Sep 21 2009 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

ALEX McLeish said he was set to field a 4-4-2 at Hull before his injury-ravaged squad was hit by further blows.

Garry O’Connor was suffering from the effects of sickness and Sebastian Larsson was forced to miss out due to a hamstring strain.

So McLeish started 4-5-1 with Christian Benitez as the lone striker and, as Blues began to dominate, changed to a front two by bringing O’Connor off the substitutes’ bench.

“I wasn’t tempted to start with O’Connor after the illness,” said McLeish, who has spent plenty of time over the past weeks explaining his tactical variations.

“I was also very mindful of Benitez meriting a start with his impact performances so far.

“I am not going to be influenced by the fans, I have got to do what I feel is right. At the end of the day, if I get criticised for that, then I’m big enough to take it.

“I felt it was right to bring him on. But I was very much thinking about playing 4-4-2 if other members of the squad hadn’t gone down injured.

“O’Connor and Larsson had a bit of a hamstring tightness on Thursday and failed a fitness test.”