Fahey insists Blues' best is yet to come

Feb 2 2009 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

KEITH Fahey today insisted that Blues’ best is yet to come.

The midfielder played a key part in Blues’ draw at Sheffield Wednesday after entering the fray as a 73rd-minute substitute for Lee Carsley.

One of Alex McLeish’s six transfer window signings, Fahey has started to find his feet – as will the others to benefit the team, he predicted.

“The way it went, we were happy to take the point,” said the midfield schemer, a £300,000 signing from St Patrick’s Athletic.

“But obviously we wanted to win it.

“It is getting tight at the top. Reading are dropping points as well and nobody’s on a great run.

“Fortunately, we’re not too far away so we will just keep going.

“I think there is more to come from everyone here and we will get there in the end.”

Fahey, who has made one start and three eye-catching cameo appearances as substitute for Blues, added: “The Championship looks a very tough league.

“It’s very hard to pick up wins at home or away.

“There’s not much between the teams that play. We’ve just got to make our quality count and start picking up wins regularly.”

Fahey’s neat pass to Scott Sinclair on the right flank invited a run and cross, with Kevin Phillips scoring his 12th goal of the season in the third minute of stoppage time.

It was exactly the sort of thing McLeish had asked of him.

“It was just a case of trying to help get us going forward because we needed the goal, so he asked me to drive us on a bit,” Fahey explained.

“I think we needed to push up a bit and play a bit nearer that box, and that’s what we managed to do.

“It was nice coming on at that stage. Players were a bit tired, on both sides.

“I saw Scotty out there all on his own and I just threaded it through. He was hugging the touchline, which is what the gaffer told him to do, and he put in a great ball in for Kevin to get on the end of.

“When it went it, there was great relief to come away with the point.”

Fahey added: “That’s the way it’s been the last couple of games, we’ve not given ourselves a great chance going a goal down.

“In the first half we played really well, and we were on top when they scored. So we were a bit unlucky.”

The more free-wheeling approach instigated by the manager, with the accent on using speed, width and encouraging players to be less defensively-minded, has won favour with Fahey, and his team-mates, not least the new boys.

“Hameur Bouazza had a very good game, I thought that was his best game attacking for us,’’ said Fahey.

“Scotty was also good, he put that cross in at the end.

“We’ve got Lee Carsley who sits, so that does give the lads a licence to go forward.”

McLeish admitted that it wasn’t certain he would be able to sign a new centre-half as the clock ticked down to the closing of the transfer window.

They were sweating on Calum Davenport not being sold by West Ham United – Blues have all but arranged a loan if the Hammers are unable to cash in to the tune of £3million.

McLeish, though, did scout Doncaster Rovers’s Matt Mills in person on Friday night in their draw against Norwich City.

He said: “I have spoken to the board about a couple of things.

“But we don’t necessarily have to beat the transfer deadline because of the loan system.

“But then again, we have to make sure we get the right player.

“We’re looking to improve this squad and improve this team to ensure that we get back to the Premier League.

“Of course, there’s no guarantee with who you bring in that will happen. But I would like to think that what we do do, it will strengthen us and give us a better chance.”

“I’d hope for some good news,” he added.

“But if there isn’t then we’d have to go with the squad we’ve got.”