Alex McLeish cracks down on whingeing Birmingham City

Nov 6 2010 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

ALEX McLeish has revealed how Blues have gone from bad boys to choirboys.

McLeish has cracked down on discipline after flashpoint incidents last season put his players in a bad light.

McLeish said he doesn’t want his side to lose their passion and steely determination to win.

But it has to be channelled in the right way – and not towards referees.

The Villa game in March got Eck thinking, and he decided to act after Blues’ last match of 2009-10, at Bolton Wanderers.

“We lost our discipline at Villa last season, we crowded around the referee and were fined by the FA.

“Emotions were running high, and it was human nature because of what happened. It is difficult for anyone to say you shouldn’t do that until you’ve been in that man’s shoes. But the players reacted badly, I reacted badly

“We had five bookings up at Bolton in our last game and there was a lot of whingeing and shouting at the referee.

“I spoke to the players at the start of the season about discipline.

“I said we’ve got to cut that out. There is a way to speak to people and I’m sure the players have learnt from that.

“We didn’t want to be the talk of the referees’ room this season, getting a reputation as a side of moaners and whingers, which can have a negative effect on you.”