Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish heaps blame on injuries and suspensions after Fulham defeat

EPL ; Alex McLeish – Gerard Houllier, Birmingham City v Aston Villa(Getty Images)

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Alex McLeish has placed blame of Birmingham City’s lacklustre performance in their 2-0 defeat against Fulham on the mounting injuries and suspensions the Blues have had to face.

A Brede Hangeland double allowed the Cottagers to go back to west London with all the spoils following a show of confident and attacking football.

Meanwhile, the loss to Mark Hughes’ side now leaves the Blues teetering on the edge of the relegation zone on goal difference and could very easily become one of the two remaining clubs to go down after West Ham United’s relegation was confirmed today.

McLeish conceded that his team’s opposition on Saturday were superior side and was disappointed to see his players let in goals in the manner they did.

“Fulham were the better team.” The Scotsman admitted to the press. “I’m disappointed that we lost goals from set-pieces the way that we did. There was still time to come back with both goals and we’ve done that many times this season. But I thought that the suspensions and injuries caught up with us a wee bit today I felt. I felt we were a bit lightweight today.”

 “It’s about picking ourselves up and getting off the floor. I know that dressing room is hurting in there. They know that today wasn’t one of their best performances and they also know they now face a battle to retain our Premier League status.”

However, the former Rangers manager refused to believe that his team didn’t have the stomach to beat Fulham, instead putting the result down to merely playing a sturdier outfit.

“I do not agree that there was a lack of guts.” He insisted. “I couldn’t accuse them of that. At the end of the day Fulham were the better side, they knocked it about, they were strong. There was a height disparity as well. We were worried about set-pieces and that proved correct unfortunately.”

After a series of injuries and two red cards in as many games for McLeish’s men, the Blues have been hard pressed to grab any results from their recent matches. However, the 52-year-old praised the character of his squad in this difficult time.

McLeish explained; “Lee Bowyer was playing with an injection. There was one or two of them who we felt we needed in the team who didn’t quite have the energy today. At the end we were playing with ten men for 15 minutes. We have played with ten men for the last two weeks for over an hour two reds in last two games.

“They have shown their character time and time again. I can’t accuse them of not having character. It is there but I thought we were out-muscled today and Fulham were a terrific team on the day.”

With a visit to White Hart Lane next Sunday for the last game of the season, McLeish is hoping to have many of his stars back for a make or break game that could see them resigned to England’s second-tier.

He added: “We will have Liam Ridgewell and Craig Gardner back next week. But the strikers are still missing. Whether Cameron Jerome will be ready again, I’m not sure. He failed a late fitness test. He had a heel injury during the week in training. You miss guys like that, there is no doubt about it.

“It is a tough task to go to Spurs and win, but we have done it before, the evidence is there, it can be done. We have to believe. We have been in situations before when it has looked impossible and it has worked and happened for us.”