2 Apr 2011 18:40:00<\/h4>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n ![\"Alex](\"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/1139eea994551_news.jpg.jpg\")
<\/p><\/div>\nAlex Mcleish (Pete Mariner)<\/p>\n
Related Links<\/h4>\nTeams<\/h4>\nPlayers<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n Birmingham City<\/a> manager Alex McLeish<\/a> hailed the performance of his goalkeeper Ben Foster<\/a> as “immense” and praised the way his side battled to a 2-1 victory over Bolton Wanderers<\/a>.<\/p>\nFoster made six outstanding saves throughout the match, particularly two from Daniel Sturridge in the first half and two point blank saves in the last seconds from Kevin Davies and Gretar Steinsson. And McLeish was grateful to his ‘keeper for securing a much needed three points.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe had a brilliant game today,\u201d he told reporters.<\/p>\n
\u201cBen Foster is not going to keep everything out for us during the whole season but today he certainly helped us get two points we may have lost. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe made some fantastic saves at the end, what a point blank save, he\u2019s been absolutely immense.\u201d<\/p>\n
The win lifts Birmingham up to 14th position in the table and the Blues boss admitted today\u2019s success was a must win game in their battle against relegation.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a game that we felt we had to win,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t like to use that ‘must win’ because what if you don\u2019t ?<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it was a big result for us. Everybody knows to win is going to be a big result, it heaps the pressure on but they responded magnificently.\u201d<\/p>\n
Birmingham took the lead in the fourth minute through Kevin Phillips, and doubled their lead early in the second half through Craig Gardner and they had to hang on near the end following Johan Elmander\u2019s consolation strike. McLeish was delighted the impact his experienced striker had on the game and was relieved the forced changes he had to make didn\u2019t cost his side.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe Phillips was brilliant, he was fantastic,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe did speak in January about more minutes for him and maybe can look back and say we could have used more but we did it for the right reasons, <\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a genius in the box, I\u2019ve kept saying that in terms of technique he\u2019s still the top forward at the club, <\/p>\n
\u201cHe showed today his legs are OK, he scored a goal, brought people into play and he held the ball up.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe changes didn\u2019t help, and Bolton getting the goal after losing Stephen Carr was a blow, because they got a scent of blood and put us under the cosh, but the guys stood up to it magnificently.\u201d<\/p>\n
Captain Carr was substituted in the second half and McLeish explained that the full back had been withdrawn after concerns about his hamstring, but fortunately for the Blues they were able to survive without him. The win eases Birmingham\u2019s relegation worries but McLeish refuses to relax in the last few months of the season.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve never said we were safe,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven when we were in 12th or 14th, and no team can say that up to about 11th position. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat the win is going to give us a lot of confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n
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![](\"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/1139eea994551_news.jpg-150x150.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
<\/p><\/div>\nAlex Mcleish (Pete Mariner)<\/p>\n
Related Links<\/h4>\nTeams<\/h4>\nPlayers<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Players<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n Birmingham City<\/a> manager Alex McLeish<\/a> hailed the performance of his goalkeeper Ben Foster<\/a> as “immense” and praised the way his side battled to a 2-1 victory over Bolton Wanderers<\/a>.<\/p>\n Foster made six outstanding saves throughout the match, particularly two from Daniel Sturridge in the first half and two point blank saves in the last seconds from Kevin Davies and Gretar Steinsson. And McLeish was grateful to his ‘keeper for securing a much needed three points.<\/p>\n \u201cHe had a brilliant game today,\u201d he told reporters.<\/p>\n \u201cBen Foster is not going to keep everything out for us during the whole season but today he certainly helped us get two points we may have lost. <\/p>\n \u201cHe made some fantastic saves at the end, what a point blank save, he\u2019s been absolutely immense.\u201d<\/p>\n The win lifts Birmingham up to 14th position in the table and the Blues boss admitted today\u2019s success was a must win game in their battle against relegation.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a game that we felt we had to win,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t like to use that ‘must win’ because what if you don\u2019t ?<\/p>\n \u201cBut it was a big result for us. Everybody knows to win is going to be a big result, it heaps the pressure on but they responded magnificently.\u201d<\/p>\n Birmingham took the lead in the fourth minute through Kevin Phillips, and doubled their lead early in the second half through Craig Gardner and they had to hang on near the end following Johan Elmander\u2019s consolation strike. McLeish was delighted the impact his experienced striker had on the game and was relieved the forced changes he had to make didn\u2019t cost his side.<\/p>\n \u201cHe Phillips was brilliant, he was fantastic,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n \u201cWe did speak in January about more minutes for him and maybe can look back and say we could have used more but we did it for the right reasons, <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a genius in the box, I\u2019ve kept saying that in terms of technique he\u2019s still the top forward at the club, <\/p>\n \u201cHe showed today his legs are OK, he scored a goal, brought people into play and he held the ball up.<\/p>\n \u201cThe changes didn\u2019t help, and Bolton getting the goal after losing Stephen Carr was a blow, because they got a scent of blood and put us under the cosh, but the guys stood up to it magnificently.\u201d<\/p>\n Captain Carr was substituted in the second half and McLeish explained that the full back had been withdrawn after concerns about his hamstring, but fortunately for the Blues they were able to survive without him. The win eases Birmingham\u2019s relegation worries but McLeish refuses to relax in the last few months of the season.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve never said we were safe,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n \u201cEven when we were in 12th or 14th, and no team can say that up to about 11th position. <\/p>\n \u201cThat the win is going to give us a lot of confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
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