Source: Team_Talk
McLeish angered by Reo-Coker escape
Alex McLeish felt Nigel Reo-Coker could have been red-carded after his second-half challenge on Craig Gardner in the 0-0 draw at Villa Park.[LNB] Reo-Coker and Gardner clashed on more than one occasion during a disappointing 90 minutes which produced few clear-cut chances.[LNB]Reo-Coker appeared to kick Gardner in the back midway through the second period but he stayed on the pitch before eventually being substituted as a tactical move by Villa boss Gerard Houllier.[LNB]McLeish said: "It doesn't seem that Reo-Coker and Gardner get on. I deduced that quite early.[LNB]"Nigel had a lash out and some referees might have interpreted that differently. He (Howard Webb) didn't see it as violent conduct.[LNB]"I saw Nasri at Arsenal when he kneed Liam Ridgewell in the backside in a similar fashion. I've seen them get sent off for that."[LNB]Birmingham also had strong first-half claims for a penalty when Reo-Coker appeared to control the ball with his lower arm inside the box but referee Webb waved play on.[LNB]McLeish said: "He moved his arm. It is human instinct to move the arm. But we've not had much luck with penalties for a couple of years and it was no surprise not to see it given."[LNB]Birmingham players lost their discipline after being beaten by a controversial spot-kick in the corresponding fixture last season.[LNB]But McLeish praised his players for keeping their cool in ending a run of six successive defeats against their local rivals.[LNB]He said: "I was proud of the performance of the players and the way they also kept their heads and discipline.[LNB]"Gardner was treading on eggshells after his early booking and it was another part of the learning curve for him.[LNB]"The last time we were here, we ended up in trouble. I told them to zip it up and not get involved with officials but still play with passion and we did that.[LNB]"We will take the point but one or two in the dressing room were disappointed we didn't take the chances we had."[LNB]Villa boss Gerard Houllier felt his side's extra-time Carling Cup performance against Burnley in midweek had an impact on their performance.[LNB]He said: "We lacked a bit of freshness, imagination and creativity. I think we have to take into account most of us played two hours in midweek.[LNB]"I'm happy with the effort and that we really competed in a tight derby.[LNB]"Maybe we lacked a bit of stamina but in the last half-hour we were better because we brought on fresh legs and maybe the best chances fell to Ciaran Clark and Ashley Young."[LNB]Houllier left £8m midfielder Stephen Ireland on the substitutes' bench and warned he must work harder at his game after preferring Clark to the former Manchester City midfielder.[LNB]He said: "Stephen needs to work harder. He played well at Chelsea but the way he played against Sunderland last weekend was not good enough for me, simple as that.[LNB]"He needs to work harder and needs to compete. It is a difficult period for him. We support and back him.[LNB]"We know he is a good player but he needs to work harder in games."
