Source: Team_Talk
Battling Blues delight McLeish
Blues secured their second Premier League win of the season as substitute Garry O'Connor grabbed the only goal of a scrappy contest at the KC Stadium on Saturday.[LNB]The overall quality of the game may have been low, but McLeish felt it was a commendable result after being deprived of the services of a host of first-team regulars by injury.[LNB]Birmingham's three defeats this season have come by narrow single-goal margins to Manchester United, Tottenham and Aston Villa and the Scot believes lessons are being learned.[LNB]"There is absolutely amazing resilience from the players," said McLeish, who named 17-year-old Ashley Sammons among just six substitutes.[LNB]"It was a fantastic win but I knew that despite only having 17 players I still had a pretty decent team out on the pitch.[LNB]"We have gone toe to toe with everyone in the Premier League and I don't think we have looked out of place.[LNB]"We have played against two top sides and on another day we might have taken something at Man United and we definitely should have taken something at Spurs.[LNB]"We are adjusting to the Premier League, knowing that the Premier League can be very cruel if you make a mistake and switch off.[LNB]"Here they all stood up to the plate and I am pleased with a great all-round performance."[LNB]O'Connor, who had also been ill with a stomach bug during the week, settled the game when he came off the bench just after the hour and headed home from a 75th-minute corner.[LNB]It was a result that should put the club in good heart as they prepare for a change of ownership.[LNB]And Blues could have won more convincingly had Hull goalkeeper Boaz Myhill not produced a fine performance.[LNB]The Wales international was on top form and made several good saves including three from Christian Benitez, who was making his full debut, and two from Lee Bowyer.[LNB]"I thought it was going to be another hard-luck story but we still showed dedication and application and made the chances," added McLeish.[LNB]Yet it was not all Birmingham, and visiting goalkeeper Joe Hart also had a busy afternoon as mistakes from both sides allowed for plenty of goalmouth incident.[LNB]Hull had their fair share of chances and went close late on when Ibrahima Sonko headed against the bar in a penalty area scramble. Stephen Hunt also felt he was denied a penalty after a challenge by Scott Dann.[LNB]But time ran out for Hull and the defeat left them in the bottom three.[LNB]The Tigers have won just two of their last 28 games in the Premier League and they have done little to discredit the widespread pre-season belief they are destined for relegation.[LNB]Myhill admitted that losing to a promoted side in Birmingham was a heavy blow.[LNB]Hull now face a daunting trip to Liverpool next week and then have crucial games against Wigan, Fulham, Portsmouth and Burnley in October.[LNB]"It was ultimately disappointing," Myhill said. "It was a good chance for us to get some points and we haven't really delivered.[LNB]"We have got a month where we will have similar opportunities and we have got to deliver.[LNB]"We must improve and we must get some more points on the board because these are the kind of games we can't afford to lose.[LNB]"We know it was a game we needed to take at least a point from and unfortunately couldn't get it."[LNB][LNB]
