Source: Daily_Mail
Birmingham 1 Wigan 0: Make my men as tough as Rooney, demands McLeish
Wayne Rooney's name will be prominent in Alex McLeish's mind over the next few days after the Scot raced to his first target of an incredible campaign.[LNB]Chinese owner Carson Yeung can rest easy, however. The millions he has promised to spend will not be used on a world record attempt to prise Manchester' s finest away from Old Trafford. As if that were possible.[LNB] Streetwise City: Mario Melchiot was harshly penalised when Keith Fahey fell, securing a penalty for Birmingham[LNB]The reason that McLeish has Rooney on his mind is because he wants Birmingham players to be able to develop their fitness in the same way that the Manchester United star has.[LNB]Having reached the 40-point mark that should guarantee survival, McLeish now has a cast-iron case to push his paymasters over the facilities at Birmingham's Wast Hills training base and the club's infrastructure.[LNB]Despite the protestations of former owner David Sullivan, they lag way behind several of their contemporaries and McLeish wants to beef up the off-field support for his squad.[LNB]Man with a plan: Alex McLeish is urging his board to improve the training facilities at Birmingham[LNB]McLeish feels he can still draw improvement from players such as match-winner James McFadden. The Scot scored only his third goal this season from a controversial penalty award.[LNB]But he has struggled with injury and McLeish needs a unique selling point if he is to attract the sort of players he wants to improve.[LNB]'There was an article I've kept about Wayne Rooney talking about the fitness guys at Manchester United,' he said. 'Yes, he's already fit and powerful but individuals work in different ways to get the best out of themselves.[LNB]'That's evidence. I need to get on with that now. I don't want to wait until the end of the season.[LNB]'We owe it to the likes of James McFadden and the rest of the players to make them stronger and as fit as they could be.[LNB]'I want James to look back on his time at this club and say, 'They did everything to try to turn me into a top player' in terms of the sports science.[LNB]'We can make him more powerful and stronger. That's what I want when I sit down with the board and ask them about the infrastructure here.[LNB]'It's not glamorous spending, but it's worth the value of another player in terms of injury prevention and recovery and recuperation.'[LNB] Home James: McFadden celebrates after hitting the winner from the penalty spot[LNB]McLeish's streetwise side showed their experience after referee Anthony Taylor awarded the hosts a spot-kick for Mario Melchiot's withdrawn lunge on Keith Fahey.[LNB]Contact, if any, was minimal. Birmingham might care to be reminded that the outcry over David Ngog's dive at Anfield has now been wiped out. In fairness to the official, at first glance the appeal had merit and McFadden tucked away the penalty without any fuss.[LNB]Wigan boss Roberto Martinez was unhappy about a number of issues at thefinal whistle: there was the penalty award and the fact that theincident came in the second minute of added time when only one wasawarded.[LNB]MATCH FACTS BIRMINGHAM (4-4-2): Hart 7;Carr 7, (Gardner 83min) Johnson 8, Dann 8, Ridgewell 6; Larsson 6,Ferguson 7, Bowyer 8, Fahey 7; McFadden 7, (Phillips 63, 6) Jerome 6(Michel 90). Booked: Ridgewell.WIGAN (4-5-1): Kirkland 6;Melchiot 6, Caldwell 6, Bramble 8, Figueroa 7; N'Zogbia 6, (Moses 46,7) Scharner 5, (Scotland 46, 6) Thomas 6, Diame 6, McCarthy 6; (Gomez83) Rodallega 7. Booked: N'Zogbia, Rodallega, Caldwell.Man of the match: Lee Bowyer.Referee: Anthony Taylor. [LNB]And there was Liam Ridgewell's tackle on James McCarthy that ended with the assistant linesman being cut above an eye by a corner flag as the left back cleaned out the Wigan midfielder.[LNB]'McCarthy's ankle is in a bad way,' said Martinez. 'He was going to meet up with the Republic of Ireland squad, but now I'm not sure.[LNB]'It was a horrendous challenge. He gets James with both feet. It was a straight red. But, because the linesman was injured, it took the heat out of the incident.[LNB]'But we are very close to being the team we want to be. I think the survival battle is going to go the last game of the season. Whoever gets 39 points will be safe.'[LNB]To McLeish's credit, that's one thing he now doesn't have to worry about.[LNB] Kris Boyd under the microscope in Scotland scouting mission for BirminghamPremier League referees are a laughing stock, blasts Wigan boss MartinezBIRMINGHAM CITY FC
