Source: Team_Talk
McFadden hails Jerome contribution
James McFadden has hailed the major improvement in his Birmingham strike partner Cameron Jerome ahead of the Second City derby at Aston Villa.[LNB] Blues boss Alex McLeish has kept faith with Jerome since he returned from an ankle injury in early October and he has responded with 10 goals.[LNB]But the former England Under-21 player's all-round game has impressed McFadden who has stepped up from playing in a wide left role to play alongside Jerome during the latter part of the campaign.[LNB]The Scotland international said: "Cameron has been excellent. He has been the figurehead of the attack and I think when the good run we had started, he had just come back from quite a big lay-off.[LNB]"He has been there in every game and I think the last away match at Manchester City must have been the first time he has been subbed in going on 20 games.[LNB]"He has done fantastically to get the goals and he also works his socks off. He gets what he deserves."[LNB]McFadden added: "There are maybe a lot of people who look at Cammy and say 'he's not got this to his game, he's not got that to his game.'[LNB]"But he works hard, he's improving every game and he is finding the net. His link-up play is a lot better and we're starting to build up a better understanding as well.[LNB]"Ten goals is also a fantastic achievement.[LNB]"When you are one of the teams near the bottom or when you come into the league you think 'if I can get in double figures that would be a great achievement', so fair play to him. He's done well, he's been excellent for us."[LNB]McFadden concedes Blues had a rare off-day when beaten 5-1 at Eastlands in their last away game and will have to be at their best to attain a positive result at Villa Park.[LNB]He said: "I think for the majority of the season we have been excellent. At Manchester City, you saw what can happen when we're not at the level we can achieve.[LNB]"We need to be at our very best to try and compete. We weren't at that level and we were ran over by City.[LNB]"I just think we didn't show the resilience we have done and that's what happens when you have got a small squad. You can't do it every game.[LNB]"I'm not saying that players need a rest or anything. I'm just saying that you do have off days."[LNB]Manager Alex McLeish believes Birmingham will be tougher to beat than when losing 5-1 at Villa Park two years ago - a result that effectively doomed them to relegation.[LNB]He said: "I played it too open that day. I went there with a bit of bravado, some people might call it naivety, but I've been in the game a long time as a manager and I knew exactly what I was doing and the risk I was taking.[LNB]"At the time we were short of that real quality and experience required to play a team like Villa.[LNB]"We've got a better understanding now as a team and a resilience and steel about us and organisation about us."[LNB]McLeish is also aware experienced players like Lee Bowyer and Barry Ferguson will have big roles to play against Villa.[LNB]"It is in games like this that the experienced guys earn their corn. They have got to be the example to the rest of the team.[LNB]"They have got to show they can inspire everybody else with the calmness, their discipline and their quality. Those sort of players will be very, very important."
