McLeish praise for golden oldies

27 October 2010 09:30
Alex McLeish paid tribute to golden oldies Kevin Phillips and Maik Taylor for rescuing Birmingham from Carling Cup humiliation and securing a quarter-final spot. Blues looked on their way out of the competition when they trailed at home to npower League One side Brentford who had knocked out Everton in the previous round. But 37-year-old Phillips cancelled out Sam Wood's goal in the second minute of injury time and then Taylor, 38, saved Craig Woodman's spot-kick to seal a 4-3 penalty shoot-out win. "It was not about loyalty as such when we gave them new contracts in the summer," McLeish said. "In this game as a manager, at times you have to be quite ruthless. "But we felt there was still mileage in these two guys and you saw in this cup tie that there certainly is. Kevin will never lose that knack in the danger area, his ability, his touch, his awareness. "He is a classy guy and he despatched his penalty as well in the shoot-out."

Source: PA