Source: Team_Talk
Coyle stands up for Jaaskelainen
Owen Coyle refused to make any excuses for Jussi Jaaskelainen after the goalkeeper was sent off during Sunday's 2-2 draw with Birmingham.[LNB] The Trotters overcame the sending off of Jaaskelainen to recover from a two-goal deficit and claim a point in a fiery Premier League contest at the Reebok Stadium.[LNB]The Finn was dismissed after 37 minutes for appearing to slap Birmingham's first goalscorer Roger Johnson in the face.[LNB]Without him Bolton fell further behind as Craig Gardner grabbed Blues' second but a Kevin Davies penalty and a stunning free-kick from Robbie Blake netted a point.[LNB]Coyle said: "I'm not going to make excuses for him - Jussi is a grown man and he has been a top-class keeper all his days in the Premier League.[LNB]"He was beside himself at the end of the game but our strength has always been in the group.[LNB]"Jussi saved us at West Ham last week time upon time, he made a great penalty save.[LNB]"We know all the squad can be called upon, we all have a part to play.[LNB]"It summed it up when Robbie Blake stepped up and fired a great free-kick.[LNB]"Obviously Jussi will be thanking Robbie this week but as a group we were thanking Jussi last week.[LNB]"That's the way it is. He made a mistake but what matters is, whether you are 18 or 35, you learn from it."[LNB]Coyle felt a point was the least his 10-man side deserved for their spirited comeback.[LNB]He said: "At 2-0 down you think it is one of those days but I have always stressed I am trying to foster and build a spirit here.[LNB]"Hopefully that was evident for everybody. I think we carried the fight.[LNB]"I think anybody at that game would have struggled to recognise it was 11 v 10 as we were the team pushing on. We were certainly deserving of a point, minimum.[LNB]"Alex may have been disappointed with the penalty but last week at Upton Park a penalty was given against us.[LNB]"It was expertly finished by the skipper and then Robbie Blake's come up with a wonder finish in the top corner.[LNB]"I had two magnificent years at Burnley with Robbie. I would have loved to have got him earlier in his career.[LNB]"We got him here to do a job and he has come up trumps."[LNB]McLeish was indeed disappointed with the award of the penalty and also thought the free-kick from which Blake scored came from a dubious decision.[LNB]The Blues boss said: "It feels like a defeat but in the grand scheme of things we believe it could be a good point.[LNB]"We are quite sore about it and the manner in which we lost the goals.[LNB]"The penalty I felt was extremely soft. It is a man's game, English football is passionate, fast, intense.[LNB]"If we are going to see penalties hopefully they are going to be consistent and see the way our guys get barged in the box.[LNB]"It would be good if he [Friend] watched it and explained why there was a penalty and why there was a free-kick.[LNB]"But good for Bolton, good fighting spirit. They never gave up and we needed a third goal to put them away.[LNB]"They are always going to be dangerous with their route-one way. Maybe we sat a little bit deep."[LNB]McLeish is now considering whether to attempt to strengthen his squad before Tuesday's transfer deadline having pulled out of a deal for Wigan's Charles N'Zogbia.[LNB]Blues were unable to agree personal terms with the French winger after agreeing a club record £9million fee.[LNB]McLeish said: "We pushed the boat out to get N'Zogbia but there are not a lot of £9million players out there ready and able to come to us in 48 hours.[LNB]"We've lost out on some good players but I think the fans need to know that we are in the market for improving the quality of the squad.[LNB]"It is going to be nip and tuck until five or six o'clock, whenever the office is shut."[LNB]McLeish also said a knee injury to Sebastian Larsson, who limped off in the second half, was not as bad as first feared.[LNB]He said: "We thought it might have been a dislocated kneecap, something severe, but it doesn't seem as bad as when he first fell on the ground."
