McLeish euphoric as Birmingham overcome Wolves

Apr 7 2009 by Andy Walker, Birmingham Post

“I have to compliment the full house at St Andrew’s at last, it was a joy to behold and they played there part as well. As I’ve always said, the crowd have that power.”

McLeish did admit that he briefly feared his luck was against him when Carsley was given his marching orders.

“I thought we had given a good account of ourselves even up to then (the sending- off) and we had made a good start to the game. I felt reasonably relaxed about the way the players were handling it, I had a good thrust for them tonight.

“Losing Lee, you’re then wondering if the gods are against you because Wolves are capable of finishing anybody, never mind with ten man. But we showed that steel, resilience, perseverance. I don’t think we deserve any criticism from tonight’s performance.”

Meanwhile Wolves manager Mick McCarthy, familiar with Carsley from his Republic of Ireland days, said that there would have been no malice in the midfielder’s challenge.

“I know Lee Carsley – he wouldn’t be going to hurt anybody,” said McCarthy. “He is a competitor and I think he just mis-timed it and he’s caught him, it’s not a very nice tackle that is for sure. Let me tell you, Lee Carsley is one of the nicest blokes in football that I’ve come across but it happens when you go to tackle people. I don’t think for one minute that he has attempted to do Chris Iwelumo but it was late and it doesn’t look nice.”

Iwelumo was stretchered off following Carsley’s studs high tackle into the side of his right knee in the 37th minute.

“Chris has just got a sore knee,” said McCarthy. “He’s got it in ice and we will have to have him looked at, he’ll probably go for a scan.”