McLeish admits it was a hard game to win

Birmingham City made it seven games unbeaten last night at Plymouth but boss Alex McLeish admitted that his side had to work hard for the points.

Lee Carsley settled the game with a low drive from outside of the box that resulted in the ball going in off the post.
It gave Blues all the points but Plymouth made it very hard for McLeish`s side.

The boss admitted: ‘All credit to Paul Sturrock, he obviously gave his team a wake-up call and got a response.

‘We have come away with three points but if ever there was a game that was ground out, it was that one.

‘We didn’t have much in the first half, which disappointed me, but (Radhi) Jaidi missed a sitter after half-time that perhaps could have put us in the ascendancy but we still toiled after that.

‘We always looked dangerous, with speed up front. Quincy was in good form tonight and we got that breakthrough, a great strike from Carsley with a little bit of imagination at the corner kick.’