FORWARD THINKING CAN SAVE MCLEISH

Birmingham’s own Benitez – Ecuadorian international Christian – scored his first goal in English football against Liverpool and Cameron Jerome followed up with another in Monday’s night’s 2-2 draw.

McLeish, above, thought it would be enough to give Birmingham victory and increase the pressure on Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez, but the controversial penalty David Ngog managed to achieve denied them that.

“Ngog dived to win the penalty,” said McLeish. “The referee, Peter Walton, didn’t get that one right and, when he looks at it again, I’m sure he will agree.”

Birmingham have put in successive good performances against Manchester City and Liverpool but only got draws and now McLeish is looking to pull away from the relegation zone.

Birmingham now have a run of six games against clubs in the bottom half of the table and McLeish wants more goals out of Benitez and Jerome.

“There’s goals in the pair of them,” said McLeish. “I said to them they have to keep believing. Benitez is a handful and his goal will do him the world of good.

“They say that you wait ages for a bus to come along and then they all come at once, so I look forward to Benitez and Jerome getting more goals.

“We’ve been communicating regularly everyday with Benitez,” added McLeish, who said it has taken time for him to settle in England. “It’s a different culture.”