Johnson defiant as Blues buckle again

DAMIEN JOHNSON has admitted Birmingham must “learn to close out games” if they are to win their battle to stay in the Premier League.

Alex McLeish’s side were again left to rue their concession of a late goal, this time from Derby substitute Emanuel Villa, as they were held to a 1-1 draw by bottom-placed Derby.

It meant Blues dropped into the bottom three for the first time since mid-August with former manager Steve Bruce’s Wigan leapfrogging them.

City have been guilty on too many occasions of tossing away points in the closing minutes of games through lapses of concentration, and Johnson knows they have to address it. “No-one likes to be in the bottom three,” Johnson said.

“We haven’t won for a while. In the previous home game against Chelsea, you would have settled for a draw after holding them for 80 minutes and again we conceded late on. You’ve got to be able to see the game out and keep a clean sheet. It was the same again versus Derby.”

McLeish will do all he can to protect his players from the pressures that will inevitably increase if Blues stay near the bottom and is confident they can survive.

He also played down chairman David Gold’s comment in the matchday programme that the Derby clash was a “must-win game” by describing it as “uncontroversial”.

McLeish said: “It is a huge challenge for the players and I am sure they can play out of their skins and get the necessary points to keep us up.”

BIRMINGHAM (4-4-2): Maik Taylor 6, Kelly 6, Martin Taylor 6, Ridgewell 6, Murphy 6, Larsson 6 (Zarate 76, 5), Johnson 5, Muamba 6, Kapo 7, O’Connor 4, McFadden 5.

Subs Not Used: Doyle, Forssell, Jerome, Parnaby.

DERBY (4-4-2): Carroll 6, Leacock 7, Moore 6 (Todd 67, 6), Stubbs 7, Edworthy 6, Fagan 5, Ghaly 5, Savage 6, Robert 4 (Barnes 60, 5), Earnshaw 5 (Villa 61, 6), Miller 5.

Subs Not Used: Price, Teale.

REFEREE: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire) 7: No major controversies here and he allowed the game to flow as best it could.

MATCH RATING: ** Looked a Championship match in all but name, and may well be next season.