McLeish salutes ‘outstanding’ Carr

BIRMINGHAM boss Alex McLeish hailed Stephen Carr after the defender produced another impressive display in City’s 1-1 draw with Fulham at Craven Cottage.

The Blues looked to be on their way to a first away win since last season when Sebastien Larsson put them ahead in the 19th minute.

But Clint Dempsey secured a point for the home side in the 53rd minute when he headed home at the far post.

However Carr was again immense, as he has invariably been since he was tempted out of retirement by McLeish.

“He is a glutton for training,” said McLeish. “He wants to train when the players have got a day off.

“He is at that stage where he probably feels that if he slows down in terms of his input to training, it will probably finish him or slow him down on the pitch.

“His play has been brilliant. He has been outstanding getting up and down the line. He is a great example to anyone. He likes to play football.

“A friend of his told me that he had retired but that he wanted to come back in but only at a certain level. At that time we were obviously in the Championship but he felt he was going to a team with a good chance of getting back into the Premier League which we duly did.

“He is that type of character who inspires other people. We have got a lot of players of the same ilk.”

Fulham remain just one place off the relegation zone and are now without a win in five league games but defender Brede Hangeland was delighted with their fighting spirit in coming from behind. “We had chances and probably should have had more to show from the game,” said Hangeland. “Apart from the goal they never really threatened us.’’