Birmingham 1-1 Derby

Feb 3 2008

Birmingham 1 Derby 1

BIRMINGHAM gaffer Alex McLeish isn't pressing the panic button despite his side slipping into the Premiership bottom three.

City chairman David Gold described the match with bottom side Derby as a "must-win game" in the programme.

But a late goal from Derby sub Emanuel Villa cancelled Sebastian Larsson's 69th-minute effort.

McLeish said: "If the league was decided by today's game I'd agree with the chairman. It isn't, so I don't.

"There are plenty of points still to play for so there is no need to panic.

"The performance was good - we created chances. The final decision making could have been better and that's something which must improve.

"Their late goal was a kick in the proverbials as I thought we were over the line."

McLeish's side have collected only three points from the last six games.

He brought central defender Martin Taylor in for his first league start and was also impressed with the debut of David Murphy at left-back.

Derby gaffer Paul Jewell admitted his team's display wasn't convincing despite a rare away point.

He said: "I wanted to take the game to them but we didn't get out of the blocks in the first half.

"But we showed character to come from a goal behind."