Birmingham 2-2 Liverpool

Apr 27 2008 Jamie Hewitt Reports

ALEX McLEISH blasted his Birmingham troops for throwing away a two-goal lead against a weakened Liverpool side as their relegation worries increased.

Eck's men looked set to climb out of the bottom three after goals from Mikael Forssell and Sebastian Larsson had them coasting to victory.

But they blew their big chance as Peter Crouch and Yossi Benayoun salvaged a point for a Liverpool side missing nine stars ahead of their Champions League return with Chelsea.

Birmingham are still a point behind Reading and Bolton in the drop zone and McLeish hopes yesterday's sloppiness doesn't prove costly.

The former Scotland boss said: "I'm angry, particularly with Liverpool's first goal. There was a bit of naivety and it cost us dearly.

"Liverpool were fresh and you could see that in the second half whereas our players were running on empty.

"Olivier Kapo has been struggling with flu but I thought it was important to include him with his quality. Unfortunately he ran out of steam right at the point they equalised."

However, McLeish was happy with the way his side played after last week's humiliating 5-1 defeat to city rivals Aston Villa.

He said: "The players are not demoralised because they know it was a good reaction after a bad day at the office against Villa.

"We still got a point and that could end up keeping us in the league.

"We are due an away victory and can win at Fulham next week."

Reds boss Rafa Benitez was delighted with his fringe players after they all but sealed fourth spot and a Champions League place.

He said: "The players showed character and quality. We created enough chances to win."

Reds midfielder Lucas had the first shot on target from a cross by Andriy Voronin but Blues keeper Maik Taylor saved.

Forssell looked a threat up front for McLeish's men and cracked an early volley straight at Jose Reina.

The Finnish striker then did well to set up Kapo only for the Frenchman to fire a shot into the side-netting.

Birmingham hit the opener in 34 minutes when Scotland star James McFadden picked out Forssell unmarked at the far post.

The striker had time to bring the ball down before firing home.

Liverpool tried to hit back and Taylor had to make a smart save to keep out a 25-yard drive from Crouch.

Benitez's side started the second half well but St Andrews erupted in 54 minutes as a Larsson free-kick doubled Birmingham's lead.

McFadden was brought down 25 yards out and Reina had no chance as Larsson's curling effort flew home.

Birmingham then blew a chance to put the game out of sight when Liam Ridgewell headed wide from a corner.

And Liverpool made them pay as Crouch sparked their comeback in 62 minutes. Former Blues winger Jermaine Pennant created the chance with a mazy run and the big man made no mistake with an 18-yard strike.

The Reds then levelled in 77 minutes when Benayoun's header from a great Lucas cross hit defender Radhi Jaidi and trickled past Taylor.