Eck's Subs Sink Blades

Aug 10 2008 By Bill Mcintyre

English Action

BIRMINGHAM boss Alex McLeish was rewarded for taking a gamble as his two subs teamed up to sink Sheffield United with an injury-time winner at St Andrew's.

The former Scotland gaffer threw on Garry O'Connor and Kevin Phillips with the score locked at 0-0 in the Championship opener.

And the move paid off as debut boy Phillips netted a 92nd-minute winner from O'Connor's knock down.

McLeish is under pressure to bring the Blues back up after suffering relegation from the Premiership.

And he was delighted with summer signing Phillips' late strike.

Eck said: "I am ecstatic. I told the lads to keep pushing forward late on and we got the winner.

"Kevin is a superb finisher and showed it with the goal."

United had the best chance of the first half but Gary Speed's shot was tipped over by Maik Taylor.

Birmingham pushed hard after the break and Scotland star James McFadden missed a good chance in 72 minutes before former West Brom hitman Phillips pounced.

Gutted Blades boss Kevin Blackwell said: "I don't know how Kevin does it - he had one chance and put it away. It was hard to take."