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Gold: We're all under pressure

Tue 05 Feb, 04:30 PM


Birmingham chairman David Gold has reaffirmed his support for boss Alex McLeish - and insists everyone at the club is under pressure.Blues find themselves in the bottom three for the first time since August after being held to a 1-1 draw by bottom club Derby at St Andrews on Saturday.

They have taken only three points from the last six games and are without a win since Boxing Day.

Gold insisted that his claim in his programme notes that the clash with the Rams was a "must-win game" was not intended as a warning shot to McLeish who has only been in charge for two months.

But he admitted: "Yes, the management team are under pressure, but so are the players, the board and the fans. We all have our part to play now.

"In fact, if you contribute in some way to the club and you're not under pressure, then in my opinion you don't care about Birmingham City. It's as simple as that.

"If my programme notes left the door open to be interpreted as putting pressure on the manager, then, that certainly wasn't the intention.

"As far as I'm concerned, I wouldn't change Alex McLeish at all, I have been enormously impressed by what he and his coaches have done in the short time they have been here.

"I know they definitely care about the club and that is the approach we all need to take now."

Gold admitted there would be little respite from the pressure of a relegation battle in the next few weeks.

He said: "Derby was a must-win game and one I thought we would win. That was a cup final. Now every game is a cup final. Now we have to play teams where we might have settled for a draw in the past - and instead need to look for three points.

"My Saturday was spoiled by the result against Derby - and then when Fulham beat Aston Villa on Sunday I thought everything was conspiring against us."

Gold admitted he was cautious about City's chances of survival after they went down two years ago. They had appeared safe after defeating Portsmouth 5-0 only for Harry Redknapp's side to eventually overhaul them.

He said: "I am generally an optimistic person and that was how I felt two years ago. After beating Portsmouth I felt they would go down and that we'd be the one team of the bottom four to survive.

"But it turned out to be us that went down and I don't want that again so I don't want to be too over-optimistic about the rest of this season.

"I'd rather be cautious and address the subject now."

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