Round-Up: Lee Clark tells struggling Birmingham to show fight

 

Gerard Brand
Monday 08 October 2012 11:19 BST
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Lee Clark
Lee Clark (GETTY IMAGES)

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Under pressure Birmingham manager Lee Clark has urged his players to stand up and be counted after his struggling side suffered a 1-0 home loss to Huddersfield.

Clark, who was sacked from Huddersfield in February, blasted his side after losing for the third time in four games, and encouraged them to take a leaf out of his own book.

"Football fans are working-class people, they want to see someone having a right good go for their team, in terms of tackling, heading, competing.

"You see the size of me, I'm not a big fella but I competed, I put my head in there, I put my foot in there. There were four of five players in the first half who never did that. OK, I'm responsible but I can't keep saying that. Can they start taking responsibility?"

Meanwhile, Crystal Palace manager Dougie Freedman believes Selhurst Park is the ideal setting for 19-year-old Wilfried Zaha to develop as the winger picked up a brace in a 4-3 win over Burnley.

"I think this is the place to fulfil [his potential] because he is expressing his talent week in, week out in front of a very good crowd," said Freedman, who saw his side come from behind for the third time in four games.

"The young man will mature under that and his game understanding will get better."

Blackburn Rovers caretaker manager Eric Black refused to take the managerial speculation bait after his side lost by a single goal to Wolves at Ewood Park, making it four matches in a row without a win in the Championship.

"I'm carrying on, I'm still happy," said Black, who felt the home side deserved a share of the points. "I'm not deluding myself; I don't think we did enough to win the game but we certainly did enough not to lose it."

Ian Holloway believes midfielder Tom Ince should not be travelling with the England Under-21 squad for their Euro 2013 play-off double header against Serbia.

The Blackpool manager criticised his team's performance in a 2-0 defeat against Charlton. "I'm never pleased having a break, but I won't see half of them until next Thursday," he complained.

"Tom Ince will be off with England [Under-21s] – he wasn't fully fit and shouldn't be going."

Holloway was furious as he watched Blackpool drop outside of the play-off places. "We have to be much tougher to score against and more resilient," he said.

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