Birmingham manager Alex McLeish admits the loss of Barry Ferguson will be a major blow for the visit of Liverpool with the midfielder suspended for his “rash moment.”

The 31-year-old will serve a one-match ban effective for Monday night’s Premier League clash after his red card for unnecessarily blocking a quick Manchester City throw in last Sunday’s goalless draw, his second booking of the game.

Well in his own half at the time, McLeish is still lamenting the loss of one of his key players for the first visit of one of the ‘big four’ for such a moment of madness.

But the Blues boss must do without the former Scotland international, but has reminded the players of the need to keep their heads.

He said: “Ferguson being out with suspension will be a loss because of his ability to make us play, but we will try and patch things up. It was just a rash moment for Barry and he admits that.”

“I remind the players every single game about discipline, the need to keep 11 men on the pitch and to try and limit the bookings, but it’s a man’s game with tackles.

“It’s the silly ones we need to cut out – like pulling the jersey over the head when you score a goal. I could see one or two of our forwards doing that right enough!

“We just have to watch the discipline, because we’re a small fragile squad and it will affect smaller squads. But, by and large, the discipline has been pretty good.”