Alex McLeish unfazed by Blues boos

Manager Alex McLeish has insisted Birmingham must deal with the weight of expectation after being booed off in their first home defeat in a year against Everton.

Blues lost their 12-month unbeaten record at St Andrew's after a 2-0 loss to Everton on Saturday and were booed off by some supporters.

But McLeish admitted it is only natural for fans to pile on the pressure and the players must take it as a compliment.

He said: "Expectation levels have certainly risen when you hear what the fans were doing at the end and that's a compliment to the players.

"But we just have to take it on the chin. It's football going crazy. It's not only here, it's a modern trend, the knee-jerk reaction.

"We get a bad result, even though you've gone a year without defeat at your home ground, and you get booed for that.

"We have got to try to take it as a positive, keep the cup half full."

Off the field, Birmingham winger Jean Beausejour is hoping the international break will help him shake off a knee problem.

The 26-year-old Chile international missed Saturday's game with a medial ligament injury.

McLeish said: "Jean had an injury which he further aggravated last week. He got a nick in his medial ligament against Wigan when he came on.

"The doctor ruled him out immediately and said 'if you want to get anything out of this guy this season, you've got to be careful.'

"But the international break will give him chance to make a full recovery."