Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish said striker Garry O’Connor deserved to score the last-gasp winner against Crystal Palace after his best performance since signing for the club.
O’Connor could have had a hat-trick after striking the woodwork twice in the first half and the Scotland striker was in the right place at the right time to divert Kevin Phillips’ shot home in the third minute of added time.
“I never gave up hope and I said to the boys it only takes a second to score a goal,” said McLeish, whose side are now two points clear at the top of the Championship.
“You have to play to the final whistle and we showed the tenacity and determination to grab a winner. If anyone deserved to score it, it was O’Connor.
“He had a good all-round game. His touch was superb and he had two fantastic efforts that struck the post in the first half. I was really pleased for him to get a goal.
“He has got some confidence and has momentum having played the last three games, and I stayed loyal to the two strikers who did so well against Queens Park Rangers here.
“Garry is starting to feel at home here now. When he joined he didn’t get off to the best of starts. Last summer he went to Scotland to work with a fitness coach and it has really paid off for him. He has looked lean and sharp, and is a great finisher.”
