Birmingham City's Kevin Phillips admits he has scored far better goals during his career but perhaps few more important than the strike which got his new club off to a flying start to the season.
And the striking veteran even took time out to fly the flag for the West Midlands after his side’s win, revealing he has no plans to ever leave the area. He joked that he he is so content living here, he may yet conclude his career at the remaining three Midland clubs yet to benefit from his services.
Describing his goal, in the third minute of injury time, as 'a mis-kick' – a descripton which will only serve to heap further misery onto the shoulders of the departing Sheffield United team, Phillips said: “I saw the ball come and managed to get between the man and the ball and get it down. I knew it was late in the game and thought, if I could just get half a yard, I could try and get a shot on target.
"To be fair, when I hit it, I thought the keeper was going to throw his cap on it – it wasn’t a great strike but it was directed and while I didn’t mean to put it there, they all count!
“I mis-kicked it. I am not going to say it was a fantastic strike. It wasn’t the best of hits but if I had smashed it the keeper would probably have saved it.”
Phillips said he was enjoying life at St Andrew’s and already felt very much part of the team. He is not one to concern himself with statistics such as the fact that he is one of a very small band of less than a dozen players in history to turn out for Villa, Albion and Birmingham.
He said: “I don’t look too much into it. I will let the media do that. I have said all along the reason why I came here was I didn’t want to move from the Midlands.It is a fantastic place to live and I was delighted to join Birmingham and stay in the area.
“Give it two years and I am going to join Coventry, then Walsall and finish at Wolves! I am going to do the whole lot – I don’t think anyone has ever done that!
“But seriously there would be a few derbies next year if we can get promoted and for the Midlands as a whole I think every person would like to see all the teams up in Premier League. It would be fantastic for the area. I am one of those people who would like to see that.”
Phillips also hinted that manager Alex McLeish may yet be looking to bring other players before the end of the month. He continued: “I have said all along that we needed to get off to a good start. We will get better. I think the manager realises he has got plenty of power up front but we are still a little bit light in midfield and I am sure the manager will continue to strengthen between now and the end of the transfer window.
“Every time I see him on the training pitch he has a phone to his ear so I am sure he is working on deals left, right and centre and that will make us naturally a better and stronger team.
“Only time will tell whether we will be as good as West Brom but I am sure the fans here will see an exciting team. The manager stressed to us before the game, and I have tried to stress it to some of the players here, that this wil be a tough season.
“I said when we played Leicester here the other week that these are the sort of games that will be tough matches. Teams are going to be in your face.
“You play at Sheffield United any time this season and you will see a tough, tough match but to play them on the opening day, where every team wants to get off to a good start, naturally it is going to be difficult. Hopefully though the result is also a sign of things to come.”
