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Maik Taylor
Maik Taylor applauds the Green and White Army
Picture: Pacemaker Press
Michael Carvill
Michael Carvill
Picture: Spike Hill
Dean Shiels
Dean Shiels
Picture: Spike Hill

CROSS CHANNEL ROUND-UP

28/04/2008
By Marshall Gillespie

NORTHERN Ireland goalkeeper Maik Taylor admits Birmingham City’s visit to fellow Premier League strugglers Fulham next Saturday is now a must win game following their weekend draw at home to Liverpool.

The Midlands outfit, who remain in the bottom three one point from saftety, were 2-0 up after 55 minutes on Saturday, but the Champions League semi-finalists fought back to earn a point with goals from Peter Crouch and Yossi Benayoun.

“Fulham’s now a massive game for us,” declared Taylor, “They have their tails up, but we will work extremely hard this week, look to sort a few things out, and we will be ready.”

Reflecting on the Liverpool result the 37-year-old netminder stated he was disappointed that they had contrived once again to give the opposition soft goals. 

“The Liverpool game was a real sickener,” admitted Taylor, “Seb Larsson has come up with a great free-kick again and we find ourselves 2-0 up and all well and good. It looked as if we could go on and get a third.

“But we've again given a soft goal away, as has been the case for most of the season. Teams don’t really have to work very hard to score past us.”

In contrast, Birmingham’s opponents next Saturday Fulham, pulled off a remarkable result winning 3-2 at Manchester City after being two goals down with just 20 minutes remaining.

David Healy and Aaron Hughes were both given starting roles by Fulham boss Roy Hodgson, though Northern Ireland’s top scorer was substituted midway through the second-half after a frustrating afternoon at the City of Manchester Stadium.

In the Championship Keith Gillespie was an unused substitute as Sheffield United picked up three points against Bristol City to keep alive their slim hopes of a play-off place.

Meanwhile Wrexham, whose relegation from League Two was confirmed last week, gave a rare start to Northern Ireland under-21 international Michael Carvill in their 3-1 defeat at home at Accrington. Also in the Wrexham squad on Saturday were former Crusaders and Hearts midfielder Conall Murtagh and Robert Garrett currently on-loan at the Racecourse Ground from Stoke City.

Finally in Scotland winger Dean Shiels made it two in as many games, and 10 for the season, as Hibs went down 2-1 at Aberdeen, while former Lisburn Distillery striker Andrew Waterworth scored his first goal in his first start for Hamilton who drew 1-1 at Dundee in Scottish Division One.

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