McLeish rages at ‘bias’ of TV replays

McLeish wants replays to be fair (GETTY IMAGES)

Birmingham City manager Alex McLeish has called for fairness when "trial by television" is adapted to highlight misdemeanours by players which may have escaped the attention of the referee.

His comments come after TV replays focused on an alleged stamp by Blues midfielder Lee Bowyer on Arsenal's Bacary Sagna at St Andrew's on Saturday.

"I don't like to see trial by television," said McLeish. "But, if we're getting tried by it, then everybody has to be. We are just looking for fairness. We're not defending anybody if they have made a bad challenge on the field.

"We look for fairness. If it's going to be the smaller clubs who are scrutinised, then it's got to happen to the bigger clubs as well. The [Arsenal midfielder] Samir Nasri challenge on Stephen Carr was nasty, the studs were showing. But that wasn't slowed down by TV."

Birmingham could rise six places if they beat Blackpool, but have not won away this season. Bowyer travelled with the squad but could be suspended if the FA charge him.