Late misses cost us dear, says Benitez
Sep 26 2005
Liverpool Echo
LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez was left to rue a hat-trick of missed chances as Birmingham battled back at St Andrews to earn their first home point of the season.
The visitors required a late penalty from substitute Djibril Cisse to earn a share of the spoils and complete a dramatic 15-minute spell which produced all four goals.
Luis Garcia had given the Reds the lead only for Steve Bruce's battlers to fight back through a Stephen Warnock own goal and a close range effort from Walter Pandiani.
But in the final stages Cisse, Peter Crouch and Garcia all squandered golden opportunities for the visitors.
Benitez said: "We had good chances to win the game and in the end it is two points lost for us. In the first half we controlled the game. We created some opportunities and went ahead.
"We lost the advantage in the space of five minutes but after the penalty we had two or three real good chances.
"To draw away from home is not the best result but it is not the worst. Last season we conceded a lot of goals away from home and this year the team is more consistent.
"We need to improve small details but then you always think that. We are certainly creating more chances than last season."
Liverpool finished 30 points adrift of champions Chelsea last season but Garcia played down any suggestions it will be difficult to reduce the gap during the current campaign.
He said: "I prefer to talk about if we are improving or not. For me the team is better than last season. We can beat anyone and score goals and we don't give the opposition a lot of chances."
The Spaniard impressed after his introduction, and Benitez added: "He is clever. He has good intelligence and movement. He can play in three different positions and he did well today."
Bruce was upset at the free-kick against Julian Gray for a challenge on Steven Gerrard which eventually led to the penalty being awarded after Neil Kilkenny was red carded for handball.
Bruce said: "I don't think at half-time anyone would have predicted the game ending up like that. It was a smashing game in the second half.
"After the start we have had with three home defeats, the boys showed some character when 1-0 down.
"The free-kick against Gray was a joke. Steven Gerrard fell over. Even Steven was embarrbutted because it was a bad decision and it cost us."
