WITH eight goals to his name, including the opener at Norwich City, Alan Lee is doing his bit and is now calling on the team to start keeping clean sheets away from home.

By Derek Davis

WITH eight goals to his name, including the opener at Norwich City, Alan Lee is doing his bit and is now calling on the team to start keeping clean sheets away from home.

For the third away game running the Blues threw away a lead and with it the chance of a first win on the road in 11 attempts stretching back nearly eight months.

Lee was delighted with his goal, and the way the Blues performed in the first half, but admitted they fell short of what was required as bottom club Norwich came back to earn a 2-2 draw.

Lee said: “It was a bit of a topsy-turvy game. We put our chances away first half and played some good football.

“We were happy with that first half performance but certainly not the second.

“We sat back too deep and (John) Hartson made a difference for them. He is strong and powerful and won flick-ons so we went even deeper.

“That doesn't suit us because it is hard to play football from there. We needed more composure but we didn't have it and were found wanting in the second half.”

Lee insists that if Town are to find their first away win since March - when they beat Luton, who went on to be relegated - they need to be tighter defensively.

He said: “We need more clean sheets. I wouldn't say one particular style works or doesn't because we came out and got the job done in the first half.

“It is less to do with formation than our attitude and by sitting deeper we stopped passing. Once they got a goal that lifted them and we were chasing it.”

Pablo Counago set up Lee for his goal and the Spaniard also netted his first away goal for Town since September 18, 2004 at West Ham.

Lee said: “Pablo is exceptionally good at getting the ball in. He delayed the pass perfectly with a very clever piece of play and it made my job easier.”

And the former Rotherham and Cardiff City striker admitted his part in the Spaniard's goal did not have quite the same quality.

He said: “I totally scuffed it although I had nodded at Sylvain and tried to get it to him.

“It somehow found its way through and we scored so that was fine.”

The goals gave Town a cushion but only after Neil Alexander had superbly saved from Dion Dublin.

Lee said: “Neil made a fantastic save from Dublin and that was at a critical time. That is when the keeper comes through for you and that is the third game in a row he has made exceptional saves at the right time for us.

“The first goal was vital and we certainly didn't want them scoring it.”

While Lee hopes town can stay in the play-off places he feels City will not stay at the bottom of the table for long.

He said: “I'm very surprised to see where they are because they are a good team and their old manager Peter Grant will be disappointed to see that display because that was a good performance from them.

“I can see Norwich kicking on and they should with the players they have.”

derek.davis@archant.co.uk