He saw his side share the spoils at home with the Toon, knowing a win would have banished a lot of Brum blues, and taken his side above Newcastle.Thanks to Michael Owen ... it didn't happen.
McLeish: "We are very difficult to beat at St Andrews. Chelsea are the only team to beat us since I came here at home and we have drawn a lot of games but we have given anyone a game and a half.
"It leaves us a point further ahead of Bolton, we now go above Sunderland and I know there is a lot to fight for between now and the end of the season.
"It is what happens next which is the key. It is not what has happened before. There are plenty of points to play for, for everyone, and it is going to be a battle.
"I think Newcastle deserved something with their second-half performance. The first half belonged to us. We couldn't quite get the second goal to give us a bit of breathing space."