Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish hailed the courage of Roger Johnson during yesterday's 1-1 draw at Everton.

Johnson - despite battling against injury for the entire second half - produced two out-of-this-world stops.

First he bravely threw himself in at the near post to put off Tim Cahill when the Aussie looked certain to turn in a Leighton Baines cross.

Then Johnson was on the spot once more when another Baines cross was flicked on by Cahill, only for the Brum star to coolly chest away the danger.

Birmingham manager McLeish, himself a former central defender, insisted: "The centre-backs must have headed at least 100 balls in the second half alone.

"Roger's had a problem with his knee and a couple of times the message came from the players that he'd gone. But he just kept waving us away because he is that type of character.

"We'd seen him cringe when he cleared it with his right foot and thought that if he kept on, something would give - so we will see how he is tomorrow."