Harlee comes clean over his mistakes
HARLEE Dean has a reputation for being an honest individual.
In an era where footballers don’t often say too much, the Blues centre-back is more than happy to speak his mind.
That extends to holding his hands up when he makes an error; Dean took the blame for Famara Diedhiou’s Bristol City winner at St Andrew’s and then Danny Graham’s opener for Blackburn last weekend.
Having shouldered the responsibility for those particular goals, he is only more intent on heading to Wigan Athletic on Saturday in search of a clean sheet, which has eluded Blues in their last two matches.
He goes there very much the senior of the two centre-halves, after seeing partners Michael Morrison and then Marc Roberts pick up injuries, but alongside Wes Harding he will be using this week to sharpen up on defending set-pieces.
“We’re in a good place and we feel confident,” said Dean. “If we can stop the individual errors then we get back to clean sheets. You come to Blackburn and get a draw, you walk away happy.
“I’ve let the team down and cost us a goal in the first half from a cross similar to last week. It’s an individual mistake and it’s not good enough.
“That’s disappointing, and then we concede straight after half-time and from two down not many teams come back. For the second one we can’t let their fellow go unchallenged into the box. By our standards it’s not good enough and certainly something we’re not happy with.
“We go to Wigan next, we’ll work hard and I’ll work on marking people from crosses and hopefully we’ll be all right.”
Key to the late revival at Ewood Park was the double change that manager Garry Monk made in the second half.
Things began to go in Blues’ favour once Jota and Craig Gardner entered the fray; the latter enjoyed a significant impact, scoring the penalty and then playing a role in the build-up to Che Adams’ leveller.
Dean was pleased Blues’ record of avoiding successive defeats this season remains in tact.
“The subs came on and made a massive difference,” he said. “Craig Gardner has come on and we started to play a little bit more. I’m pleased for Gards because he’s come on and made a difference.
“Jota, we know how good he is, and we played some football and fought back. Overall you go away saying a draw is a fair result, but we could have nicked it.’’