Managers give support to Carsley

Carsley faces a three-match ban after being sent off on Monday

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish and Wolves boss Mick McCarthy agree there was no malice in the challenge that saw Lee Carsley sent off at St Andrew's.

Carsley was shown a straight red card for a knee-high lunge on Chris Iwelumo in City's 2-0 win against the league leaders on Monday.

"I have to say I know Lee and I don't think for one minute he'd try to do that," McCarthy told BBC WM.

"Lee's gutted the lad's injured, he's very disappointed."

However, the former Scotland boss had no qualms with referee Mark Halsey's decision to dismiss Carsley.

"Lee's one of those guys who gives absolutely everything - he's a hard player, but he's fair," added McLeish.

"He was definitely not favourite to get the ball, maybe he should have let the guy have it and see what happened next.

"When you show your studs that high and you catch the player then 99% result in a red card."

The full extent of Iwelumo's injury is not clear, however McCarthy was optimistic that the Scotland international will be able to play some part in the final five games of the season.

"He's sore, he's got a bad knee, but he's managed to roll out of it so it's not as bad as it could have been," said McCarthy.

The former Republic of Ireland boss also said that he hopes to have top scorer Sylvan Ebanks-Blake available for Friday's clash with Southampton.

Goals from Cameron Jerome and Garry O'Connor were enough for Birmingham to cut Wolves' lead at the top of the Championship to two points.

City lie six points clear of Reading and Sheffield United, who both have one game in hand over the top two.